Wordless Wednesday...

The smell of childhood...

I love Fall.  Anyone who knows me knows how much I stalk it, waiting for the weather to change, hunting for the first changing leaf and the feel of cool, crisp air.  LOVE IT!  

When I lived in NY I took it all for granted.  I never really thought about it thought that that was how Fall was everywhere.  I used to spend entire afternoons just driving all over Rochester looking at leaves and smelling that "smell" that is Fall.  LOVE IT!  I loved growing up going to Powers market and Shutts and getting apple cider.  Powers has these amazing teepees that they have put up every single year for as long as I can remember.  FREAKING LOVE IT!  

Fall should smell like apples and spice and the promise of crunchy leaves everywhere you walk.  I miss it.  I miss it all way more than I thought I would.  Don't get me wrong, we have great Autumns here in GA too.  The leaves change color, they just aren't as vibrant but the weather is gorgeous everyday with bright blue skies.  Today it was 78 degrees.  It is beautiful......but I still miss the crispy weather and the smell that doesn't seem to happen down here.  I think it is the lack of Oak trees but I'm not sure. Anyway, I decided not to miss it anymore!  Last year I took Alyssa up to Rochester to visit my family and instead of going in the summer (why would I do that?  I live in perpetual summer as it is haha) we went in Oct.  My awesome mother in law came and stayed at our house to help with Natalie after school every day.  She left her house and ended up being here a total of 11 days!!!  THANK YOU!!!!!  

O.M.G How I have missed my stomping grounds in the Fall!  So a tradition has started.  I took her again this year.  She is born and bred here in GA but I tell ya, that girl has some NY in her yet.  Into her jeans and long sleeves she went.  Jacket?  HECK YEAH!  She instinctively knew to jump in every leaf pile no matter how big or small.  That's my girl!!  We got to Powers and each got a donut and cider.  HELL YEAH!  My girl knows how to rock the heck outta some Fall.  :)

We visited with my cousin Lindsay and her boys one day.  Seriously, could they be any cuter?

Thanks to facebook I have reconnected with my very first friend.  We met when we were 3 and went all the way through school together until 10th grade when she moved.  I hadn't seen her since....until now :)

We made it over to visit my grandma's grave this year too.  Alyssa is named after her and I really wanted a photo of her there.  She walked up to the grave and did this weird thing that she only does when she meets someone new.   Am I the only one who finds that kind of cool?  I can't help but feel like she was there that afternoon to "meet" her great granddaughter. 

Last year Alyssa sat on the grave for a few photos then randomly jumped up, ran over to me, gave me a huge hug, then ran back and sat down.  

Notice she is wearing the same jacket....at least the sleeves are unfolded this year ;)  Call me sappy but in some way or another she is there to see us too.  Hi Grandma!  We "hear" you. <3

We stayed with my other cousin Chad for a night too.  Somehow I managed to not get ANY photos of them or their adorable son Andrew.  I KNOW!  sigh  The rest of the time we stayed with my cousin Kerry.  Kerry and I are like sisters and she is the closest thing I will ever know to one.  She is the girl yin to my yang.  ;)  

Logan took this one and directed us to "make a funny face".... think alike much?

Her kids are 5 and 6 now which freaking blows my mind.  Weren't they just born?  I hate being so far away and missing their day to day lives.  Kerry if you read this... MOVE HERE ALREADY!  hahaha  Did you see how I worked that in here like that?  Stealth.

So as if the trip could not have rocked any more, we packed up and went camper camping at the same campground that our parents used to take us to when we were kids!  LOVE!  

I have such vivid memories of this place that I could actually walk right to the place where we used to tent camp.  Kerry and I stood there a min in silence.  I wonder if she was seeing the mini versions of us like I was.  <3  The playground was the same down to the equipment.  How crazy is that?!  

Highest slide EVER.  They just don't make 'em like this anymore.....I wonder why.

 

It is weird for me to walk around places where I grew up since I moved away when I was 20.  Down here no one knows me before 1997 and up there no one knows me after then.  I think that is why I enjoy seeing all of these places so much.  I love being able to show and share my past with my children since there really isn't a way for them to experience it down here.  SO FUN FUN FUN!  

Kerry was sweet enough to try and actually get a photo with me in it.  No toddlers were injured in the making of this blog...

Cute pic:

The reality of getting a photo with a 2 year old who loves to hang upside down. hahahaha! 

Meanwhile back at home a bored Natalie had to learn how to live without Alyssa for a week...

Doing wheelbarrow walking without someone to hold her feet.  Her sister was missing to race with her. :(

Chatting with her reflection?...

I have no idea.... ;)

As much as they can get on each others nerves, it is amazing what a strong bond and friendship our girls already have.  They hugged when they saw each other again and as much as I absolutely LOVE visiting Rochester, there just isn't anything that can compare to having my family under one roof again.