How Do You Like Them Apples?

On a perfect fall day, we set out for our favorite tradition of the season: apple picking! As we drove higher into the mountains, the clouds began to gather. And darken. And leak. The sky opened up right as we reached Sky Top Orchards. Rain, rain, go away!

The apples of my eye look adorable, rain or shine!

We camped out inside to wait out the rain and try a sampling of apple delicacies.

By the time it cleared off, the orchard was empty and we were refueled and ready for fun!

Let's pick!

Sarah found animals to talk to...

and one wanted to come home with us!

Max was very concerned about the escape. He leapt into Jason's arms and proclaimed, "Daddy, Daddy, we've got to go warn everybody!"

And off he raced to tell the workers! 

Max Richards, Defender of Apples.

Dates to the Theatre

The most adorable gentleman accompanied his Mommy to the theatre for a showing of Annie.

Because it was produced by the Children's Theatre I assumed they would shorten the original Broadway show. Nope. The lead actress had also performed in the national tour of the show and was phenomenal. Franklin D. Roosevelt plays a fairly prominent role in the storyline, but Max obviously had no idea who he was until they referred to him as "Mr. President" towards the end. He looked shocked and exclaimed, "Is that really THE PRESIDENT?"

Since Max had a turn at the theatre, Sarah needed one too! 

Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?

Sarah, Mommy, and Mimi went to meet her pal, Elmo!

Elmo, meet Elmo.

The loud noise and lights were a little overwhelming at first, but she sat still on my lap for the entire performance.

She was thrilled to get a pat from Elmo,

but receiving an Elmo shaped balloon was her favorite part of the show! 

Kickoff

The Furman football season kicked off with...construction.

Our parking spot is where the fences are now located.

The massive crowd went wild.

(Ok, at least that is the opposing team's side!)

A morning soccer game combined with kickoff during Sarah's nap time did not produce a super excited fan.

Sarah was much more interested in running around the concourse than watching the game.

Although she did stop to model her swimsuit pose.

Check out my belly!

No time to tailgate? No problem when you have Chick-Fil-A for sale at the games...except when it is no longer available. A giant pretzel was the only food offering that did not promote choking.

Sarah didn't mind.

The season did not start out smoothly, but Sarah (and Mommy) were super excited that she finally has enough hair to wear her Furman cheerleading bow, which was in her Christmas stocking before she was born. The eyes have disappeared in the intervening years, but she knows that F is for Furman! 

Lights, Camera, Preschool!

As the second child Sarah is constantly being told she has to wait to do things until she is bigger. So this child was very eager to officially start pre-school at "Max's school"! (Well, Max's old school.)

"I am going to school! I go to school like Max!"

After spending many hours in the carpool line to get Big Brother, she was also thrilled to finally have her chance to be taken out of the car by her teachers. It's the little things in life.

Having your best buddy in your class is probably the only thing that could make school more exciting! For weeks before school started, Sarah informed me, "You know what Mommy? You know who is in my class? Curry! Curry is in my class." 

The start of their school journey together from 2K to Furman!

Meet-the-Teacher

Let's go to School!

First Day of 2K

Seeing old friends

and meeting new friends!

Sarah did great during drop-off, but I got a huge smile and hug when I picked her up. She chattered all the way home about her friends and teachers. Pre-school is a hit!

Lake Livin'

We closed out the last two weekends of summer by partying at the lake(s)!

Max has been talking about the waterslide at our neighbor's lake house since their annual party last year. It proved a little too daunting when he was "just a little kid" at the age of 4, but a 5 year old could definitely handle the corkscrew curves and death-defying drop....

Don't let the picture fool you; he chickened out at the last minute! 

Maybe when he's 6....

There were plenty of other water sports to participate in!

And friends to play with!

Including Max's new favorite: tubing behind a kayak! 

After being rained out at our lake ALL SUMMER, we made one last effort for Labor Day Weekend. 

Sun Shining: Check.

Kids Fed: Check

Sunscreen Applied: Check

Life Jackets On: Check

Boat Ready: Check

Rain: Check, Check, Check. 

It rained even while the sun was shining! But after the kids left to go home with Mimi and Babba the skies cleared in time for our grown-up friends to enjoy it!

Cheering our Paladins from afar

I'd like to pretend the weekend was too wild and crazy to document with photos, but actually I just forget to take pictures when the kids aren't around! 

Goodnight, Carolina Moon and

Farewell, Summer!