Topsail 2016

It's November and I just realized that I started this blog post, but never finished it!  Let's go back in time and remember our week in Topsail!

1st night is always a favorite.  The kids are SO excited to get their feet in the sand.  They would have stayed out until dark!

This year's photo shoot was extra loony-tunes.  The kids just could not get it together to stop and pose for a picture.  This one is HILARIOUS and sums up the night perfectly:

The rest might not be perfect, but they sure do show the joy the cousins had running around that night!

They had some knock-out drag-outs that week, but they also loved being together.  Fielder would follow Samara around and do pretty much anything she tells him to.

The girls made it up in time for sunrise one morning!

We found a pirate's map and wouldn't you know it, there was treasure buried right in front of our house.

The week was short for the Barnes crew as we had to leave to get back to work for Thursday.  We are always so thankful for the time at the beach with the Masons!

Golf Cart Parade

The golf cart parade has become one of our favorites, almost better than Halloween!  Lots of candy and we get to really see everyone's costumes.  The kids looked great!  This picture is hilarious - Dracula doesn't like sunshine of course, especially not in her eyes!

 The Cross Ridge folks outdid themselves with some awesome carts this year!

Fielder's "scary face"

 One of the neighbors even stopped by and let the kids pose with their decorated truck.

We are officially ready for Halloween!  Goodie Grab, Trunk or Treat, and Golf Cart parade down, all that's left is Halloween night!
Reminder to myself - we drove around that night looking at the Halloween decorations and there were some great ones!!  I was mad I hadn't thought of it sooner - next year we'll have to do that more and check out some other neighborhoods!

Pumpkin Carving Time

 This was my first year I actually had some help carving the pumpkins!!  Of course, they still wanted gloves, but at least they helped!  Fielder's face cracks me up.

It was actually really warm out.  We changed into short sleeves and stayed outside to draw with chalk and ride bikes.

Super scary pumpkins!!  I think they turned out great!

Trunk or Treat

Daddy came out of hiding to go to Trunk or Treat with us.  Unfortunately since we waited for him to get home from work, it was a little late and VERY crowded.  Lots of cars had run out of candy, but the kids still liked it.

1st Starbucks

I'm not sure why this seems blog-worthy, but I took Claire to Starbucks for the first time and she just looks so grown  up!  She had a dentist appointment - no cavities! - and we decided a trip to Starbucks was just what we needed before school and work.  Pumpkin spice for me and hot chocolate for her :-)

She has her book "Smile" on her lap - we just got it at the book fair and it's about a girl getting braces. Claire was excited to ask her dentist about braces, but it's going to be a while still - probably 6th grade.

Single Mommy weekend #2

Our 2nd weekend while Daddy worked was packed with more fun Fall things and this time we made it through without strep or any other illness!

Rob actually had been off on Friday to go on Fielder's trip to the zoo (luckily this was requested before the hurricane.) So Friday night I was able to take Claire to the pumpkin lighting by ourselves.  It's always super crowded - she has fun, but I prefer to keep it short and sweet.  We were first in line for the hayride, then hit some games, looked at the pumpkins, bought a book at the book fair and we were out.  She was excited to show me her pumpkin in the "donut box." 

For Saturday, I decided we were going apple picking.  Unfortunately I had called and Chile's was completely picked for the season, so I braved Carter's Mountain.  I had the kids up early and we hit the road as quickly as I could get us out the door.  Carters gets so crowded and the last thing I wanted was to be stuck in a line of cars going up the mountain.  We were there just after it opened and got front row parking.  It was a beautiful day but VERY cold and windy!  Thank goodness I had dug out the coats and gloves.  Fresh made apple cider donuts were the perfect way to start our morning!  After a while, Andy, Tara, and Samara came too which I'm sure made it more fun for my kids!  We got tons of apples and the kids had a blast.

Fielder was my #1 apple picker.  He kept finding tons of apples.  Claire was more "selective."

Rolling down the hill while we waited for Samara was possibly more fun than picking apples!

Uncle Andy helped Fielder get the big red ones at the top of the trees

Even though we had just recently been on 2 *free* hayrides, the kids insisted on this hayride.  They were cute and enjoyed it although most of the scenery was a parking lot.

After the hayride the kids played a little and Uncle Andy got them hot apple cider and more donuts!

Of course, every trip to Carters requires pictures with the apple. Andy and I took a turn like the old days!

We missed having Daddy with us (I especially missed having him help carry the 30lbs of apples around!) but I'm glad we went and we'll try it again next year with him, hopefully no hurricanes!

We drove home and took a few hours to rest before Fielder's Great Goodie Grab at his school!  It was his first time putting on his costume so needless to say, he was pretty excited.

 They had games, hot dogs for dinner, and TONS of candy!

On Sunday morning, we spent some time in the kitchen using some of our 30lbs of apples making pumpkin apple muffins and apple pie!  Fielder was my helper, although he spent most of his time eating the apple peels.

I can make a great apple pie, although I've yet to master making my own crust.  We'll be enjoying apple recipes for a long while!  (Pork chops with apples and onions for dinner, yum!!)

Mimi and Papa returned from their most recent vacation so we met up at the playground to see Mimi and get out some energy.  She brought back the kids a special gift, rocks from Maine.  (they were chocolate!)  The kids were so excited to trick Daddy and practiced that night on saying they were just rocks with a straight face.