Autumn in Charlottesville

Hello Friends! Besides getting sick this week (both of my kids and finally myself today) it has been an amazing week. My dear cousin Laura was here visiting. Her brother's family who also lives here in Charlottesville, just received a new addition to their family - a baby boy named William. Together he, along with Laura's Mom, created a big enough incentive for me to get a visit from her as well :). We even got to have her and her sweet little boy, James stay with us! I totally fell in love with that little boy!

I got to take her on a walk around North Campus to visit the Law and Business Schools, and chat a lot. Her husband is an Investment Banker in NYC, so we can sympathize with each other being husbandless for a little while. She was an angel - telling me to take a nap while she watched my boys, doing my dishes, and cheering us up, all while being 6 months pregnant with a second little boy on the way. We miss her already!!

We also had a little trick-or-treat party with the Law School, and I played in my first softball game (miraculously hit the ball on my first try, but didn't quite make it to first base - sorry guys!). But for my first time, I wasn't extremely disappointed. At least my team made me feel pretty good about my play :) (thanks guys...you're the best!). Nate was proud of me because I kept my deal to play, if he came to Choir practice :).

Little Mason pumpkin, and little Stanley pumpkin..my only Halloween decorations thus far...but Mason LOVES them!

My walk with Mason last Sunday playing in the fall leaves, while Daddy took a nap. So cute how children delight in such simple things.

Future UVA Law Student I think

Taking the steps up to the UVA Business School

I don't know what they were looking at...but all I know is that those boys are super cute!

In front of the Thomas Jefferson Statue

Take a look at that beautiful Business School. Wow!

Sweet little James!

Cousin Laura and James, with Mason leading the way

Love that Mason boy!

Monticello

Saturday morning was just beautiful, so we decided to take our boys for a jog up a trail I've been anxious to take Nate to. It's the Monticello Trail that leads up to Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home). Our boys were so good for the trip that we decided to take the tour as well. Their cute family tours kept the interest of Mason, and also gave us sweet glimpses into the life of Jefferson. Sometimes the best teachers are those for children I think. I decided to buy the annual pass, so I can take them back as often as I like. Thomas Jefferson - wow, what an amazing person. His home was so thoughtfully designed. The stories they told about him endeared me to him as a person. He spoke and wrote in 7 languages (Latin, Greek, English, Old English, Spanish, Italian, and French). He was a true Classicist - loved books, enjoyed astronomy, mathematics, history, - obviously a genius. Im grateful for such men who were men for their time. It's fun that Nate gets to study at his University. You can even see the University from his house. He was able to watch the Construction take place, from Monticello with his telescope :). So, thank you Thomas Jefferson - we owe you!

a candid moment I caught of Mason trying to comfort Stan

one of our favorite snacks

Thomas Jefferson's grave

the last stretch of the trail. this was the part we walked.

Stan having a little conversation with bear :)

Mason insisted on carrying his bear from his Aunt Jenica with him

Thomas Jefferson's garden. 300 variety of vegetables. I don't think that even my Parent's can top that.

Mason trying to identify some of the letters he has been learning about

a cute candid moment i spied while listening to a tour

Mason wanted in on the love I think

pretty view from Monticello

Our little babysitting group. Love these cuties!

just catching some close time with Dad

it's always better when we're together :)

Shenandoah National Park

This last Tuesday, we rented a car and drove to Shenandoah along skyline drive. It's the only National Park that I know of, that has it's own song. 'Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you'. I've heard that song since I was a little girl. We got there, and we couldn't see anything. The Mountains were veiled in white clouds. So we started singing that song again. Slowly throughout the day, the fog lifted, and there it was...breathtakingly beautiful. We listened to Nate's classical music collection in the car, saw beautiful sights - and it all seemed to go together. I just love traveling together with my little family. The boys were great. Sometimes Stan was fussy, but whenever we turned the music on, he was OK again. He might be a little musician..I don't know :). Mason was perfect. I cherish my time with Nate so very much these days. It isn't often enough, I'm afraid. There were so many moments that I just had to stop the car and take a picture. My heart couldn't capture that much beauty. I love the Fall on the East Coast.

Cozying up for the fall

Hi everyone! I don't know how it is where you live, but here in Charlottesville, it's starting to cool down - and the leaves are changing. It rains a lot here, but it's also really beautiful. We're planning to take advantage of the scenery by taking a drive on Tuesday through the beautiful Shenandoah Valley National Park (at least we get one day to party during Nate's two day fall break). My camera did a good job at capturing some of the funny moments of the week. There were many moments - some happy, some funny, some sad, some frustrating..life. But I'm grateful to be alive - grateful for my sweethearts that make my life so full and meaningful! Here they are. (captions again are complements of Nate...who never ceases to make me smile through the hard times of 1L:).

Mason making some toast for himself. Pretty sure there's Nutella somewhere on it.

Carpe facem . . . my Latin is as good as ever.

a few of our peeps - Conference Morning

Is Mason looking at cars, or is he
looking for his one true love?

Now that's a happy play dough figurine!

The boy who lived in a cupboard under the stairs.
I hope you caught that reference.