Iron Bowl

So, the Iron Bowl didn't turn out so great for Auburn this year.  Oh, well War Eagle anyway!  We love our Auburn Tigers no matter what! We continued our Thanksgiving weekend with some sweet time at home as a family of 3 for a couple more weeks.  

It doesn't get much better than football, frying a turkey, getting a Christmas tree, hot chocolate, decorating for Christmas, a little yard work, and some naps! 

Now, small confession: the house is decorated, but the tree still needs some help.  It is pretty pitiful to have a Christmas tree in your house for 5 days now without lights or ornaments.  Caroline has no idea how much better it is going to get.  She probably just thinks she has crazy parents who brought in an enormous tree to sit in the house.  Hopefully, by tonight though!   Pics to come.

Merry Christmas!

Holidays

HALLOWEEN:

I just realized I never posted any pics from our trick or treating. Anyway, we had a great night and Caroline loved going house to house.  The only candy she cared anything about was a lollipop - which worked in great favor for her pregnant mama!

Bryce and C cruising in the wagon.  

and sweet Knox in the other wagon. 

C has perfected saying "cheese,"  kind of looking in the direction of the camera, and fake smiling.  

BIRMINGHAM:

Our holidays look a little different this year.   With baby #2 coming very soon and my family scattered everywhere, we are not spending anytime in Bham over the holidays.  So, a couple weeks ago Caroline and I spent some great time with Mimi (as well as lots of other friends and fam in Bham).      

We always love going to Mimi's house!

C loved all the attention from Matt and Christian too.

I also did most all my Christmas shopping that week. While at the mall one night, C rode her first carousel.  As she is with most things, she was a bit hesitant at first and then loved it by the 3rd or 4th loop around.  

THANKSGIVING:

We spent Thanksgiving in town with John's family and it was wonderful.  I don't remember the last time John had 4 days off work and we were in town the whole time.  It made the long weekend so relaxing and enjoyable.  Sadly, I didn't take many pictures though.  

This is C at her Thanksgiving feast at school on Tuesday.   

And the only picture I actually have from Thanksgiving day.  I only took this because it made me laugh.  As soon as C finished her meal, she had this set up on the floor next to the dining room table.  

My mother-in-law makes an amazing Thanksgiving meal all by herself.  What a treat to just show up and eat!  And my father-in-law played with Caroline most of the afternoon so John and I could join the rest of the family at a movie.  Thank you for a great day Papa and Yaya!   

Rainy Day

This little girl was thrilled about the rain today.  As soon as we finished breakfast, she was out the door! 

Happy Monday!

More Fall Fun

Enjoying the nice weather and playing outside with bubbles 

C picked out her clothes here too :)

Storytime on Halloween

A visit with Aunt E

A birthday party

Sweet friends 

A wedding reception in Bham for Matt and Natalie 

We missed Linsey and the babies!

We love this time of year!  Getting very excited for Thanksgiving in one week! 

M + N

In the midst of birthday celebrations and Halloween, I have not had the chance to share pictures from another very big and special event!  

My brother, Matt, got married!  

Natalie and Matt

Two weeks ago we jetted across the country for the weekend to the quaint, northwestern town of Port Townsend (outside Seattle). 

This is close to where Matt has lived for the past 6ish years and where Matt and Natalie live now.  It is a beautiful part of the country so it felt like a little vacation for us too.  

(To document pregnancy a little too - me at 31 weeks)

They had a small and intimate wedding which made it really fun to be with the same people all weekend.  Fun to see more of their life and friends out west.  We especially loved getting to know Natalie's family more. 

The church

Post ceremony pics

Matt is in the Navy.  So, they had a traditional military exit.  

Wings on the cake since Matt is a pilot.  

Cutting the cake with his new sword.  I loved all the military traditions they included.  

Reception Dinner

Congrats M and N!  We are thrilled for you and loved spending this special weekend together.  We are so excited to have Natalie join our family!

Birthday Party

I will warn you this post is an overload of pictures, but I want them all on here so I will remember everything.  Baby girl's birthday was a week ago and I feel like we have celebrated almost everyday for a whole week.  I have to say I am  bit exhausted, but this sweet face was totally worth it.  She has loved every minute of her birthday.    

Last year we just did a small family birthday for C, so this year we decided to include some friends too.  We had a Halloween birthday party.  I have to say if you have a little one with an October birthday this was so easy, fun, and cheap entertainment.    

 My friend, LeighAnn, designed the invitations.  She is super talented and did an awesome job!  I wanted the party to still be sweet and innocent even though it was Halloween themed.  I didn't want black colors, scary ghost or witches, but more pumpkins and a fall twist.   

So, I used mostly orange, purple, and greens in everything.  Most of the banners, cupcake toppers, and other decorations came from a shop on Etsy (thanks to my neighbor, Katie).  It was awesome and made everything so easy.  All I had to do was purchase the items and then print them off.      

 To cut down on costs, I made all the food (with the help of my mom, of course).  I will have to post the recipe for the iced sugar cookies below.   It is my mom's recipe and these cookies are to die for!  Seriously, the best cookies I have ever eaten.  I make them for everything.   

Kid's table 

Something about this little lavender table just makes me happy.

LeighAnn did these little tags for the pumpkins/party favors as well.  

And what is a Halloween party without adorable costumes.

Zebra, Mr. potato head, ladybug, Texas cheerleader, bunny, chicken #1, Wake forest cheerleader, and chicken #2

Aren't they precious?

Sweet friends

I didn't get many pictures of all the adults or these sweet babies that also joined us.  

Unlike last year, Caroline loved when everyone sang "happy birthday" this go around.  

And she worked so hard to blow out that candle.  

Something about a child's birthday makes me become a kid again.  The expressions on her face give me so much joy.  We loved celebrating two wonderful years of life and look forward to many more!