Getting ready for fall

Fall is a beautiful time in Abingdon, VA.  The leaves are beautiful, the Creeper trail looks amazing and is still bustling with people trying to enjoy the last few warm days of the year and of course the kids are crazy excited for the holiday season to begin.  I love this time of year but I feel like it is a buckle your seat belt and hold on kind of season that ages me at warp speed as I worry about all the hosting, shopping and school activities.  This year was now different and after it was all said and done I think I cooked 4 turkeys, 3 hams and about a 100 pies, cookies and cakes.  Fun times were had by all and the next several posts will showcase the Simmons Family holiday season!

 Fall birthday parties with Farmer Larry and Lynn on Fern Valley farm.  Can't seem to get enough of the fun and animals around this place.

 Corn Maze!!  Burr, one of our first really cold days but whose to stop us from corn mazing and pumpkin picking?  Kids loved the maze, and I have to admit, David and I thought it was pretty cool too.  The kids wanted to pick the corn (which is a no, no) and it was amazing to see how high and neatly organized the rows and rows and rows of corn were throughout the maze.

 My punkin pies!

 Everyone got a chance to pick their perfect pumpkin.  Lucas was found on the really little ones and Hunter liked the big, round and unusual looking ones.

 Trailer ride back to the car complete with fresh apples from the orchard.  Yum!!

 Hunter was so happy to see a piece of corn abandoned on the trail.  We wouldn't let him pick one but it was surely Okay to find one just lying around, Right?

These are really funny blow up pumpkins I found super marked down at Lowes' the day before Halloween!  I never thought we would be that family with the blow up things in the yard, but I couldn't resist.  We bought these pumpkins and a spooky tree.  They were a huge hit and even if they were only up for 2 days this year…..we have'm for next!

They FINALLY did it!

We finally got mom and dad on the Creeper Trail for a bike ride.  Since moving to the new house it is only a mile into town.  Hunter and Chloe wanted to go and so mom and dad joined us!  Just look at them go!

If you are looking for Lucas he was comfortably riding on the trailer bike behind me!  This was one fun afternoon!

Trike-A-Thon number 7, I think...

 And he is off!  Unlike his older brother whom is very careful and mindful of those around him when riding a bike, Lucas puts the pedal to the medal and hauls tail around the parking lot.  He did manage to steer clear of wrecks and those smaller than him.

 We love our friends!  Alice and Maddie get ready to start the trike a thon.

 Pausing for conversation with a fellow classmate.

One fine day!

My. Handsome.Boys.

Enough said.

I tell them on a daily basis how lucky they are to have each other.  How wonderful it is to have a best friend living in your house; a personal playmate for life.  Sometimes Hunter gets a little irritated that Lucas copies and mimics his every move.  I told Hunter that Lucas thinks he is the most awesome person on the planet and would follow him to the moon if he asked.  Hunter thought that was pretty cool.  They are brothers and they do argue every once in awhile but for the most part they are smitten with each other.  They sleep together, nap together, play together and seek each other out when separated.  They are respectful and caring to one another.  I hope this relationship continues forever.  We are proud parents and blessed with two great kids.

Our Training Waters

 Here a few snapshots of where we train.  Thanks to Brian who must always have a camera to catch a pose.  I never think about it for the two of us but it is nice to look back and see.  Thanks Brian for this crazy fun afternoon.

 Beautiful afternoon for a swim.

Not the most flattering attire for the sport but it does keep you warm in the water, parts protected from fish and other gross stuff in the lake and makes you fast!

First trip camping!

I really don't think I can put into words how much fun this trip was for our family.  It was the end of the summer, right before the temperatures were starting to get really cold at night.  As you can see in the first picture the water was still warm enough to play and swim in.  David and I got a few swims in as well but we opted to wear our nice warm tri suits!

 Lucas and I Kayaking and I am embarrassed to say that I don't know the name of the water.  We were camping at Kerr Scott Damn and I think this is a section of the Yadkin river.

 Uncle Larry and Hunter fishing.  Hunter has the same kind of patience as his dad.  He could sit and fish all day long, even if he never catches a thing.  I think this is one of his best qualities and quite unusual for a five year old.  They did catch some fish and I need to find that picture.  Uncle Larry took it and I need to save those pictures for the blog.  I will post it when I find it!  After the first evening of fishing I asked Hunter if he caught anything and his response was, "we didn't catch anything but we had a few tight pulls."  That seemed to be good enough for him!

 Our sleeping quarters.  I used to tent camp with Nana and Uncle Larry as a child and I think I like the pop up tent camping much better.  The kids were so exhausted from playing all day they went right to bed and didn't get up to at least 8!  Yahhooo!

 Taking a hike around the lake.  Lucas spent his time looking for dinosaur bones and muscadine grapes.  There were wild grape vines growing up the trees throughout the trail.  The kids loved finding them and learning that you could eat them.

 Sweet Chloe helping Lucas in the water.  She likes to swim as much as Hunter likes to fish.  She wanted to swim all day and Hunter wanted to fish all day!

 Our campsite and kitchen for the weekend.  Nana is a great cook in the kitchen indoors and out!  Hunter loves to help me at home and he loved learning how to cook outside.  She made and amazing pork tenderloin in the dutch oven with biscuits.  It was delicious!!!  We also had an amazing breakfast complete with eggs, bacon and cinnamon rolls.  Yummy!

 A complete picture of our campsite.

 More fishing!

 Mommy and Lucas enjoying the water!

This camping trip was a huge success!  We played hard and took advantage of every minute.  David and I had a chance to break in our wet suits.  David was able to mountain bike with good friends and I was able to enjoy a long trail run through the woods.  We all enjoyed the company, the campfires, the stories, the camper…I could go on and on.  We can't wait to go back and do it again!