Yes, it was a cute thing when he was 4, but he still calls it "scarfing" a pumpkin, not carving! Although we have corrected him, he still says it, so that's what it is! Stephen had a blast since he got to participate this year. It actually went pretty well. As Christians, we try not to glorify Halloween, but Silas totally LOVES the pumpkin part, so I'm guessing this will be a yearly tradition. I want to enjoy it while it lasts. Before you know it, it won't even be cool to hang out with us, much less engage in family activites! So for now, we will "scarf" a pumpkin to our hearts delight!

Pumpkin Scarfing!!

Love Play Therapy! Mom does NOT let me do this!

Mountains and Apples, oh MY!

Mountains and Apples, oh My!

We had a GREAT time in the mountains this past weekend! We got up there on Saturday afternoon and went swimming in the hotel pool first thing. It was like bathwater! Then we went out to supper then rode up to Chimney Rock. When we came back, we stopped at Walmart to get milk for the next morning and came out to a dead battery. Some young guys in a "monster trcuk" (Silas' description!) jumped us off and we made it back to the hotel. God is good, the car started the next morning and we went to Walmart and got a new battery. Then on to the Apple Orchard! We all loved the corn maze, but Stephen did especially! We all sampled the many delicious varieties and settled on Fuji, Blushing Gold, and Winesap (I think there were 26 kinds there!!). It was a great weekend of making memories (supported by pictures of course) for the Dobbins family!

Stephen's Speech

Stephen has had an occupational/rehabilitative therapist come every Wednesday for 5 weeks now. She says she has seen some improvement , but not as fast as she would like. She recommends that we continue with her (she's free through the county program) but to add a speech therapist as well. We really don't want him to be behind, but how can there be a cookie cutter pattern for what all kids should be doing or saying at a certain age? He will not be 2 until Nov 19, so we are hesitant to hit him full force with two therapies a week (not to mention fitting that in to an already hectic schedule we live!). Anyway, we are satisfied that he is VERY smart, in fact just short of genius :0). He fell in love with Dora the Explorer this week??? No clue why, but when you ask him what he wants to watch on TV he says "DORA!"(and he can say "backpack"). He understands everything we say, follows directions when he wants to, and is saying more words each week. He even does the sign for "more". So pray for us to have discernment about his needs and for us to let him grow and learn and not be overloaded with expectations that the world has for what is "acceptable". He is SO sweet and we are very blessed to be his parents!

They could ride all day...

There's no place they would rather be than outside, together, and on the Gator!! Stephen waves goodbye to us and hangs on for dear life!