Halloween at White's Mill

Cute little dragon!

This was my car decorated! Pretty scary?

This is Hunter's chair which used to be David's. He pushes it, climbs on it and sits and rocks in it.
Chloe looking down at the river.



Fall is officially here! The leaves look beautiful and the mountains are glowing with every sunset. I really wish everyone could see! We have had a couple of really warm weeks, but for the past couple of days we have had frost in the mornings and highs in the 60s, perfect fall weather. While it was still warm we all went to a cookout given by the ED at JMH. Hunter had a great time and loved throwing rocks into the nearby stream. He was one of the smallest kids there but it didn't matter to him, he just did the best he could to keep up.
Jenny and Chloe came for a visit this weekend and boy was that a busy time. We went to the farmer's market on Saturday where they got to eat apples and watch pumpkin painting. It was really cold that day so we didn't venture too far from the house but we did manage a short walk on the Creeper Trail. The trail was busy with other walkers, horses and lots of bikers. Chloe and Hunter had the most fun waving at all the people. We were sad to see Jenny and Chloe go, but can't wait to see them again and have more fun when they get back. Chloe is still a little hard for Hunter to keep up with, but he sure does give it a good try! It was easier with his big boy shoes. Hunter got his first pair of sneakers this past week and he loves them. He knows he has to wear his shoes outside and he always brings me his new sneakers. He is all over the place--in the woods, walking in the gravel, kicking leaf piles or just wandering around in the yard so we had to say good-by to the soft soled 'I'm just beginning to walk shoes' to the 'I'm outta here shoes!' I have fun chasing him around and it is so cute watching him run. I am sure one day he will finally out run me.
Today we had a big trunk or treat party at White's Mill with his preschool. It was great and all the kids were fantastic in their costumes. Everyone decorated the trunk of their car and the kids went trick o treating from car to car and then we had a big picnic afterwards. Hunter is a dragon this year and he was the cutest little thing wandering around. He, of course, LOVES THE CANDY, but he really enjoyed looking at all the cows in the field across the street.
We have also spent some days on the river. You will be able to see from the pictures how low the water line is this year. It is still really pretty, but it looks so strange to see boat docks sitting in grass. Hunter likes to go to the water, and you guessed it---throw rocks in the water! In other news Hunter has learned to dance, LOVES TO READ, loves his rocking chair, and is working on eating with a spoon.

Trike A Thon

Here they are at the start. Hunter is warming up.
Making the first turn and getting lots of cheers from the local fans.
Everyone's favorite--The PIT STOP
Our friends, Noah and Taylor
Great new toy!

Hunter participated in a Trike-a-Thon this past week to help raise money for St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital and to teach the children about the importance of tricycle safety. His preschool was sponsoring the event. It was so much fun and Hunter had a blast. Of course he is just a little too small to ride a tricycle, so he rode in his little car. At first he didn't know what to think about all the kids zipping around on bike, trikes, scooters, hot wheels--basically whatever a kid could ride on. After the first lap or so around the track he sat back with his sippy cup and goldfish and just enjoyed the event. The preschool had chalked off a 'track' in the parking lot complete with a water/juice and fuel pitstop. Hunter enjoyed the crackers and juice box from the pit stop station. Lots of our friends were there and it was good to see all the kids have such a good time. Thankfully, there were no major bump ups (as you can imagine how hard it was to keep a bunch of toddlers 1. All going the same direction, 2. all going in a circle and 3. the older kids from going 30 miles an hour!) We even made the local 6 o'clock news! David and Hunter have a cameo appearance and they both look very handsome on TV! Had we known this was such a famous event we would have washed his car!

crazy animal!

Ibis worked and worked on this drain. He was so exhausted he had a hard time catching his breath when I finally got him away from it. The end of this tube has been destroyed! He has expanded the end such that he can get whole head in it. I wish I had a picture of that! What a nut case!

Fun Times

They are looking for deer in the woods!Hunter loves this bridge and looking over at the rivers down below.

All he wants to do is walk back and forth across this bridge!

This is the only way Ibis will let Hunter get close to him!

This cool outfit given to Hunter by my good friend Amanda, finally fits. It was a new baby gift and we didn't think he would ever grow into it!

I just don't know where to begin. We have done so many fun things in the last couple of months, so an abbreviated version will just have to work. Thank goodness I write it all down. I can barely remember what I did this morning, much less 3 weeks ago! On our first trip to PM we spent four whirlwind days. We were finally able to pick up our dining room furniture that was being refinished and it has turned our even more beautiful than I envisioned! It looks amazing in our dining room, which has become my favorite room in the house. Hunter also got his picture made. It was exhausting. It was pouring rain and Hunter was in a terrible mood. Thankfully, the pictures came out better than expected--but I am his mother and I think every one is perfect. Hunter spent lots of time with the grandparents. Granddaddy surprised Hunter with a brand new 'car'. There are some of you out there that are aware of the Simmons car obsession. Well, I think Hunter is going to have the same fetish. He LOVES cars and trucks. If I am running out of entertaining ideas all I have to do is sit him in the car and he could seriously entertain himself for hours. I even broke down today and let him ride in the 'car' grocery cart at Food City. I never thought I would ever let him ride in one of those things (it is like driving a truck down the isle) but he loved it and it kept him out of my groceries! I wonder who will have more fun picking out his first car, Hunter, Granddaddy or David! The following weekend we returned to PM for a benefit dinner and to watch the Embers. Ike was going through so I don't need to go on about that event. We were all soaked.
Hunter is growing up so fast and developing such an explosive personality. There are so many things that he enjoys doing. Right now he loves anything outside. He loves walking on the Creeper Trail, especially wandering around and playing on the forks in the river bridge. He also loves eating apples, looking for deer, aggravating Abby, walking in the woods and watching the tractors clearing the lot next to our house. Having a toddler is so much fun and really exhausting!