Knoxville- October

Clay had meetings in Knoxville so we packed up the whole fam and went for a week! It was a long time to be gone especially after the beach but it is always fun to have cousin time! 

During naptime I helped Jack and Maeve carve pumpkins. As you can tell by Maeve's face she wasn't doing much cleaning out or carving :)

 Virginia Ann loved playing with the big kids!

 And she is standing all the time now. No steps yet.

 I love how VA's legs are crossed and her little hand is on Jack's leg. 

 The babes- Quinn and Virginia Ann- the most well-behaved of the bunch!

 We met my brother for lunch downtown. He was all lawyered up and stayed somewhat clean as the kids climbed on him!

 Ah! How are these two so grown up? Mimi and Goose took Jack and Maeve out for an early bday dinner for Jack. They were so pleased with themselves!

 Mom and Cael

 This was the only time VAC would go near my dad- ice cream was involved!

 Seriously the cutest, happiest babies!

Wild Dunes 2011

Every year my parents rent a house at Wild Dunes outside Charleston in October and we get to join them for a few days! We love this annual trip and love the memories we get to make with the kids and Mimi and Goose.

Our family

This is how Madeline helped us pack.

This was Virginia Ann's first time at the beach and she loved it but she also loved eating the sand. She woke up the first night at midnight throwing up sand so needless to say she did go back down to the beach.

Madeline loved the sand, the water, chasing the birds and collecting shells.

Twins- I mean Clay and Madeline

My beautiful parents

Mimi got the kids a boogie board and it was a big hit!

It has become a tradition to visit the fire station on Isle of Palms. The firefighters are so nice to the kids!

Madeline to your rescue? Scary thought!

Where does she learn these poses?

Dad and Jack on their respective electronics at breakfast.

Cuteness after she got all the sand out :)

Vacations are definitely different with three kids but we make the most of it. Mom and I got to go on a culinary tour of Charleston which was amazing! Dad took Jack golfing and Clay entertained the girls. Another night Clay and I went out on a date to Husk, name best restaurant by Bon appetite magazine! It was delicious and such a wonderful night. We came home to find Virginia Ann awake, playing with my parents. She seemed happy and I was holding her facing me and talking and she proceeded to throw up directly in my mouth. This was a first. It was so disgusting but I had to laugh. She laughed and I think felt much better but she still didn't get to go back to the beach. :)

The Fair

I love the fair! The North Carolina State Fair is amazing and we love going every year. We left Virginia Ann with a sitter and took the big kids. It was so much fun!

What is the fair without eating lots of junk? Jack chose a cinnamon bun from Jack's Buns.

Yum!

I love the bloomin onion!

Madeline went healthy with corn on the cob.

And a candied apple :)

Then we saw lots of animals.

Best Heavy Male Duck? Why can't there be awards like this for me?

The PBS characters were everywhere and Jack and Mad wanted their pic taken with them all.

We rode LOTs of rides! Madeline was not happy she wasn't tall enough for the roller coaster. She just needed 2 more inches- maybe next year.

Such a fun day!

Fall

I got a new camera and am loving it! We have been super busy so lots of pics to share. Here is a start:

We finished soccer season. Not sure the record. Just know that Jack scored a goal in the last game and he was pumped!

Jack and Coach

Action shot

Doing the bumblee cheer

The weather has been beautiful so we are spending alot of time in the backyard!

Jack and our neighbor Danny

miss priss

cutie patootie