Historic Oak View

The girls and I went to this old plantation property that is now open to the public.  It has a big white house with columns and wrap around porch, cotton fields, slave quarters, cotton gin,  stable and horses, goats, pecan tree grove, etc.  However, we saw almost none of that.  The hot spot for the Rappleyes was in the visitors' center: The Children's corner.

Dress up barn.

Cambry was in the ZONE in the kitchen that was "just my size", which includes deep, heavy breathing in project mode and Vienna could not derail her.

What a good little home maker

She just picked a carrot from the garden

V kept trying to eat all the vegetables.  

They loved feeding leaves to the goats and spent several minutes giggling together.  Sisters are the best.  Vienna held on to hers and let the goat take it from her hand, while Cambry dropped hers on the ground as soon as the goat started moving towards her.

We found lots and lots of pecans on the ground, although the girls mostly enjoyed rolling around in the leaves. I never thought about where pecans came from... Pecan trees in case you're wondering.

C picking cotton. She wasn't so impressed.  She was mostly concerned about getting another round playing in the little kitchen.

Seriously!  Cotton plants are amazing!!  Is it because I'm not from the South that I think they are so cool??

V loved cotton picking.  She kept picking some and pulling it apart then going back for more... until she discovered the hard way that those plants are really prickly!! A great day on the plantation.

Cambry's Cute Quotes

Now that Cambry is talking quite well, we want to document some of the cute things she says from time to time. Here are some of the things Cambry has said lately:

Cambry: "So sad."
Me: "What's so sad?"
Cambry: "Grandma Beck"
Me: "Why is Grandma Beck so sad?"
Cambry: "No Lollipop."

I was trying to have a teaching moment with Cambry and talking to her about what I was grateful for.
Me:  Cambry, I'm thankful for Daddy and Cambry and Vienna and Jesus and the Sunshine.  What are you thankful for?
Cambry: thoughtful for 3 seconds, "CHICKENS!! BAK BAK BAK" (while flapping her little chicken arms).

At a convert baptism pointing at a picture of Jesus being baptized
Devin: "See Jesus getting baptized in the river?"
Cambry: "My get baptized in bath tub."

Neal and McKall Visit

Neal and McKall came to visit us and Neal's mission in early November. They flew in a spent Thursday night with us then headed up to Virginia to check out places and faces from Neal's mission. We then met up with them in Richmond for the Marathon/8k. After which they continued the mission tour and we headed back home. They came back to our place Sunday evening and we talked and talked and talked until 2 AM. The next day we were all feeling it, especially Neal who passed out on Cambry's bed right after breakfast.

We dragged ourselves out to the park and enjoyed the fair weather and kids. Neal and I pushed the kids and talked. It was nice to have another guy around to talk football and stuff with.

Meanwhile, Joslyn and McKall chatted unencumbered.

Cambry got us started on the slide.

She is so preciously cute.

Neal took Vienna down the slide a few times. It looks like Neal enjoyed it a lot more than Vienna.

Well, we had to take this activity to its natural conclusion - a train.

We took a stroll down to the creek to chat and check out the leaves. This picture is so classic. Neal yapping while everyone else listens. Ha ha.

Neal and McKall are a great aunt and uncle for Vienna and Cambry. Vienna was in heaven doubled-handed walking assistance.

Cambry and Vienna with their awesome aunt and uncle.

Vienna was happy to have some one else around to respond to her squawking and pointing.

Vienna had twice the phones to yank. Neal and McKall were good sports about it. Neal was still being a loaf and recovering from the previous night.

Of course, we had to have a connect four tournament. Very different results from the last time we face off, here.

We showed Neal and McKall our favorite BBQ joint here. Here's a pic of us there. I had to include this one because of cute Cambers, even though the adults look less than stellar. 

Okay, so here is one where the adults look good... ish

While at dinner, Vienna entertained us playing pic-a-boo with Neal's hat.

Tuesday, I had to work and it was rainy so Neal and the girls hung out and took it easy. We really loved having them here with us, and hope they can come back soon.

Leaves!

The leaves here are beautiful.  It's our first time being in charge of keeping a yard clean in the City of Oaks, so we continue to enjoy mulitple raking sessions where the girls got to play in leaves. Here's our house 2 weeks ago when the trees' colors were at their peak.

Cambry loves her lollipop leaves

October Camera Clean Up

We have lots of pics from lots of different occasions:

Cambry following the "Rod of Iron" through the house for Family Home Evening

Little Monkey hanging out under her high chair

Cambry sitting, Vienna pushing.  Both happy.  Love it

Just before Trick or Treating on Halloween

Cutest little witch

Our precious energizer monkey

Gardening with babies... FAIL

My poor kids have so much extra "iron" from all the dirt they eat... they're still the healthiest kids out of all our friends, so it must be alright.

Here's how meal time goes, because at some point I might look back at this stage with fond memories.  Vienna stuffs her face and is done almost as soon as we say "Amen", Cambry is whining about something that is or isn't on her plate, and by the time I take a bite Vienna is done and is climbing out of her high chair (WHY DID I CUT OUT THE SEAT BELT???).  After I wash her face and hands and sit back down and take a few bites, Vienna is squawking at either my knees or Devin's wanting to see what's going on or wanting something off of our plates.  About this time, Cambry is done without eating and is squeaking about something else.  Haha.  Devin and I laugh all the time about how statistics say that eating together as a family is supposed be one of the best things you can do in the home.  One day it may be true, but Devin and I both agree that our favorite meal is lunch... where he's alone at work and I'm alone because the girls are napping.

Wagon rides.  They were so good at taking turns

My little kitchen helpers 

We went to a bookstore to meet Brother and Sister Bernstein Bear.  Sister Bear had to get some fresh air before we got to meet her.  Brother Bear was still pretty cool.  Vienna hugged him and Cambry almost gave him a high five.

When one of the Elders gets transferred, we make them sing a duet on our hearth.  For some reason, the still keep coming back.  We love the missionaries in our home.