"Fall"ing in love with Charlottesville

It's true...we are really loving it here.  I realize I need to say this now, before the temperature dips below freezing and I start freaking out about the weather.  But really, this place is wonderful.  Gorgeous scenery: we're just at the edge of the mountains, surrounded by rolling hills and TONS of trees.  Right outside our door we've got a great path that runs along the river all around the city.  It's so family-friendly...the kids and I took a great yoga class together last week at a studio that ONLY has classes for kids; Christopher's school hosts a fall and spring soccer league, a huge halloween party for the kids, football game tailgates, playdates, and much more.  The kids and I love our CBS class on Thursday mornings and gymnastics on Mondays.  And we have lists of road trips, restaurants, and fun activities we want to try before we leave.  Here are lots of random photos from some of our autumn adventures:

My mom dug up some overalls from when I was a kid.  Classics.

Hiking up to pick apples at the orchard.

Mils got tinker toys from Uncle Tim for her birthday.  FIRST things built were two 'microwaves' (microphones).  There is cute video to go along with this photo...I'll try to post it next.

Si and I found a great playground right at the edge of a beautiful lake.  It was in the shape of a boat, so Si dubbed it "Noah's Ark"

Millie's lit up by the flashing lights of the Presidential motorcade.  We bundled up and walked downtown to catch a glimpse of President Obama when he came to town to stump for the local congressional candidate.

We were only able to hear the rally -- couldn't get close enough to see much of anything -- but we were on the curb when the motorcade fired up and headed out.  

Si and Dad heading to the other side of the fields for soccer practice.

Mils doing what 4 year olds do at soccer practice.

Meanwhile, back at the 2 yr olds' practice, it's a total family effort.  Christopher's the coach, getting them all stretched out and warmed up.

Goal!  Notice the bag of goldfish crackers in Christopher's hand?  This was the KEY to getting the kids to do any kind of soccer-related activity at practice.  Score a goal...get a snack.  Genius.

Now she's getting into it.

Just a regular Saturday morning with the clowns.