Gabriel and Grace

Friday in West Virginia

Friday morning brought more rain, but this time it was a COLD rain. The kids had gone outside after breakfast, but didn't stay outside for long.

When they came inside, we decided to let them put together candy necklaces.

Grace loves to string beads and make necklaces.

Gabriel likes to string beads and make necklaces, but he also enjoys eating the candy.

We had a very relaxing day in the cabin just chilling out.

Papaw got REALLY relaxed.

When the kids went down for their naps, Dan and I had a little "date" since Grandma and Papaw were staying in the cabin. We went to the camp store and also visited the game room. Dan kicked my tootie at air hockey, but the game did not keep score of his points. It only calculated MY points. The official score ended up being 7 to 0, but the actual score was more like 7 to 27. Ha!

We took a little drive around the park. This is one of the reasons I love to go to West Virginia. The mountains in the Fall are b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l.

After nap time, the kids went trick or treating. Cassidy was Cinderella. Grace was Bat Girl, and Gabriel was Heat Blast from Ben 10. It was the coldest trick or treating ever! We literally drove from cabin to cabin because it was too cold to walk.

Trick or treating ended at Aunt Barbara's cabin with craft time. The kids decorated foam pumpkins and made Halloween finger puppets.

Grace got some great loot from cousin April. She looked pretty scary wearing these purple vampire teeth.

Lost Tooth

Gabriel lost his first tooth while we were in West Virginia. He's had a loose tooth for a few months now, but it just didn't seem to be getting any looser.

In the past two weeks, we've noticed that the adult tooth had come through the gum and it had shoved the other teeth to the side creating a blank space in his mouth.

At the wedding reception several people who hadn't seen Gabriel since the summer thought he'd already lost a tooth because the gap created by the new tooth was so big.

Thursday Dan popped the tooth out, and Gabriel was SO EXCITED!

Here is the baby tooth.

Gabriel RAN from our cabin over to Grandma Mickey's cabin so he could show off his missing tooth.

Everyone was so excited for him.

The Tooth Fairy left him a dollar under his pillow! Whew! We weren't sure if the Tooth Fairy would deliver to the cabin in West Virginia.

Thursday in West Virginia

Our annual trip to West Virginia is becoming one of my FAVORITE events of our entire year! I love the beautiful Fall colors in the mountains. I love spending a laidback weekend with my family. I love being surrounded by quiet nature.

It was raining slightly on Thursday morning, but the kids still wanted to get out and ride their bikes.

This tree outside our cabin was a great climbing tree. Dan had to try it out.

The he put these two little monkeys in the tree.

I couldn't be left out. I had to join the tree climbing fun too.

We ate lunch at the Hinton, West Virginia DQ. The back side of the restaurant is all windows, and there is a beautiful view of the New River. There was a bald eagle flying over the river right in front of it. I know you can't tell in the picture, but it was one of the most awe-inspiring sites ever.

There is a kids play area in this DQ too, and Gabriel checked it out.

Back at the cabin Dan and I did a self portrait. I was sportin' a side pony for the first time.

The Tomlin family posed for a pic in their Tomlin University hoodies.

Here is the whole group, except Diana and Bianca who were the photographers. The group includes one Grandma Mickey, 4 aunts, 1 uncle, 8 cousins (grandchildren), 9 great grandchildren, and lots of significant others and guests.

Cassidy slept over in our cabin with Grace Thursday night. I hope, and predict, that these sleepovers will become a West Virginia tradition. It's a tradition that I will welcome. I'm so glad these girls enjoy each other so much!

Her Actual Birthday

I took the day off work on Monday, October 24th to celebrated Grace's actual birthday, and also to recover from quite a BUSY weekend.

Her birthday was very laid back . . . thank goodness. She and I met Grandma Mickey, Papaw, and Grandma at Chic-Fil-A for lunch. Grace and I took a nap together after lunch, though I don't think she actually slept at all. For dinner, she chose "the pizza you order on the computer." What she meant was Domino's Pizza . . . pepperoni and extra cheese, of course.

Grace's 4th Birthday

On October 23, we celebrated Grace's 4th birthday. She had asked in the summer to have a Build-A-Bear birthday party, so that's just what we did!

Grandma and Papaw met us there.

Once all of the party guests arrived, each child picked his/her new friend.

Then the kiddos marched around the store with Grace leading the way.

The kids took turns stuffing their new friends. While they were stuffing, we all chanted, "Go, Nora! Stuff your bear!"

Look at that tiny foot on the pedal! I love it!

"Go, Sam! Stuff your bear!"

Grandma Mickey and Wayne watched while the kids stuffed their new friends. I can only imagine what my grandma was thinking as she watched.

"Go, Gabriel! Stuff your bear!"

Once the bears were stuffed, the kids took care of their new friends' hearts. They touched the hearts to their chest and made a wish for their new friend.

While Tobi, the party hostess, tied the backs of the bears together, she told a story to the kids. Each kiddo added a little information for her to use in the story. At the end of the story, the kids were told to make a circle around Grandma and sprinkle her with sparkles.

The next thing was bath time for the bears. They had to be all cleaned up before they could go home.

Grace named her bear Tutu.

Gabriel named his bear DJ.

Here are the party-goers with their new friends: Cassidy and Shasha, Landon and his firefighter puppy, Grace with Tutu, Sam with Bear-Bear, Jake with Doggie, and Gabriel with DJ.