Just can't get enough

Did I mention that I love the pumpkin patch? Throw some cute girl scouts in there and we're talkin' some sweet memories! Ally's girl scout troop went to the pumpkin patch where they took a hay ride, went through a corn maze, learned about how pumpkins are grown, and drank apple cider. It was adorable. We have a rather large girl scout troop. Thankfully, all of the moms are so kind to help and volunteer. I think that it's going to be a great year!

Winchesters!

Two of my favorite places, home and Winchester! Winchester is where my mom grew up and where my grandmother as well as extended family members live. When I was little, it was my favorite place to visit. I loved everything about it. It was bliss. When we were little we used to call it "Winchesters". My daughters now do the same. My mom has said that every child needs a place outside of mom and dad where they feel unconditionally loved. Winchester was that place for me. My grandmother used to drive us to this old country store where we picked out red hots and lemon heads every time. One the way over she would sing, "Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go!". We looked forward to going to church with Poppy and taking trips to Wal-mart with Aunt-Mel. My grandmother would cook anything that your heart desired. We would also get to see my great, great, Aunt Hazel who lived next door and go shopping with her and Grandmother. Even in her 90's, Aunt Hazel loved to shop. My favorite pastime in Winchester, though, was prowling through my grandparents' closets! I could spend hours doing this and must admit that at times I still wish that I could! It's neat to see how my daughters are now getting to experience those sweet memories. Here they are during our visit for fall break!

Pumpkin Patch!

I loooove fall! I love the colors, the beginning of the holidays, the weather, I just love it! We went with some friends to the pumpkin patch. I love this little fruit and berry patch that we have here in Knoxville. I go as often as I can. I would describe the man that runs it as a good ole' boy who looks like Santa Clause. There are little animals as well as every kind of fruit at this place. You can also buy homemade BBQ, honey, and fried pies. In the fall, though, you can go there to pick pumpkins, take hayrides, go through a corn maze, and drink apple cider. It's heavenly! We're going back in a few days with the girl scouts. You can't get enough of a good thing! Anyways, here are our pictures.

Maybe it was something we ate?

We just took Ally to the doctor today-yes, we have swine flu. What a yucky name, swine flu. I hate even saying it out loud. Her doctor said that she does have this particular strain, so, here we go. Poor girl, she's so sick, but she's such a trooper. She doesn't complain. Rather, she just does as she's told. It's pitiful. As for Emma, she's downstairs right now taking a nap. She doesn't really take naps anymore so she's probably getting sick as well. Oh yeah, I'm not feeling well either. Good times in the McCombs house! Can I just say, though, that I have the sweetest friend who has been taking care of us already. Karen called around finding out which pharmacy still had tamiflu in stock, offered dinner, dropped off popscicles. Even though we're all a little green, I've felt so touched by her kindness and others who have called to check in on us. So sweet. It's funny, it really is the simple things in life that are so special like having good friends and having family. I've been thinking about that today. By the way, is this picture hilarious or what!

I vowed I wasn't going to do it-

I am now Ally's Daisy Girl Scout troop leader! I had just told Mom that I had too much on my plate and was not going to take this one on. I guess I'm eating crow now. Of course, no one else would do it, and I wanting Ally to experience girl scouts have signed up. I'm not bummed though, rather, I'm pretty excited, in an exhausted sort of way. I've already planned a year's worth of activities, ordered a girl scout t-shirt, and am arranging our float for the Christmas parade! The program really is a sweet and uplifting one. If any of you have any ideas, send them my way!

A nose job and weight-loss

So most of you know that I have severe Sleep Apnea. Runs in the family. Well, I just had an appointment with my ENT. Guess what the remedy is-surgery to correct my deviated septum in November and lose 30 lbs! Thirty pounds! Yikes! I have been laughing to myself thinking about a Brian Regan clip on youtube where he talks about how we pay doctors to insult us! It's a pretty funny stand-up video. Anyway, yeap, I need a nose job and weight loss so that I can sleep better. Oh well, we'll see how it goes! I wonder if a tummy tuck or breast augmentation would help my GI problems!

Tennessee Valley Fair

This was the first year that I have taken either one of my girls to a local fair. I realize that fairs are full of cheap thrills, are dirty, and don't always draw the best crowds, however, I HAD to take Ally and Emma and let them experience a small-town, Southern fair. This was the first vendor that we came to as we entered the park-


How funny is that? I love it. Can I just say, though, that my girls loved the fair! Especially Emma. She does have an affinity for farm animals. Not quite sure where she gets it from, but she loves cows, ducks, sheep, goats. We walked past all of these dairy cows. Some of them were so big. I thought that Emma might be a little intimidated by them. Oh no! She would get right up in their nest and pet them!
It was pretty cute. Ally, on the other hand, held her nose and almost cried if one of them even looked at her the wrong way.

My camera went out on me, but later when we were in the petting zoo pin with all of these baby goats, Emma went around to each one and laid her head on their backs. It was sweet. As for Ally, she took more pleasure in the candied apples and the merry-go-round. She and her buddy, Alex, were so cute walking down the pavement with candied apples in their hands bumping into people because they were so intranced with their treats! This is a picture of Alex's sister getting excited as she sticks a nutrigrain bar to her forehead. What's so funny, though, is Ally's face in the background! Good times!