Pumpkin carving

Lucie designed this pumpkin, and Chris did a pretty wonderful job carving it. He was unable, however, to duplicate the pencils-as-eyebrows of the original design.

Orchard Park

On a recent beautiful afternoon, we took the dog and kids to the park.


Lucie is improving at riding her bike.


Milo loves the slide.


There was quite a bit of static electricity.

State Fair

We played hooky last Monday to go to the State Fair with Nana, Papa, and Uncle Brian.






Nana, Papa, and Lucie talk to a robotic cow driving a tractor.


Milo's first ride


Ready to go again


Brian kindly rode the swings with Milo, even though they made him feel queasy.



Nana bought the kids a turn at the fishing game. Later, Papa won a squirt gun race and scored a stuffed dog for Lucie.





"Hi, Papa, Nana, and sleeping Milo!"


Don't forget the free hushpuppies on the way out

Jack and the Robbers

The most recent YPPC Munchkin production was a North Carolina version of the Bremen Town Musicians. Lucie played the part of one of the dogs who joins Jack on the road to seek his fortune.


The dogs lie in wait under the table, ready to bite the leg of the robber.




While Jack sleeps, some of the animals go a little nuts.


Curtain call

Little devil

It is a little unsettling how well Milo wears his costume.

Milo is good with sticks

Milo has always been good with sticks, so I suppose it should come as no surprise that he would be a chopstick prodigy.

Julian Price Memorial Park

We liked camping so much that we decided to do it again. Here are some pictures from our trip to Julian Price Memorial Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway with Elijah's family.


Milo and Lucie at The Blowing Rock. Lucie was very disappointed that there was no wind that day. We almost asked for our money back.


Paige got all of the kids some big lips.


We saw lots of evidence of beaver activity around Price Lake, including this lodge.


Milo starting to get sleepy (and heavy) on the hike around the lake




Getting ready to paddle


That gray thing in the trees on the left is a real honest-to-god, live hornet's nest, just like in the cartoons.


Collecting acorns




Milo hitting a tree with a stick




Moses H. Cone House






Souvenirs

Camping trip

We went on our first family camping trip over Labor Day weekend, to Grayson Highlands State Park. The Boyers and Stinehelfers went with us. (Unfortunately, the instigators and organizers had to stay home with a sick child -- see Redmond, Karen and Sadie's Planet.) Thankfully, it was a lot of fun, so Chris will do it again some time. Lucie reports that it was her "best vacation ever."


Lucie helped set up the tent.


Alex brought his telescope.


Milo enjoyed playing in the road with Henry.


There was a great climbing tree.


We took two hikes. This was on Monday, when we hiked to a waterfall. Sunday we saw wild ponies. (Chris will post those old school film pictures on Flickr some time soon.)


Milo and Henry in the huckleberry bushes. Danny cooked up some great pancakes with these.


Alex's rubber band gun from the gift shop was a great hit. Once when Milo got hold of it, he pointed it at Alex and made shooting noises -- "pshoo, pshoo!" Where did he learn that? Milo was thrilled when Alex fell to the ground. He pointed at him and said, "Died."


Here's the whole gang at the trailhead. There are lots more pictures in the Boo Blog Annex (scroll back a bit).

Let's do it again next year.