Grand illumination parade in Norfolk

We are out getting ready to enjoy the annual Grand Illumination Parade in Norfolk :)

Is it November yet?

I think it might be here to stay! Most of the leaves fell off of our maple tree last night when the temperature dropped about 30 degrees!!!! Now it feels like November, right in time to celebrate Thanksgiving :)

Work in progress......

Halloween 2011!

Since I still get to pick out Em's halloween costume because he's too little to care....HE went as a duck :)

Pretty much everyone who doesn't know him (and know he's a boy) thought he was a girl! WHAT!!! I know! I don't see it either but anyway here HE is....... 

 We had a little photo/playtime in the backyard this afternoon, because I was at work on Monday and didn't get to take him out Trick-or-Treating, and the Trunk-or-Treat we went to at my parent's church on Sunday, it was too dark by the time we got there to get any blog worthy/printable pictures, so we just played dress up in the backyard like all the other BOYs do!!!???

 Em really likes walking around and picking things up, today he wanted to share with me :)

The duck's not feeling too great today and he's up from his nap.....see ya!

A beautiful reminder :)

When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

Genesis 9:16

surprise beach weekend

Greg was playing golf this weekend with some friends in Corolla, NC......so Emerson and I tagged along for a little bit of our own fun :)

 we took a morning walk to go play at the beach

 Chased a "dah-gee"

 Sunday, we ended up at the park, where they had the coolest tire swings!!!! They're horses if you can't tell and very appropriate for a beach known for it's wild horses :) I would love to have one of these at home!!!! Maybe one day?

.......took a little drive onto the beach!

and then soaked up some sun on the deck while Emerson had fun learning that his voice echoes if he yells loud enough.....pretty darn funny :)

Emerson is soooo much fun now and quite the looker, I must say! He is very inquisitive at this stage of the game and is amazed by the smallest things, like bubbles in the surf or even a pile of rocks. 

 He is a constant reminder for me to slow down and remember that laundry and groceries and that (never ending) to do list can always wait until tomorrow, we need to enjoy today :)

Ash Lawn Highland

If you've never been the the home of James Monroe, it's beautiful! You should go!

It's got some breathtaking scenery

 We spotted some cows on the way up to the house

 Here's Greg and Emerson walking the grounds

 I forget exactly how old they said this oak tree (it was atleast several hundred) was but it's really old, and really big and keeps the house cool in the summer time!

Here's Mr. Monroe himself! Not really! But we did find this statue walking through the gardens