Lake Winnie

We've been talking about getting back to Lake Winnie for a while but something always came up.   Finally we got around to making another visit to this fun amusement park before the end of the season.  When we told the kids we were going I couldn't believe how much Julia remembered especially since we went two years ago.  First ride was the boats!

The ladybug ride got lots of laughs since it was a little bumpy!

Motorcycles are always fun but very loud.

Andrew loved the horn.

Quick photo before hopping on the swings.

Apparently the swings was their favorite ride!

Definitely a favorite for Julia.

Mommy and Daddy got to ride the next ride which was the bees.

Of course the "Dumbo" ride and the pavilion in the background where we ate lunch!

The big slide...I had Andrew ride with me since I was worried he'd fall and hit himself going down.

The antique cars always remind me of an amusement park we went to as kids called Darien Lake.

Train ride around Lake Winnie.

I passed on the Tilt a World experience.  I'm definitely not into spinning rides like I was when I was younger.

She always walks with a swing in her step...such a happy girl.

Last year we didn't ride the sky ride so this year we made it a must do.

The scrambler was another ride Julia loved otherwise known as the giggle ride since that's what she did the whole time.

The boys on the mini roller coaster since Julia wanted to ride the scrambler again.

This time Thomas took the kids down the slide and let Andrew have his own sack but was sure to hold him and it was a good thing because he probably would have hurt himself.  We had another successful visit to Lake Winnie and went on some rides we didn't do on our previous visit.  We had fun but I think we got a little spoiled going to Disney since nothing compares to that whole experience.

Parent Observation Ballet/Tap

It's always nice to go into the dance studio to watch and listen as to what they are learning.  They have a very large window so you can always watch but being in the room provides another level of fun.  Doing some stretches which isn't one of Julia's favorite parts of dance.

All ready to practice a dance move down the length of the studio.

Being such good listeners.

Look at this silly girl having fun!

Julia and Grace making some tap noise with their shoes.

And Andrew who gets to hang out with me during dance and is always such a trooper.  He was having his own kinda fun!

Where's Andrew?

Photo Shoot

I've always had a love for taking pictures and took classes in high school and college.  It's no surprise my love for taking photos has continued once I had my own kids.  I remember coming home from college and taking photos of my nephew for my photography class.  I actually still have those original photos I took and developed and matted...they're super cute!  Now I have my own kids so I can take photos until my heart is content.  To be honest I take a ton and never completely go through them all and delete the bad ones and they take up a ton of space on my laptop.  Anyways, here's some of my favorites from a photo shoot.  We even brought the tripod to try and capture a family photo!  I need to decide which ones I want printed so I can hang them up in my house.  Enjoy looking through them...I think they came out good.  

Apple Picking

We've been going apple picking every year for as long as I can remember and we've always gone up to Ellijay but this year we decided to check out Mercier Orchards up in Blue Ridge.  We've been to Mercier Orchards before for strawberry picking and said we need to come back in the fall for apple picking.  It's a little farther than Ellijay but so worth the drive with just over an hour.

All ready with our bags to pick some yummy apples.

Tractor ride out to the orchard.

Julia showing off her muscles by carrying the bag of apples.

Andrew found the perfect apple.

Such fun times!

Julia found a perfect apple too complete with a stem and leaves on it.

Look at these strong boys carrying all the apples.  Guess I need to make an apple pie.

The best sign we saw all day!  Being from New York our favorite apples are definitely macintosh and this is the first time down south we've been able to pick them.  So glad Mercier Orchards grows macintosh apples!

The boys walking through the orchards.

Such a beautiful day for apple picking.

Look at this cutie!  We had such a nice time picking apples and had a wonderful lunch in downtown Blue Ridge.  After we walked around town and went in and out of the shops.  Such a perfect fall day!