Labor Day Weekend, Visitors, & a Harvest

Grandpa Chuck and Nathan working on the famed pudding box turned "rocket ship" Nathan was so excited to have Grandpa's help on his project.

Trent's parents have recently moved temporarily to the Atlanta area for work. We couldn't be more thrilled about their proximity to Kentucky- they are just a 5 hour drive from us! We were SO excited to have them come up for a visit over labor day weekend. It is always a special treat to have grandparents come to us!

Friday evening we enjoyed showing them around our home and a dinner out.

Saturday morning we headed out to Keeneland to experience some real Kentucky!

Notice the dark clouds in the right hand corner of this shot? This was a major thunderstorm that was moving quickly our way!

We made it to the car just in time for major lightening and thunder just overhead. And then a DOWNPOUR. 

As you can see, the kids didn't mind snuggling with Grammy and Grandpa in the van while we waited for the rain to let up a little. This was just outside the track kitchen while we waited to run in for breakfast. We sat for awhile watching the sheets of rain. Finally, Grandpa Chuck got brave and decided to run for it. We watched as he dashed through the rain! Little did he know that right in his escape route stood a short wall that he had to jump over. Once inside he called us to warn us about a "better" route to run through the pouring rain to get inside the building. Eventually the rest of us got up the courage to run through the rain into the building.

Finally all safe and "dry" in the restaurant. Grandpa Chuck was actually pretty wet :)

Being a little wet didn't put a damper on enjoying the best pancakes and biscuits and gravy around!

 After the delicious breakfast we went on a drive around Lexington. Literally, we were 10 minutes away from our house on this drive. Can you see why we  love to show off the Bluegrass State and The Horse Capital of the World?

I heart Kentucky.

 That enormous storm just kept coming.

More rocket ship fun with Grandpa. Notice my piano back there in my dining area? It was hanging out there while we finished the flooring in the living area.

 We held his mom hostage sanding our stairs for us. Actually she was so generous and insisted on being put to work on one of our many projects. There was a day's worth of sanding that we worked on for the rest of the day until our ward fish fry that night. It was so very nice to have help!

 And all the while this little guy enjoyed an area where he could finally spread out on some carpet and play with his toys! Love this little chubby guy.

 When Trent was little his mom would sit and read Little House, Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, etc. while the kids played with her hair. Trent now reads these books to our kids, but this night he let them experience reading time with Grammy Joyce--complete with playing with her hair.

Grammy and Grandpa headed back to Atlanta early Monday morning. While we were sad to see them go, we are excited to have them closer for awhile for more frequent visiting!

There is a local apple orchard about 45 minutes from our house that discounts fruit on Labor Day. We headed out for a morning of blackberry and apple picking.

While Labor Day may signal the end of summer, it was so hot and muggy this day! Our kids were great helpers and picked lots of fruit without complaint.

We came home and froze the blackberries for smoothies and even made some pies. Yummy! 

The apples turned into dehydrated apple slices, apple slices for pies, crisps etc, and lots and lots for eating.