Monday, August 11, 2014

Traveling with Daddy

Daddy had to go to Charlottesville, VA for work for a week so we decided to tag along.  We have been on this trip with him a few times so we were excited.  We stay at a great place and get lots of extra family time.  It seemed like the perfect thing to do the week before the girls go back to school.   We did have a moment of panic that we were crazy as we were packing up to take 3 kids to live out of a hotel room for a week while Daddy had to go to work all day!  It didn't help that the night before our planned 6:00am departure we put both big girls to bed with a fever.  


The good news is...we have GREAT travelers!  (That is Claire under the blanket)


One of our first stops is always a favorite restaurant.  Last time Claire was there it was her first birthday.  


We stay at the Boars Head Inn.  It is a great place with great views.  This was right outside our patio door.  


This was our backyard for the week.  (that is Daddy and the big girls on the swing)


Somebody thinks her Daddy is pretty great!


We found interesting ways to keep busy while Audrey took her morning nap.  


and to keep busy in the room!


Audrey can empty a bag in seconds!


BUSTED!

We spent an evening on UVA's campus.  


We have pictures at this spot from all of our visits. 


and at our favorite tree!







It's great for climbing!






The "balance beam walls" are endless.


Claire found a stage!  She put on a show for us. 




She made Daddy and her sisters sit in the audience.  



We always find plenty of spots to play. 


These two have the sweetest relationship!  They adore each other. 


This is what I saw from across the way. 




They were amazed by the huge pillars. 


Daddy took Claire fishing one night.  (Emmerson had a stomach bug so she had to miss it.)












All ready for a night out.





Making a wish. Claire told us her wish was "to have a band".


This baby...seriously is the best!  She was such a trooper even with questionable naps, bedtimes and eating times!




Claire telling us about "the BEST mac and cheese she has EVER, I mean EVER had!"


Chalk wall...Emmerson's dream!







We spent a lot of time at the pool too.  The girls love to swim and the weather was great!


Audrey loves to swim but is happy with toys poolside too!


Claire sporting her new hat.




Claire is really starting to get the idea of actual swimming.  




This is what we see of Emmerson when she is at the pool. 


These two have so much fun together!








Our mornings started with muffins and smoothies


and walks around the resort. 


We fit in a little shopping too.  I tried to talk Claire into a new toy and she insisted on a new hat and lip gloss!


Little carts are always a hit! 

Sunday, August 10, 2014

End of summer traditions

One of our traditions is a visit to the zoo with Marin on the last day of summer.  We have been doing this since Marin and Emmerson were babies.  It's a bittersweet day for us!  The girls have a great time but are getting old enough to understand that school starting means we don't get to spend as much time together!

We are so lucky to have such great friends for our girls to grow up with!








We always take a picture on this rock.


We added a of couple girls this year!






Quinn thinks Claire is so funny!


Here's to another great summer with our best buddies!


Thursday, August 7, 2014

11 months old

Our baby girl is already 11 months old.  We can hardly believe we are starting to talk about her first birthday.   She is still the sweetest, calmest baby we have ever been around.  She is a great sleeper, still taking two naps a day.  Loves baby food but hates bottles!  Adores Emmerson and thinks Claire is the funniest person she knows.  She is crazy about her Daddy and squeals with delight when he gets home from work.  This quickly turns into tears due to her big sisters getting to him first.  She is really saying a lot of words more regularly and unprompted.  Her favorite word being "more".   As quickly as you take the spoon out of her mouth she is yelling, "mo mo mo".  She has 9 teeth which we only know because I held her down and looked in her mouth today.  She does funny things and then looks around to see if anyone laughs...just like Claire did as a baby.   She makes our family so happy every single day!


Her personality is really starting to show.  She is silly like Claire!


She loves her music table.


and the play house!


She has figured out how to reach her arm through the crib slats and pull books back into her bed...


She thinks its so funny when we catch her.  


She is totally on the move!  She can get moving VERY fast but prefers an army crawl.  




She loves to swing!


Trying to keep up with her big sisters is hard work.  She sleeps hard at nap time.


She turned 11 months old while we were in Charlottesville, VA.  This is on UVA's campus.  


Trying cheerios for the first time on the morning she turned 11 months!