Ten months

Look at me- just two days late on the ten month post! VAC is still a joy-so sweet, easy and loveable! Enjoys exploring the house and getting into her siblings' stuff! Climbs up the stairs if I let her and tries standing but doesn't take any steps yet. Loves baby food and any other food you put in front of her!

Sisterly love

Soccer Season starts

Jack had his first soccer game of the season today. His team is the Bumblebees- very ferocious, huh? Clay is coaching again and they had a great time this morning!

I was in charge of snack and made these water bottles for the kids. Clay told me I was setting the bar too high for all the other moms. I told him I wasn't going to lower my cuteness standard to make them feel better :) Ha! I love doing this kind of thing and the kids loved them too!

First day of school!

School started on Tuesday! YAY YAY YAY!! Tried to get some pics of the kids but Madeline was not cooperating for this one.

My oldest on his last first day of preschool!

Happier here

And even happier to be back in Ms Marian's class!

The week went well and it was nice to be back in a routine.

Campout

Last weekend the weather cooled off and was almost bearable. We are loving the 80s! Clay decided to break out the tent and have a campout in the backyard with the kids. They were ecstatic! They had a blast and everyone slept all night long! Me and VAC were tucked snug in our beds inside :)

Roadtrip

We took the roadtrip of roadtrips a few weeks ago. Clay was working in Charlotte for the week so I decided to take a trip. We headed to Charlotte first to spend 2 nights with Clay in the hotel (which Jack and Mad think is the coolest thing ever). During the day we had a playdate with my sorority sister Whitney Hampton Bouknight. Our girls are almost the exact same ages so it was fun to get them together. Jack was a little disappointed there were no boys but he got over it!

We went to a nature museum and then had a picnic in a beautiful park.

Madeline and Virginia (yep, there were two Virginias!) are six days apart in age. Virginia introduced Mad to cheesy pringles of which we have had many since :)

The crew

After Charlotte, we headed to Greenville for the day to see my dear friend and college roomie, Ginger- for whom Virginia Ann is named after. It was so fun to catch up and let our kids play together. Madeline and Sara Tabb are the same age and LOVED playing baby dolls! I love seeing these girls together- warms my heart!

Jack and Virginia (yes, another one) are also the same age and had a great time on the playground.

All the kids minus Ginger's oldest- Emslie who was at school. This was the best pic we could get. Ginger had a sitter for the afternoon so we left the oldest 4 at home and took Virginia Ann and went to lunch. It was such a treat to get to spend time with my sweet friend. Though few and far between, I cherish our visits.

Jack, Virginia and Virginia Ann

After Greenville, we got back in the car and headed to Knoxville. A woman named Madeline is running for mayor and my parents took one of her signs and had this in their yard when we pulled up!

Ah, cookies and a movie in Mimi and Goose's bed!

Swimming to Goose

Lunch under the pergola. I love my parents backyard.

Playing hide and seek- Jack wanted VA to play too! She was happy to be included.

We got to celebrate Julia's birthday. The kids were excited to blow out her candles. I love Madeline in this pic.

Grandkids minus Madeline who was in rare form. She got the croup while we in Knoxville and was quite sick for a few days. I hadn't planned on visiting the urgent care and then the ER at Children's during my trip! Thank goodness for Mimi and Goose! They were so helpful with Jack and VA. We headed back to Charlotte for another night with Clay and then finally home again. Whew! No more roadtrips for a while!

nine months

Three weeks ago, Virginia Ann turned nine months and here we are. Such is the life of the third child. She weighed in at a whopping 17 lbs! A tiny little babe! Still an angel; still love her to pieces!

Sisters

Mommy and Me time

In between camp ending and school starting, I decided to a Madeline Day and a Jack Day. I got a sitter to keep the other kids and took each child out by themselves for the day. First up was Madeline day. we celebrated on her 2.5 birthday! She was very excited. We went to a puppet show at the community center, which she loved!

She requested pizza for lunch and then we walked down to the cupcake shop and had dessert. It was so much fun being with Madeline. She is a different child when she doesn't have to compete for attention on both sides.

Jack Day was next! Jack requested Mexican for lunch (I love this kid!) and then we went to Adventure Landing to ride go-karts and play games. A treat for me to spend time with my oldest!

Dance time!

I danced my whole childhood. Age 4- 17 I was in spandex multiple days a week. I loved it. I loved the friends I made. I LOVED performing. When Madeline was born, one of my first thoughts was that I would have the opportunity to pass my love of dance on to my daughter. I know she is only 2 and I will be honest and say before I had a girl I passed judgement on moms who signed their 2 yr olds up for dance. But then Madeline got here and I realized that girls- or mine- are hardwired to dance. It is just in them. Like their desire to feed a baby or play dress up or steal my make up brushes. God made her this way and I am going with it- all the way to the community center. For DANCE classes!! I can't wait. We shopped for a leotard today and this is the one she picked out. I am not sure who is more excited. Stay tuned for pics. And performance dates :)

Children of the Okra

Do you see them?

A view from above

And below

Yes, that is all okra! It has taken over the garden. The tomatoes and peppers are in the back but can't be seen because of all the okra! It is a good thing Clay is the best okra fryer around! If you need any okra, come on over!

Virginia Ann takes in the garden action from the swing. It is the safest place for her!

Some of the day's produce!

Clay has planted a garden every year and it has been great to watch the kids get so excited about planting and growing veggies. They love to go outside with him to cut whatever is ripe each night. It has been a bountiful summer!

New on the Block

I have added a new product to my Jennie from the Blocks business. I loved creating this Family Rules Subway Art for our family and now I am selling them. They can be customized in any color combo. Check out the site for more info!

Eight months - a little late

So I am a little late on the eight month post but the pictures were actually taken on the 19th last month. Virginia Ann is developing at rapid speed as she started crawling the week before her 8 month mark and the next week pulled herself up in a standing position. This is the earliest any of my children have reached these milestones and it is sort of freaking me out. I am not ready for my baby to be so mobile. But she is and we are enjoying it! I am not sure Madeline and Jack are though b/c their sister can now get any of their toys they leave on the ground. VA still has no teeth and although I keep thinking they are imminent, I have given up checking daily. Her cute personality shines through every day and she wants more and more to play with the big kids!

Big girl cup

Just today, I found her standing in her crib for the first time! She was quite proud of herself but I don't think she could figure out how to get down.

Weekend in NY

My mom came to Raleigh on Thursday to visit us and take a mini vaca with me! She and I flew up to NY for the weekend to see her family and go to my cousin's wedding shower. It was such a treat!

M&M's at Jessica's shower

It is apparently tradition up North for the bridal shower (most people have just one large shower) to be a surprise. It looked like a success when Jess came in!

Jessica and her mom

Me and my girl cousins- Lisa, Jen, me, Jessica, Caroline, Bridget and Liz

Me and Mom

Opening gifts- all 70! This was a cute idea- a basket of wine with tags attached that read "wedding night", "first dinner party" "First anniversary", etc

My mom and her siblings minus one- Tricia, Mom, Kevin (father of the bride), Eileen and Maureen

Jessica and her mom and grandma

My cousin Bridget's little boy Cormac is five months old and such a yummy baby!Loved getting to meet him!

A quick trip but so fun to spend time with family! Thanks to my Mom for inviting me to go with her and for Clay for taking care of the troops back home!