Sullins Academy's trip to the Fair

 Here are all the Jr. Kindergarteners waiting to start their tour of the fair.  This was our first official school field trip and I think it was a success.  The ride were closed (thank goodness) so our visit included a trip to the petting zoo and animal corrals and a ticket to the elephant show.  It was fun and I think Hunter really enjoyed the experience with his friends.

 Choosing a good spot...

 There it is, right in the middle of the top part of the leg.  If you really know my Hunter, you already know the color, orange, of course!  Every year that we have been to the fair we have seen this horse with all the handprints and wondered where they came from.  Well, this year we found out and got to be a part of the painting.  The owner lets all the preschoolers put their handprint on the horse. By the end of the day the horse is covered.

This was part of the act of the elephant show.  I was pretty good I guess.  I haven't seen any other elephant shows so I don't have anything to compare it too...and I have a little thing with wild animals being in captivity and used for entertainment....but I'll let it go, the kids loved it!  These elephants we close to 50 years old and have been with their owners sine they were 3 so they do love them.  In this picture that lady rode around the ring in the elephant's mouth to show trust and strength of the elephant. I had a couple of other pics of the animals that might have been better than this one, but this is the part of the show that the kids went wild over!

Amanda's wedding

One of my dearest, sweetest friends asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding.  I was so excited and honored to be a part of her wedding.  Amanda was the first person I met in college, she was my freshman roommate and we have been kindred spirits ever since.  I miss those days, but will always cherish the memories we have together.  I look forward to making new memories as well!  Even though we live in the same state, we are live on the extreme opposite ends.  I wish I could just squish us a little closer together!!  I had a fabulous time with a few of my running girls again and glad that we are still so close.  Her wedding was beautiful and perfect in every way!  Congrats to Amanda!!  (oh yeah..and Jed)

 I traveled up to DC earlier in the summer for Amanda's bridal shower.  Her mom, sister and sister in law treated April and I to a delicious and fun dinner at the Melting Pot.

 Amanda's sweet and funny mom, Debbie, me and April.

 All the bridesmaids were given isotoner slippers by Amanda to wear while we danced the night away at the reception.

 Here is the female part of the wedding party. From left to right---Jessica (sister in lay), Carrie (sister), Amanda, April and me.

Beautiful Amanda!

School Starts

Hunter started a new school this year.  He attends Sullins Academy in Bristol and is the Junior Kindergarten class.  Looking at this picture while I post amazes me.  I just can't believe how much he has grown!  He was super excited for his first day and was up early and ready to go with his new Star Wars lunch box and book bag.  Aunt Noelle gave him his fancy shorts and they were his favorite for the rest of summer.  We are so proud of him!

Hunter's classroom this year.  There are nine students in his room and one teacher, the lovely Mrs. McMurray

Another view of his classroom!

As for Lucas.....

Just so you know I couldn't get a first day picture of Lucas because he pitched a royal fit!  (you can imagine and insert my frustration with him here.)  Lucas had a really hard time the first month adjusting to his school and then all of a sudden something magical happened and now he loves it, I mean really loves it!

Return trip to Tweetsie!

This trip was much more successful than the first.  It was a beautiful day and Jenny and I took the boys and Chloe for a before school starts up fun day.  We rode the train, we rode as many rides as many times as we could and we made lots of new friends at the petting zoo.

If you look closely you can see Hunter's hand waving too!  He and Chloe rode with Aunt Jenny.

I even took little Lucas on this ride.  It was so much fun and he liked it at first...but when it really got to spinning he seemed a little nervous.  I have to admit, I was a little nervous with him on this ride.  I was afraid he might slip out of the seat and go flying over the fence.

Brave little man!

PETTING ZOO!

The little goats roam around like they own place. Poor Chloe was bitten by the little black one by the fence.  They get aggressive over the food.

Llama, llama took a picture for mama!

Lucas found a buddy.

I felt better with these rides.  They were much more age appropriate.  It was funny to see this year Chloe and Hunter were too big to ride them.

He wanted to ride in the black airplane only and walked over to it and climbed in by himself.

The cutest, sweetest jailbirds you will ever see!