Saturday, October 29, 2011

Fall Fairs and Festivals


Fall!!. After taking last year off due to Merrit's impending arrival, we hit the NC State Fair a couple of Saturdays ago with dreams of fair rides, overeating, bad tattoos, and second hand smoke. It was probably our best time yet. We headed out early in the morning and stayed till around 2, getting out just in time to beat the masses of crazies pouring in. As always the food hit the spot. Mini Donuts (Delany's favorite), corn dogs, elephant ears, honey cotton candy, draft root beer, Italian sausage, grilled corn, hot dogs, and homemade banana and vanilla ice cream. 

Getting ready to go. This hat stayed on for all of 10 seconds.
Posing with the pumpkins.
Corn dogs for breakfast!

Elephant ears for breakfast dessert!


Merr settles in for his morning nap.

Hulk smash puny toddler!

We did rides for the first time this year. Delany's done merry-go-rounds before, but this time we let her pick out 3 that she wanted to do. Here she is taking on the train.

And now the bumpy caterpillar ride.


And finally the hot air balloon ride. I wasn't sure she would actually do this, since the balloons swing up pretty good and get some nice height. She did great and loved every minute.


Not yet buddy.


No evil goats this year. Hopefully no e. coli either.





Bump bump bump, I'm a camel with a hump.

Picture copyright Delany 2011.

Everyone enjoying homemade ice cream.

Zombie in the garden.

"He almost eat me"

Then last weekend was the annual Family Fall Festival. Bounce houses, cousins, chainsaw killers, barbecue, and pumpkins.

Homemade cherry pie courtesy of Kimbo.

D-Rocks favorite chain-saw wielding cousin. 

Merr gets a taste of the bouncy house.

Delany starts her marathon bouncing session.

A T-Rex and a princess join in the fun.



Best bouncy house ever. It even had a slide inside for extra fun.

The hunter has become the hunted.


Mama lion and her lion cub.

Everybody getting ready for the hay ride. Or as one of the cousins put it: a blanket ride, since there was no hay.


The look of exhaustion.


Our future farmer practicing her tractor racing skills.


Merrit with his Grandmother and Great Grandmother.

How come the parents have to do all the hard work?

Merrit with his cousin.


Back in the bouncy house.

And back down the slide.

Happy Halloween!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Cruising, Dancing and Wrestling


The last month has been filled with as much playing as we could pack in. Merrit's new game is throwing the ball back and forth, while Delany's rediscovered her love of dance.







Earlier in the morning, there was a butterfly in this cocoon.




Merrit and his favorite ball.

The family decorating Sweet T's birthday cupcakes.


The girls enjoy some fresh Papa Wayne waffles.

Yes! Dancing!

So!

Much!

Dancing!

Boom!

Sweet hair Merr.



The girl loves a good wrestling match.




Whew! This is going to get a lot harder when they get bigger.

Merrit practicing his walking. He's got some work to do, but he's enjoying it.