Double Whammy!

Ah, November 19. The weather is crisp, the leaves are gorgeous, fall break is next week and we are celebrating one birthday as we remember another.

Mom... she always loved fall so it's fitting that this is her birth month. I love living in Richmond during her birthday month because seeing all the leaves change colors reminds me of her. She missed the leaves so much this time every year. We miss you everyday Mom, we love you.

I really miss my mom BUT.... two years ago today, Dillon was born. I can not tell you how happy I was that my water broke around 11pm on the 18th of November. I knew it was meant to be! Dillon is such a super smart little guy. He has places to go and things to say. I swear he says about five new words a day. I put him in time out for the first time last night and when his two minutes were up he wrapped his arms around me, put his wet, little cheek on mine and gave me a kiss. He is not into sharing right now, it's all 'mine', but he is a sweetie none-the-less. We love you Dilly Bill - Happy Birthday!
Today:

Are you ready?

Because if you are, have I got some pictures for you. Aunt Holly came the last weekend of October to visit. Bobby was off that week. We celebrated Ayden's 4th birthday. We dressed up for Halloween. We went to the pumpkin patch and a large park here called Maymont. So... the result, more was going on than I want to put into words. So, I will tell the tale in photos. I supposed sequential is the safest way to go.

Ayden turned four this year! Aunt Holly asked us to wait and celebrate on the 29th when she was here, so we did. We went to Chuck E Cheese, had a Dora and Diego cake and a lot of fun! I can not believe how BIG he is! No more toddler, Ayden is a little boy. Ayden asked for mega blocks and a tractor and, wouldn't you know it, Lego makes a tractor. How great is that? Aunt Holly gave him a cool book of nursery rhymes that she reads to him! He loves it. He got money from Grammy and Papa and Aunt Noreen. We'll save that for his next big wish. He also got a Lego dump truck from Grandma and Poppy Orr.

Then came some time at the playground while Daddy took a little nap. I tossed the ball with Caleb a bit and Holly and Brooklyn helped out on the swings.
The day did not end there. Once Bobby got his nap and the weather warmed up a bit we went to the pumpkin patch! This is the same one we have been to for two years now. The weather was gorgeous and my only disappointment was that it was late in the season and some of the pumpkins had been 'placed' back into the patch, they really weren't on the vines anymore. The kids didn't notice or care though.



That same day was our 5th wedding anniversary. Holly so kindly agreed to watch the kids and carve the pumpkins while we went out on a date. It looks like they had such fun.

Ayden was wiped out by the end of the day.
The next day we went to Maymont. This is a huge park in Richmond. It used to belong to a family and there is a house you can go through, a stable and a garage with all their old carriages and sleds. There are animals, but we didn't visit that part. We visited the Japanese Gardens. We wanted to visit the house but since it was Halloween they were doing a special tour that was$7 a person and they did not recommend it for kids. :P The park was gorgeous and we did enjoy it so very much.
Trunk or Treat was that night so we rushed home from Maymont and got ready for trunk or treat!
Ayden tried to slay the dragon.
Dillon conquered the wolf.
Holly ended the visit with haircuts for all! I only have photos of me and Brooklyn though. This weekend was perfect in every way. We had time to play and time to visit and time to rest. I think I'm going to require a visit like this at least once a year. ;)