Halloween

We took the boys to Edward and Rachel's neighborhood to "Trick or Treat" this year.  They were dressed up as Smokie dogs (University of Tennessee's mascot).  Eli had a lot of fun going door to door to fill his pumpkin full of candy with his cousins Harper (bumble bee) and Jones (Buzz Lightyear).  D just strolled along observing everthing that was going on.  My brother and sister-in-law are quite the entertainers for this annual get together for friends and family--feeding us hot dogs, chili, festive desserts and plenty of treats!!

My Smokie Dogs

D and Eli

Eli acting just like a dog

Eli taking a turn at being scary!

Edward leading the way for Eli, Jones and Harper

Papaw Alphus with Eli and D

Bonfire 2011

We enjoyed the annual Covenant Couples Sunday School Class bonfire at the Crago Farm (Carrington Acres) this past Saturday evening.  This event is always special to us since it is the anniversary of the first social event we attended when Eli was welcomed into our home two years ago.  If you have followed my blog since the beginning when I first started writing almost two years ago, you will see it was the first thing I documented.   Wow, has Eli changed in the past two years or what!  It seems like this was the first year he was fully aware of everything going on--the horses, bonfire, hayride, food--and he enjoyed all of it.   This year we also included Baby D for his first time to enjoy this momentous family event.

The last three photos below shows how our family has changed since 2009.

Eli was all smiles while riding the "horse."

Eli was so funny when he was riding the mule. He kept saying "Woohoo!"  Thank you Sonya & Brent for hosting another wonderful bonfire!!

Ken and D by the fire pit

Me and D

Our little family enjoying the hayride

The Bolins at the 2011 Bonfire

The Bolins at the 2010 Bonfire

The Bolins at the 2009 Bonfire

Baby D's First Birthday

Baby D turned ONE on Friday, October 28th!  We had a small party in his honor on Saturday.  He thoroughly enjoyed his special cake....

Singing the Happy Birthday song.....

D with his very own cake--yum!

Abigail Shepherd, D (pulling Abigail's hair), Amelia Shepherd and Eli

Nana and D

Cake and food--Winnie the Pooh theme

D and his new Little Tikes trike

Family and friends

Eli loved pushing D in his trike

 

Eli and Nana

Guthrie Farms & Pumpkin Patch

We made a trip to Guthrie Farms & Pumpkin Patch in Riceville, TN on October 23rd.  We enjoyed a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch where Eli and D picked out a pumpkin each.  Eli enjoyed their petting zoo where he was able to pet and feed the billy goats, cows, etc.   Here are a few of the photos we took:

In the pumpkin patch

Eli talking to the billy goat

Eli finds a pumpkin he can carry!

D finds a pumpkin too!

Summer Time Fun

Life has been so busy that I have failed to keep up my blog.  So I will call this one Summer Time Fun which includes miscellaneous photos of our life over the past few months.

Eli and D Celebrating the 4th of July

Eli and D on the Fourth of July

Eli gets a new bike

Daddy gives instructions to Eli on how to pedal his bike

Daddy, D and Eli on a typical Saturday morning where we all watch cartoons together from our bed

Eli lost his first tooth--by accident.  He fell at Daycare and knocked his two front teeth loose.  He fell a second time a few weeks later and finished off one of the front teeth.  The pediatric dentist had to pull it, but Eli was a brave little boy.  He has become a regualar at his dentist's office lately and loves to visit "Dr. Chad" Eslinger.

D and Eli sporting their matching monogrammed tees

The boys in their room

This is the custom painting that was recently done in the boys' bathroom.

Love the frogs, dragonflies, caterpillar and beatle on the bathroom wall.

This is what we sing to the boys when they are getting their baths....

This is where I found Eli this morning--in my bed watching cartoons.  He climbed up there while I was getting ready.

On Monday, Septemer 12 we took Eli and my niece Harper (both 3 years old) on a day trip to Dollywood.  It was a beautiful summer day and the weather was not too hot.  The crowd was down since it was on a Monday and most kids in the area were back in school and summer vacations were over.  These are the photos we took that day:

Eli and Harper riding the tram into Dollywood

Cindy, Eli and Harper waiting for the first ride of the day on the Steam Locomotive, i.e. "choo choo!"  "All Aboard" is what Eli announced to everyone before the train started moving.

Harper, Ken and Eli enjoying the train ride.

Eli fell asleep on Ken during the train ride.  And the day was only just beginning....

Harper had to enjoy the first kiddy ride by herself while Eli was still catching some "Zzzzzzzzzzzz's"

Harper and Eli riding the ducks after the short lived nap.

Harper and Eli riding the ducks again..... 

Eli and Harper riding the Bees.

Harper and Eli were really getting a thrill on the Pig ride--I think it was the lady in charge of the rides that made it so fun.  Miss Gloria was singing to them "Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O."  She was also calling the kids by their names.

Harper and Eli feed the ducks after getting soaked on the raft ride.

Eli, Ken, Cindy and Harper