A Visit from the Walkers

Jennifer and Erik endured the long drive from DC to our place last weekend. It's always so much fun to spend the weekend with the Walkers and their two boys. There's nothing more comfortable than an old friend and Jennifer and I have been friends now for over 20 years. Life has certainly thrown us some curves and landed us five hours apart, but when we get together now, each with our own two boys, it could be 20 years ago riding to school together. Hard to believe that much time has passed.

For this get together I had planned a lovely day at Sinkland Farms (the local pumpkin patch) and lots of time hanging out in the backyard. Turns out Mother Nature had other plans with high wind warnings and a high of 47 for the weekend. Despite the frigid temps for early October, we braved the weather and still spent a couple of hours at Sinkland.
Practically as soon as we parked the three of the boys and Steve ran into the corn maze. By the time I had purchased the tickets they were nowhere to be seen and I thought it best if I just wait at the entrance. It was windy and, therefore, hard to hear and I had visions of all three boys running in different directions and Steve losing one or two. I could just picture Luke crouched in a corner somewhere crying and us not hearing him. Turns out my worries were unnecessary. Steve emerged about 15 minutes later with all three boys in tow!

You never know exactly what you might seen at Sinkland. This year we saw the Iron Hokie. He's a regular around these parts.The boys were entertained for a few moments in the toddler maze.

Luke and Grayson snagged a quick pony ride. Luke really seems to love animals so this smile never left his face while riding that pony.

Lincoln had an assignment from school to take pictures with his classroom "Flat Stanley." I understand this Stanley has been to faraway places like China. Fortunately for a four year old Southwest Virginia probably seems equally exotic.

They had their biggest pumpkin displayed along with directions of how to grow your own giant pumpkins!

They had all sorts of pumpkins in carts to take home with you.

But the most fun was taking the hayride out to the pumpkin patch and picking your own!Jennifer kept Berkeley nice and snug and all bundled up. I think any of us would have traded places with Berkeley out there that day!


I love this picture of Lincoln searching for the perfect pumpkin.

And Luke was very excited to get to pick one of his own.

Grayson just likes it when you take his picture.Back at home we tried to play outside, but it was just too windy. They boys did fly kites for just a little while.

Inside the boys enjoyed just hanging out with each other. Berkeley is such a cutie pie! Much to my dismay, though, he's a true momma's boy and doesn't really dig on squeezes and snuggles from anyone else. It was hard to resist.

He did, however, climb right up in Grayson's lap for a prime seat for a Handy Manny viewing.

Until he saw Luke on the table and decided to join him there.

And you can only rely on TV for so long. Eventually we decided to break out a project. My boys aren't particularly into crafty things so luckily I remembered I had some leftover Home Depot Do-It-Yourself projects.
Steve helped Luke build his football helmet bookends.

I dug up a glue-it-yourself fighter jet (from Michael's for $1) for Grayson. I really thought it would be too hard for him but it turned out great.

In true Luke fashion, he decided to paint his helmets pink and purple.

Erik got the short end of the stick and ended up with the wheelbarrow project with Lincoln. It involved hammering. Lincoln actually ended up doing a great job with the hammering so maybe watching Handy Manny paid off after all!
Lincoln's paint job took about 30 seconds. Turns out he's about as into crafts as my boys.

All in all a great weekend, albeit one stuck indoors for most of the weekend. The boys really got along well together and Jennifer and I always enjoy the time to catch up!