Surprise Visit

I received several phone calls from my brother yesterday morning.  I was at Bible study and unable to answer my phone.  I was completely overjoyed when I listened to the messages.  Ryan was stationed with the Army Reserves at Fort Dix in New Jersey for the month of September.  His flight home had 4 hour layover in Charlotte.

The girls and I stopped by the airport and picked him up to hang out at our house for a few hours.  We hadn't seen Ryan in almost a year so it was such a treat to get to spend some quality time with him.  He had never been to our home in Charlotte and it was his first time meeting Aubrey!   

Both girls loved their Uncle Ryan.  We were sad that Sarah and the kids couldn't join him.  Before we knew it, it was time to take him back to the airport for his flight home to Huntsville, Alabama.

Get Away From It All

Stephen's cousin Samantha got married on Saturday at Ocean Isle Beach.  We were able to get away for a long weekend and enjoy the beach.    We didn't get to go to the yearly beach trip this summer because Aubrey was born the week prior.  It was so wonderful to catch up with everyone and introduce Aubrey to so many of her family members.

Beach Ready

Lily Kate loved the sand and the water

Walking with Pa

The best seat at the wedding- Stephen and Aubrey stayed up in the beach house since we thought the heat/sun might be too much for her.  Aubrey loved hanging out with her daddy.

The wedding took place on the beach, the reception was held around the beach house pool.

I LOVE this shot!

Aunt Rachie was a bridesmaid.
This shot is special because Lily Kate wore this dress to Rachel's wedding
and we have a  similar shot of the two of them!  

This mini vacation was such a treat.  We got to eat yummy seafood, go crab hunting (LK named the one crab we found "Mr. Crab", hang out with family, eat ice cream (LK had to have chocolate) and just enjoy being a family.

Fall is Just Around the Corner

Today is officially the first day of fall, but here in North Carolina it doesn't quite feel like fall yet!  I'm dying to get out those cute fall clothes, but our weather needs to cool off some!

  I got my first taste of fall today in one of our family's traditions. If you have never enjoyed this snack you have got to try it. 

Take 1 candy corn and 2 peanuts, pop it in your mouth and it tastes just like a PayDay candy bar. Yum!

Swagger Wagon

After months of deliberating and searching we finally made our move.  We got a mini van (a 2006 Honda Odyssey EX-L).  We are now totally completely undeniably parents (not that having two daughters didn't make us parents before).  My favorite features: the rear seat mirror that pops down from the ceiling, that the sliding door windows roll down, and the back-up camera. 

So when you see that mom riding down the street with her diaper bag on her mini van roof, smile and wave because I'm sure it's me in my Swagger Wagon. (If you don't know what I'm talking about you must visit this YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql-N3F1FhW4 )

Finding Her Voice

At almost 3 months, Aubrey is so much more vocal than her sister was at that age.  She lets you know if she is unhappy or needs something!  Here she is telling me her life story.  She went on and on.

(It's okay to skip this video- it won't hurt my feelings if you don't watch it.  It's another post for the grandparents!)

A Bargain That's Out of This World

I'm always on the lookout for a good bargain.  Since becoming a mom I have found that the only place to shop for kids clothes is consignment sales.  There was a big one in Matthews this weekend.  While waiting in line for it to open, I saw this calling my name at a yard sale across the street.  I got some great deals at the sale, but this was the best $2 I spent!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

When I picked up Lily Kate from church nursery this morning, she had a dress-up dress shirt and tie on. I asked her what she was supposed to be and she said, "A coworker."

My Fair Lady (Part 2)

I love the fair.  I love gigantic pickles to eat, the smell of livestock, the crowds of people...it is just such a fun atmosphere.  When we lived close to Raleigh we regularly attended the State Fair, but since it is now such a trek, we have tried one a little closer to home and attended the Cabarrus County Fair.

We went to the Cabarrus County Fair last night.  A huge thanks to Shelly & Eric for watching the girls so we could double date with Sam & Lindsay.  We all went last year and it was a tradition worth repeating.  Being veterans, our main objectives this year: eat as much fried food as we could stomach and win as many games as we could afford :)

Footlong Corndogs!

All you had to do was set the bottle upright using this "fishing line with a ring on the end"- We tried 10 times and none of us were able to master it.

Candy Land, Purple Ball and a Funnel Cake

Stephen won Candy Land at a ball toss- he was quite excited about his win!  I'm not proud, I played the kiddie fishing game to win my girls a purple ball!

Lindsay & Sam won this gorilla at the Balloon Darts

Road Trip

We took our first family road trip last weekend.  We went down to Columbia, SC to visit the Kikers.  The guys went to the USC v. GA football game and the rest of us hung out at the Kikers.  They just returned from spending a month in Hawaii so it was great catching up and hearing about their trip.  Lily Kate and Noah played really sweetly together.  Deciding that Lily Kate is too long, Noah nicknamed her "Kate."

"Kate," Noah, and Whitney eating a snack after nap (well after Noah's nap)

Aloha! The girls in their matching Hawaiian jewelry- I got a matching necklace too!

A Not So Typical Day at the Firehouse

Today we got to do something extra special.  We went to the fire station.  The firemen were all really nice and didn't seem to mind that all 30 toddlers had to sit in the truck.  Thanks Firestation #32!

Ready to go to the fire station

(my fire hat fits best backwards :))

With Fireman Ryan - he gave us the tour

Sitting on the front of the Ladder Truck

I wanted to climb the Ladder, but Mommy said
"not until I grow-up and am a firewoman.

I got to try on a real fireman helmet!

Sunday Best

The girls before church on Sunday.  (This post is for the grandmas).

Blank Canvas

This is the canvas I painted for Lily Kate's room.  The verse is the one that the church chose for her at her baby dedication.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Everytime the timer on our oven beeps, Lily Kate gets excited and says, "I can get out of timeout now." Most of those times, she is not in timeout. Take that, Pavlov.

They Say It's Your Birthday!

Today, my dear husband turned 28!  We went to lunch at Cajun Yard Dog in the Arboretum. 

 It was delish.

Aubrey was a real party animal...she slept the whole time!

The party continued tonight when Stephen's parents came over to help us celebrate.  We went to Cantina for dinner and then came home for some carrot cake.

The whole fam at Cantina

Daddy's Girl, she decided to join the party.

Life is better with ketchup- yes even at a Mexican restaurant!

Moving On Up

Lily Kate moved into her big girl room in June, but until yesterday the only furniture in her room was her bed and an end table that used to be in our living room. 

Here are some pictures of her new furniture:   

New headboard and nightstand

Dresser- It is so great to have all her clothes in her room!

"pretending to sleep"

My next project: getting stuff up on the walls.  I'm in the process of painting a canvas to match the theme...will post pics once it is complete.

Time to Make the Donuts!

Since viewing this video: Rhett & Link: Donut Prince both Stephen and I have been craving donuts.

There is a great little bakery in Pineville called MJ's Donuts.  Lily Kate and I went on Saturday morning to pick up breakfast for the family.  Lily Kate has been talking for days about getting a "blueberry donut with strawberries on top." (I'm not sure that any donut shop makes that kind, but a girl can dream!)

You have to get there early, when we got there they were all sold out of blueberry donuts!  Thankfully Lily Kate was happy with a donut with sprinkles.

The Constant Gardner

Today while playing at her water table Lily Kate was "watering her plants."  She was using a little watering can and pouring water on different things on the porch.

I turned around for a minute and she watered her sister.  Aubrey was sitting in a pool of water in her bouncy seat, totally unfazed by the whole ordeal.

These are not from the "incident."  

Just some pictures of Aubrey hanging out in her bouncy seat.

Just a swangin'

Translation for those of you needing it.

Lily Kate: Whee!  I'm a good helper

Small Hands Big Art

Today, Mommy and I went to an art studio to make some crafts.  We got to gluestick, paint and even use marbles to make all sorts of pretty things.

My first project, I gluesticked a pig!

I loved putting different beads and shapes on my apple.

I was so excited that Anna Kate was there too!

She asked me to sit on the bench next to her.

My projects.  The middle one is a caterpillar and the bottom right is marble paint.

Hair She Is

When you have two girls, it is a given that one of the many hats you wear is a professional hair dresser, able to do all kinds of hairdos and braids.  I need to take a class or watch some videos.  There are some things even a bow can't hide.

Since Lily Kate has been so into  Toy Story she now requests a braid every day "like Jessie."  This was my first attempt at a french braid and I must admit I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!