zoo and pumpkin patch fun!

It was a beautiful Saturday, so we decided to take full advantage!  We headed straight for the zoo.  Since they do zoo boo, there were tons of cute Halloween decorations everywhere!  

Having fun checking out the animals in the farm

There are so many great places for photo ops in the farm area

Not a lot of mommy daughter pics, and this was the best we could get with Anna Claire.  She really didn't want to have to stop and take a picture with mommy.  

We really focused on seeing parts of the zoo we usually don't go to.  It's too much for the girls to see all of the zoo in one day, so we usually make all of the main areas, but I do like to every now and then check out the parts of the zoo we usually miss.

After the zoo, we headed home for naps, and then up to meet our friends at the pumpkin patch.  We went back to priddy farms this year.  It is really becoming popular.  It was crowded!  But, we still had a really good time.

The girls love all the playground toys they have to climb on.

Such a cute idea for a train.  This was Anna Claire's first year to ride.  I was nervous about her jumping out, but she loved it and did not want to get out!

The girls on the hayride headed to get their pumpkin

Amelia was determined to get the biggest pumpkin, and I think she succeeded

Anna Claire got a really cute little pumpkin, but it took a while for her to decide

It took a lot of work, and she took a few kids out on the way up, but Anna Claire finally made to the top of the slide, and I think it was worth all the hard work to get there.

Tennessee football game photos

So I finally uploaded our pictures for the Tennessee/Florida game.  We had a lot of fun that weekend, and I look forward to taking the girls again some day.  Many years from now!

Riding the bus to the stadium

Me and my girls!  We were in a white section.  I had already bought their outfits before we knew of the checkerboard plan, but I think the white jackets worked good enough!

This was 45 minutes before kick off.  I hate that I don't have a photo of the checkerboard stadium.  It was actually very cool, and I am surprised that they were actually able to pull it off!

In front of my second home for 2 years.  I have hopes for these girls someday following in mommy's footsteps, but I have no expectations.  As of right now, Amelia wants to be a teacher.  I think that's pretty admirable

Love these two girls!

Go Vols!

Several months ago, Drew's brother, Matt, asked us if we would like to make the trip to Knoxville to see the vols play.  My schedule at work is wonderful because it makes weekend trips very easy to plan.  So, this is the weekend we chose to head to Knoxville.  Most people would say we were crazy for taking to little girls, one that is very hyperactive, to a football game at Neyland stadium, and maybe we were.  

We headed up on Thursday and met Drew's old boss and his wife for dinner.  They were kind enough to give us 4 tickets and a parking pass for the game.  We planned on going to Dollywood on Friday, but there were crazy storms headed through, so we went shopping and met a friend for lunch at Calhouns on the river.  Afterwards, we went and fed the ducks on the riverwalk.  The girls had a blast.  We think took a nostalgic drive through Knoxville.  We really have a lot of good memories from that city.  That evening we met friends for dinner.  We were able to meet their twins for the first time, and the girls loved having someone their age to play with.  We went to a park close by after dinner and let them run around.  It allowed us some time to just chat and catch up.

Then today was game day.  The day we had been looking forward to since our vacation.  I had really been building it up to the girls.  I figured the more excited they were about going to the game, then the more likely they would be to behave at the game.  We worked on our cheers, practiced with our pom poms.  The girls thought it was oh so exciting.  They loved riding the bus from the ag campus, the excitement of all the fans, and listening to the band walking around playing for all the tailgaters.  Waiting for the game to start was a bit frustrating and needed a lot of extra effort, but once the band started, and the players ran through the T, the girls were hooked.  It was so much fun cheering with them and teaching them all the chants and songs that are the traditions of the game.  But, for anyone that has ever been to a game at Neyland stadium knows, it is really tight in there.  They really made their seating for anorexic women.  You are packed in like sardines.  We had 4 adults and the 2 girls sitting in our laps in the 4 seats.  Plus, we were in the middle of the row.  So, getting out for a quick let the girls run around, wasn't happening.  Plus, as much excitement as the loud noise creates for us, it was a little too much for little ears.  Plus, with a 12:00 start time, and no lunch, and this is the normal nap time, we decided that the first half of the game was enough for us.  So, even though, there was some stress, and we probably were crazy for taking them to the game, I am really glad we did it.  It was fun sharing that with them.  Showing them the nursing building and taking them around campus.  

Destin Part 2!

This is mostly the beach part of our vacation.  The first part was taken with the fancy camera.  These were taken with the, ok if it gets sand on it camera.

First day, getting ready to go to the beach.  We were really excited!

Floating in the water

Anna Claire was a huge fan of the beach this year.  She still loved her beach chair and snacks, but she did at least venture away a few times.

Amelia asked to be buried in the sand

I think she liked it.

A little predinner family pic

The girls loved sitting on the balcony

Amelia and her friend for the week.

Jackson shared his chair with Amelia

Our last day, we rented bikes and rode out to seaside.  We found this among the little shops there. 

Eating lunch at seaside at one of the food trucks.  It was good, but overpriced in my opinion.

Good to the very last drop!

Overall, we had a really great trip.  We had a lot of fun with our friends.  We only had 1 day of rain, which Angie and I took advantage to do a full day of shopping.  We ate a lot of good food, and completely wore ourselves out!  We came home exhausted and to 60 degree temps.  It is now officially fall, and now that we have had our beach trip, I am ok with that!  Bring on the pumpkins!

Hello Destin! Part 1

We have been looking forward to our trip to Destin ever since our last trip to Destin last year.  And, we were not disappointed!  We have friends that always travel around the same time we do, so we decided to ask them if they wanted to go together.  We had a blast!  We actually headed down on Anna Claire's birthday, and stayed a full week.  All of the kids had so much fun playing together.  I almost think it is better having the extra kids, they kept each other entertained.  There was very little whining, which was the best thing ever!  The water was perfect the first few days.  It was a little rough by the end our trip, but we had plenty of time in the water!

Amelia and Jackson in front of Louis Louis.  Our first night out to dinner.  So good!  Everyone was happy that night!

Anna Claire and Hadley Grace

Family shot the second night at the crab trap.

Amelia just didn't want to smile

Angie and I went shopping on our 1 rainy day.  We came back to find this.  I guess AC just had enough of being in a bathing suit.

We finally made it to the track by the end of the week.  The "big kids" had a lot of fun on the airplanes.  We made it to the kiddy part after riding the go carts.  AC rode the cart with me.  She started out not a huge fan.  I don't think she loved it, but she at least didn't scream the whole time.  She was good as long as I had a hand on her leg.  Amelia loved the go carts

This was more up to Anna Claire's speed.  The swings were a hit with all the kiddos.

Our last night together, we made it to Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin.  I love it there.  It is so cute, and so much fun. 

Their version of checkers was stacking all of them by color.

my cute little angel

We may call this blackmail for Jackson one day

They had music in the open lawn area.  We enjoyed some sweet treats while we listened to the music

Once the sugar kicked in, the kids had a lot of fun dancing and running around

Anna Claire tried so hard to keep up with the big kids.  Her little legs just couldn't do it.

At the beginning of the night.  I think Amelia was a little smitten by Jackson!

Happy Birthday, Anna Claire!

Anna Claire is officially 2 years old!  I can't believe that after 4 years, I no longer have a baby in my home.  It's sad and exciting all at the same time.  Anna Claire is growing into such a sweet, happy, funny, energetic little girl.  She is so much fun to watch and brings us all so much joy and happiness. We celebrated her birthday with a small family party at our house.  We just grilled burgers and hot dogs and made some yummy sides.  I made probably the worst chocolate cake ever.  It was ok as long as you had ice cream with it.  Oh well, saved me from eating some extra calories that I didn't need anyway.

I'm terrible!  I didn't even pull out the camera until she opened presents.  She had a lot of fun playing with all the family.  

My little acrobat

This labor day weekend was pretty rainy and dreary.  Saturday, we were planning on taking the girls to the fair.  They've never been and I know they would love it.  But, It didn't stop raining all day, so we had to pass again this year.  I was so sad.  We only left the house to help Drew with taking Lucy to the park to train.  So, by that afternoon, we were all a little stir crazy.  So, we decided to head and play outside for a bit.  It was just a drizzle anyway.  We have a 3 car garage with 3 individual door openings.  So, I opened the first 2 so the girls could get their bikes out.  I turned away for a second while the doors were opening.  Well Anna Claire decided she had other plans than riding her bike.  She grabbed on to that garage door bottom and rode the thing up.  When I turned around and saw her dangling up there, I, of course, freak out and run over and grab her down.  She then pitched a fit because she was enjoying herself hanging from the door.  We had a conversation about not doing that again, but I was cracking up all night when I thought about what she did.  Drew says, you know she's been staring at that door for a while now just waiting for her chance.  I'm telling you, this little girl, you just never know what she is going to do!  She definitely keeps things interesting, and keeps me on my toes!