We kicked off fall by joining the Jesters at the Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center's Fall Festival. There were lots of fun activities, and the weather was beautiful that day.
We got to use slingshots and marbles to hit targets
There was also a giant slingshot that you could use to shoot small pumpkins across a field toward barrel targets. It was so satisfying to watch them smash when they hit something!
Dan used his super strength (and body weight) to pull his pumpkin all the way back!
Our nephews, Aaron, Micah, and Josiah manned the giant slingshot. They collected any surviving pumpkins to shoot while they waited for more customers.
Next, the girls got to ride on a high zipline.
Hallie was getting a little nervous about going, so Emma hugged her, which looked like it was more terrifying to her than the zipline.
They loved the zipline ride, and rushed straight over to the tree climb. This picture shows Naomi, Hallie, and Emma spotting the kid who is climbing up the ladder. If the boy falls, they've got their arms up and are supposed to catch him. I hope that poor kid doesn't fall!!
Emma climbed high and got to rappel down, which was fun!
Hallie got a few handholds above the ladder and thought, "Wait, what's the point of this terrifying activity?" and rappelled right back down. She is young, but wise.
We got to practice archery
The girls have had a little bit of experience with archery at school, too. The red bows were a bit difficult for Hallie to pull back, so Dan helped her.
Emma got ahold of an easier green bow, and she looked like a pro!
Best cousin friends (left to right: Naomi, Miriam, Emma, Micah, Hallie, and Josiah)
The following weekend, we found fun local Halloween activities.
We visited Virginia Beach Town Center, where the stores handed out candy to trick or treaters. They also had independent booths with cotton candy, face painting, and balloon animals.
We saw tons of cute costumes, but I think this Tesla duo won 1st place!
After Virginia Beach Town Center and lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, we drove to the Virgina Beach Mounted Patrol headquarters for their trunk or treat event. We waited in a long line to enter the stables, but there was plenty to see along the way.
The towering skeleton in front of the stables.
The Headless Horseman! The horse and rider were well-trained to remain completely motionless, even when there was poo on the ground next to them. I think I would've scooched over a bit.
We saw Sheriff Pony and his Deputy
The girls posed on a hay horse
When we were finally inside the stables, all the mounted patrol horses were dressed up as superheroes for Halloween! It was adorable!
Superman
Venom
The Incredible Hulk
Wolverine
Captain America
Outside the barn, there were several police, fire, rescue, and patrol vehicles for the kids to see and touch. They passed out candy at each one.
It was a unique event, and we were glad we checked it out.
Question: Are two Halloween events enough for one day? Dan and Emma said "yes" and stayed home for the rest of the evening. Hallie and I said "no," and headed to a church in our neighborhood for their harvest festival.
They had Christian-themed games, like "Use your teeth to grab an apple from a tree in the Garden of Eden," and "Pin the 95 Theses on the Door of the Church with Martin Luther".
We didn't get them up until Halloween weekend, but Hallie did a fantastic job on our fall yard decorations.
I attended Hallie's field trip to the ODU Planetarium.
They had a cool demonstration that showed so. many. constellations.
On Halloween day, Hallie's 3rd grade class led chapel at school, and she performed a skit that told the story of Martin Luther and the Reformation.
Right after school, we drove to Williamsburg to trick or treat with the Jester family! Tim and Dawn were on a cruise to celebrate their anniversary, but Dawn's parents were staying with their boys for the week.
Emma dressed as a white dragon for Halloween. Her cute stuffed dragon is photobombing her picture.
Hallie dressed as a cat carrying her kitten on her back.
(Okay, now the dragon is giving me the creeps.)
The kids walked miles to visit all the houses in the neighborhood. After a solid two hours, Dan picked them up in the van to give them a ride back to Tim and Dawn's house.
Let the candy sorting and trading begin!!
Emma's loot
Hallie's loot
They ate some oranges on the way home and discovered how cool they look when you sit them on top of flashlights
The girls and I had Veteran's Day off in mid-November. We visited Bergey's Farm, which is our favorite local farm, for very obvious reasons.
Like BABY BUNNIES!!
A pony ride for Hallie (Emma and I are both too old now...sniff, sniff!)
BABY GOATS!!
And finally, BABY KITTENS!!!
Plus, there was this barnyard cat that claimed Emma as her bed.
After a long day at the farm (and showers), we took my dad out to dinner at Texas Roadhouse for Veteran's Day.
Hallie had a book report project due in November and she created an awesome diorama of the book, "Magic Puppy: Cloud Capers," as her visual.
The Friday before Thanksgiving Break, StoneBridge has Christian Heritage Day for the elementary students. They get to dress as Pilgrims or Native Americans and visit educational stations around campus.
Hallie wrote using a quill pen dipped in ink.
There was a petting zoo
All the kids got to roast apples over fire pits and drizzle them with honey.
Hallie also ground corn into cornmeal.
They decorated the school's flagpole area as a tall ship!
I got to spend Christian Heritage day with her.
In the meantime, Dan and Emma packed shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child with the StoneBridge middle school, since they're too old for Christian Heritage Day now (sniff, sniff)
Packing the shoebox
Writing letters and drawings to include for the children in other countries
Emma and her friend, Remy.
Both Emma and Hallie had Thanksgiving feasts in their classrooms at the end of the half day, and then we were off for Thanksgiving Break adventures!
