Apple Orchard, Pumpkin Patch and the End of the World

 I know.  I know.  Seriously.  Shame on me.  I've been a terrible blogger lately.  It has been a busy couple of months for us between the election, photography gigs and kids.  I just keep thinking, "I only have TWO kids."  I can't imagine what things would be like with more.  But I do feel a little bad for my lack of journaling.  I do wish I would record more of the weird things my kids do like Eva climbing into bed with us every morning at 5 AM and sniffing until we kick her out or Sophie trying to pry up my fingernails when she sits on my lap.  I could go on.  But before I get to the normal pics and such I do want to record a couple things for future reference.  1. When my kids look back 20 years from now and everything is in the crapper they will know that yes, I did see this as the tipping point for America.  I'm sorry.  I did everything I could to prevent it and my cell phone bill will prove that.  2.  Girls can serve missions at 19!!!  I'm so excited about this.  For me it means a much better chance that my girls will serve and we're starting to prepare now!  Woo-hoo!  (Eva thinks she is going to serve a mission in Mexico and often asks me to teach her Spanish words.)  Alright, enough of that.  Time for the first round of fall photos.

Since my $50 preschool didn't work out very well for me last year (she hated it) I bit the bullet and put her in a real (ten times more expensive) one.  They had to drag her out of the car kicking and screaming for the first couple weeks but the tuition was non-refundable so that was that.  Now she loves it. 

 Eva's always saying, "Sophie is my best friend."  They really do have a great time together.  Especially when they're both prancing around the neighborhood in gymnastics leotards.  Don't you wish you could too? 

 Every fall we take a trip to Charlottesville to the apple orchard.  It is a beautiful place on a mountain top with 360 degree views and who wouldn't want apple cider doughnuts for lunch?

 My kids hate me.  When I have a camera in my hand. 

 We also had the chance to go to the pumpkin patch with Eva's preschool class.  It was fun.... but... it was also the field trip that never ended.  Hayride to the patch, pick the pumpkin, hayride back, walk to the giant ball, chase it around a field, watch piggies race, eat a snack, launch apple cores into a field, play in corn box, race rubber duckies, plant a pumpkin seed...  Whew!

 This was taken while I was trying out the light at a park before a bbq we had with friend.  I love this pic of Eva and her little sis trotting along behind her. 

This is Soph.  Yes, she dresses herself, picks out the clothes and puts them on.  Yes, I do try.  She is the most stubborn thing when it comes to her clothes.  She will scream and rip off her clothes if I ever manage to wrestle her into something else.  ("No wike it!") Black pants, every day.  They make her so happy.  She squeals, "Black pants!!!" in the morning when she sees them.  Tiana or Minnie Mouse shirt.  Some sort of tutu.  Sparkly Toms that are 3 sizes to big.  Pigtails pulled out. But she lets me tickle her and smother her with kisses whenever I want to I'm not complaining. 

 Trip to the Botanical gardens with friends Rex, Amelia and Theo.  If I had an iPhone I would have taken a cool Instagram pic of the moms.  That's the only way to do it now.

 A rare pic of myself with a child while trying out a tripod.  Novelty has since worn off. 

 Super-hero poses with Rex and Brody at Maymont Park. 

 Sophie, Lily and Eva.