The Rat King
Both boys have gone round and round about what they want to be for Halloween. It started out as a dragon (Grayson) and a knight (Evan). It progressed through vampires, wolves, and then the Nutcracker. Grayson finally decided he didn’t want to be the Nutcracker, he really wanted to be the Rat King. Evan then decided HE wanted to be the Nutcracker Prince. Still thinking about all this yesterday, Grayson came home, opened a cardboard box he’s been saving since his birthday back in April, plopped down and drew the cutest Rat King I had ever seen.
Daddy’s Little Helper
Grayson is definitely into helping with the yard. If Ben is outside, Grayson is outside. He was so excited when we got out the blade mower this year and he was really mowing instead of pushing a plastic one. When they were out mowing this past weekend. I just couldn’t resist grabbing the camera.
Sweet Girls
Today while eating a snack, Grayson says, “Mom, I think girls are sweeter than boys.”
Aww, I think.
“What makes you think that sweetie?”
“Because girls are always getting bug bites.”
Ah! 
Tour to Tanglewood
In Winston Salem, there is a great opportunity to support research for Multiple Sclerosis in a biking fund raiser. Ben has done this for five or six years, always wanting me to join. This was the first year I was up to trying. I can’t believe it, but together we raised just over $1000! Can you believe it?! We did many training rides leading up to the big ride, finding some new places to ride along the way. In the end, I had to take the 22 mile option because I just couldn’t ride 45 miles in one day yet. Here are some pictures from our ride. Did I mention that is was pretty cold and rainy that day? Maybe next year will be dry. 
Thank you so very much to all the friends and family members who were able to support us in this event.
Just starting out
Ben somewhere along the longer route
Here we are at the end of the ride. We are soaked!
Bows and Arrows
Grandpa Robert came by to visit this past weekend and brought each of the boys a bow with three arrows. Grayson’s first words were, “Yeah! Now I can shoot Mommy and Daddy!” Oh my. Luckily, they were redirected to practicing on targets, not people. I noticed yesterday that after they made their beds before school, the bows and arrows were placed carefully across the quilts.
Silly boys
Sometimes when Ben gets home the boys are off the woods or tucked into a book and can hardly notice. OTHER times, they are all over him. They were getting so silly yesterday that I had to grab the camera.
Biking weekend with the boys
This past weekend was a big one! We biked 5.5 miles in Greensboro on some greenways we hadn’t been on before and 18 miles in Winston! A greenway is connected to Salem Lake that is paved and pretty straight–very nice for racing Evan! When we got to Salem Lake we spotted: 70 turtles, 2 blue herons and 4 skinks! We stopped at a super nice water area at the half way point to give everyone time to rest up.
Enjoying break time. I think there is a skink in this picture.
Evan spotted this heron. Nice day for wildlife!
Evan can get quite insulted when we want him to ride behind one of us. Surely he is supposed to always be the leader!
Ben with Grayson on the tag-a-long
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