Our own local fall fesitval

Have I said it enough - I love this time of year. There are more reasons to get outside and play. There are more festivals than ever it seems with everyone coming out to enjoy the fall weather. And I consider Halloween and month of October in general to be the kickoff to a series of my favorite holidays.




So to round out the month of festivals - it was our own city's turn. Berkeley Lake hosted its annual festival this past weekend. And they put on a great event again. Same "attractions" as last year - the jumpies, face painting, pumpkin decorating, games for prizes, scavenger hunts and finally the candy in the hay search. We usually hang out for the full two hours - and this year we followed suit. Hatcher was too excited to nap so he powered through until 2 pm - which was the start of the festival, but Aidan couldn't hold out. He crashed around 12:50p - but when I woke him to tell him about the jumpies - he was up and alert and ready to go. Derek was out sick - his sinus infection took a turn for the worse and went to his ears. He had enough and spent a few hours in the am at a minute clinic for some antibiotics. So, while he was resting in bed, the kids and I spent the afternoon at the party. It was a great afternoon. The boys had a good time. It is great to watch them play together. They really get along so well. They are always looking out to make sure the other is in tow...and wanting to share each new adventure with the other. We really lucked up in that department. Don't get me wrong - they bicker...but they are really good friends first. Derek and I are really loving these ages. Now - if they would only sleep all night long - without getting up to go potty in our bathroom and then sneaking into our bed. One day...one day!

Adult night out...and a Halloween party to boot!

It was the return of the annual Schorr Halloween party - Phil and Dreu throw a mean get together. They took last year off as it was near the exact time their daughter Stella was born. But with a year of parenthood under their belts - the party was in full swing once again. This year was no exception, they had a tarot card reader, games and more. Everyone had great costumes...and of course I took pictures of them all. It was a fun night out with adults all acting like kids! Too much fun. Until the next party!

Derek and I
(The bizarre phase of Joaquin Phoenix and a good old fashion witch)

Neil and Ramona
(Sous chef and his Geisha girl)

Cynthia and Derek
(beer drinking redneck and Billy Mayes - the Oxi Clean man)

Colman and Fran
(The Situation and Snookie)

Mort and Debbie
(recently rescued Chilean miners)

Hosts Dreu and Phil
(Lady Gaga - wearing a meat dress and her devil)

The girls

Busy, busy, busy...I feel so behind - but we are having so much fun!

We have been some busy folks lately. It seems we have something planned every weekend in October and most of November already. But, I did manage to squeeze some last minute fun between planned events. We started off the month at fall festivals...and pumpkin patches...and managed to squeeze in our fall photos with Mandy. We met her in downtown Roswell near a creek and an old mill. The kids had so much fun running around the creek and pretending to fish with sticks and throwing in rocks. The pictures turned out so good and Mandy spent nearly two full hours with us. I am using some of them for the Christmas cards...but here are some of my favorites that we aren't using. Thanks again Mandy.




Check out Mandy's Ellis Avery Photography website for more wonderful photos.

Fall Festival at School
A week or so ago the kids' school held their annual fall festival and the boys were so excited. Hatcher asked me repeatedly that morning if I would be there on time for the party so they could jump in the jumpy. The school had a cake walk, snow cones, a train to ride, hot dogs, a jumpy, a "music man" performer, and the chick-fil-a cow on site giving out coupons! Could you ask for more? Apparently you can! The kids wanted MORE of everything. They got a bit of all of it...but it was still bribery at "go time." I took Aidan away in full on tantrum and tears mode. Hatcher rode with Derek and we met up at La Parilla (fav Mexican food joint) for another distraction and some alcoholic drinks for the adults!






Another trip to the Mountains - Hiawasee, GA
Derek and I both just love this time of year. Cooler temps. Changing leaves. The smell of firewood burning. And of course, hot boiled peanuts. Where else can you get all that - but the mountains of course. Only a 2 hour drive, we headed up once again. A quick tour of Derek's first college experience - Young Harris and some scenic driving (we've learned that Aidan may be one for car sickness on mountain roads) and back home we went. Here are some pictures we took in Hiawasee looking towards Bald Mountain - the highest peak in GA.






Wings over Georgia Air Show
So much fun for the whole family...the free air show that is held every year at Dobbins Air Force Base. They say that over 250,000 people were in attendance over the two-day event...a record for a southeast air show. Well - we were one of those quarter of a million folks crammed into the base. Hatcher remembered going last year and seeing the Blue Angels perform. And - since they were here again this year we just couldn't miss it. The kids were so excited - but alas they never realize the hurry and wait scenario that is with large events. They were so pooped by time the Angels came out (look at the picture where they are both just laying out on the concrete). But all in all it was a great day. They sat inside a helicopter, walked through a cargo plane and got to see some stunt pilots and FA-16s in flight. But the best was of course the Blue Angels. They always play the infamous Top Gun theme song - which I told Derek will NEVER get old. Here are some of the fav pics of the day.

Annual trip to Burt's Pumpkin Farm

Woohoo - our annual trip to Burts! It is amazing how many pumpkins are there - even more amazing is the number of people that come out each year. This year was no exception. We left our house early (early for us) and arrived at Burt's just before 10 am. There was already a 25 minute wait for tickets to ride the hay ride. So after a couple of family photos, in line we got. I wanted to take pictures of the boys by themselves - but they just wanted to ride the hay ride. We didn't even get to take pictures on the tractor this year...it was just crazy. And, I was trying to go 100% manual on the camera again and was forgetting to change the white balance from sun to shade - huge mistake. Tons of shots were over exposed darnit. At any rate, we all had a great time and afterwards had a picnic lunch at the park near Amocalola Falls. This year instead of trying to hike up it, we drove to the top to see the view down. Much better! The kids loved the hay ride. That was for sure their favorite. We headed home just after lunchtime and the kids slept the whole way. I just love this time of year!

The local pumpkin farm

While Derek was out of town, I took the boys to the local pumpkim farm. We make an annual trip to the mountains each year, and although the weather was perfect for a mountain day trip, we opted to wait for Derek's return and hit the local pumpkin farm. There is one just up the street from us that has a jumpy, a petting farm, and pony rides. The kids (& I) were excited. They loved the petting farm (bunnies only) so much. I think they spent an hour in there. We went first thing Sunday morning, so we were the first people on site. When we left, with our first pumpkins in hand the place was packed. Hatcher loved riding the horse and feeding it a treat. He was so excited - you can see it in the photos. Speaking of which - here are my favs...

Putt Putt golf...in a pirates ship!

When thinking of fun stuff to do with the boys while Derek was out of town, I decided we should try our hand at putt putt golf. There is a great and short course near our house that is entirely themed around a pirate ship. The kids were so excited. I knew that Tom and Grandma were looking to get on the golf course and I thought - well this might be a good solution...get the folks and the kids on the course together. I figured an hour tops and then we could grab a bite to eat with them. So, off we went to Pirates Cove Putt Putt and began hitting and losing balls. Hatcher was really into it. Aidan just wanted to carry his ball around the course and drop it in the hole. Occasionally he would take a swing...but mostly he was up ahead looking, investigating the next hole. Grandma got a hole in one...or a "home run" as Hatcher would call it. It was good fun. Then off to mexican we went for dinner. We all had a great time and with the morning spent at the festival, the boys were pooped and slept soundly through the night. Here are some of my fav pics.

Love this time of year...Fall festivals everywhere you turn

Tis the month of festivals in our neck of the woods. Festivals with food, art, and most importantly tons of stuff for the kids. The big one in Duluth every year houses a traveling carnival and collection of jump houses. The kids had a blast. Derek and I were able to walk around most of the vendors and squeeze in time for the kids to jump and ride the ferris wheel - which I was terrified of. I seriously doubt you will EVER find me on one of those again. I sat with Hatcher and he was so sweet, he knew I was about to jump out of my skin and said, "don't worry Mommy, I am here for you and will help you feel safer." Moments later as the wheel creaked its way around again Hatcher said, "I am not so sure of this thing mom...maybe we should have ridden the other one!" LOL great...





The following weekend was the Norcross Art Fest. Derek was out of town in Colorado at the GA game. He and some of the guys went and made it a "boys trip away" and even though UGA lost - they all had a great time. So while he was away, I packed the weekend with fun outdoor events. We headed to the Norcross Art fest with Heather and Owen, Amy and her two - Haley and Tomy. The kids had a blast and behaved so well. We made a deal, we would let them jump in the jump house to their hearts desire and then the adults could walk the art displays. We took them around every single art vendor - and not a single thing was broken. Then we all headed to lunch at the train depot. The kids were glued to the windows waiting for the trains. We saw two while at lunch...then everyone headed back for late afternoon naps!