{week 26}

We headed back to Georgia accompanied by Grandma Betty. It was a long drive, but the kids did really well and Michael had lunch, a drink & blue iced cupcakes waiting when we arrived home around lunchtime. We spent the next couple days at the pool, crafting with Grandma, dressing for any weather that might arise (yep, it was the first day of summer. they were wearing mittens, scarves & hats) and getting in some good cereal stealing, snuggle time. After dropping Grandma off at the airport, the kids & I hit up the fountains at Centennial Olympic Park where the kids had a complete blast and then went home to pack & attend a Kilometer Kids practice. The week ended sadly, as our beloved Poppy took a turn for the worse in the hospital and passed on Wednesday. We were blessed to have made it to Macon in time to be with him and Gran during his last moments, as well as spending the rest of the week with family. He was celebrated in an amazing, standing room only service showing just how many lives he touched with his humility, humor, faith and love. There is no doubt will miss him. 

{week 25}

Father's Day was a little sad without our Daddy, but we got to spend the day with Grandpa Doug for the first time in years. The week that followed was straight out of the "how to have the best summer ever" book: playgrounds, pools, strawberry picking, cousins, sisters, farmers market, cupcakes, friends, wine & four leaf clovers. Win, all around!

{week 24}

Pennsylvania!!!!! After a long overnight drive the prior Thursday, we were happy to be in PA with lots of family. Michael stayed through Sunday, then headed back home while the kids & I invaded the luckiest place on earth I (see also the dozens of four leaf clovers found while we visited) for the next two weeks. Cade had his first John Deere ride, then I hijacked the lawnmover and mowed in peace while other people watched my hooligans. We picnicked with cousins & kids of cousins, ran into Great-Grandpa & Uncle David at the grocery store, visited Hershey's Chocolate World to make our own chocolate bars and swam & swam & swam. 

{on the 18th day of christmas}

I finally am blogging about Christmas! It's a real thing, right? The Saturday after Epiphany? Right?

We started off the season with the 4K Christmas pageant & the 2K sing-a-long at preschool. Cassidy  played the part of a shepherd during the pageant & did a great job. Kalea was one of 6 in her class sing-a-long. She had a blast & stole the show with her sweet smile & little voice.

dresses & shirt by my sweet friend Melanie at The Pickle Tree

4K friends Jack, Ellie & Cassidy

The following weekend the kids visited Santa, we chose a tree & decorated the house.

 The girls insisted on makeing a gingerbread house this year. I think they ate almost as much icing as we used to decorate, but we had fun putting it together. The next Sunday was the holiday program at PUCC. The Sunday School children sang a few songs and the girls were part of a dance group that performed. Jackie also sang as part of a jazz quartet.

After a busy next week at preschool with Christmas parties and playdates, we piled into the car on Friday night & drove through the night north toward PA. We had a blast visiting family for the next week for Christmas. A crazy, fun, 11 kids ages 5 and under, germ filled, white Christmas! We piled into Grandma & Grandpa's house for seven days and the kids had so much fun visiting with cousins, 2nd cousins and cousins of cousins.

pirate storytime with Uncle Derrick

Great Grandma Stein & the Henning & Lumpkin kids

Great Grandpa Stein & Isaac

Christmas Day

fun at the Hennings

Surprise 40th Anniversary Party for Aunt Margie & Uncle John

the kids were beyond excited to play together in the snow

At the end of the week, we got in our PJs, had a last snuggle with Grandma & Grandpa, got in the car & headed back to Georgia! Hope your Christmas was as exciting as ours! 

{july in review}

Hold on tight. We're catching up with the month in review. This might take a while!

The month started out with a sleepover at Gran & Poppy's house for Cassidy & Kalea. Cade spent the week being spoiled & treated like an only child by me & Michael. It was amazingly quiet with only one little person in the house.

creative use of the baby bouncer at Gran & Poppy's house

watching the braves game at a sports bar with daddy

walk to the park...first wagon ride!

only 15 & a half years until I get my license!

The following week the littles spent some time at the park, had a dance party or two, went swimming & generally acted cuter than ever.

daily dose of dance

watch out daddy, I'm stealing your dance partner

sleepy boy at the park

milk & finger mustaches

pool! the girls have done great at swimming lessons this summer

the cuteness kills me!

The following week we ventured to CatchAir, a local bounce/play/nuthouse of moms & kids, had a few more dance parties, decorated cookies & hung out in our neighborhood. Later in the week we met a friend at the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History where they have a fun weekly storytime. We closed the week with a field trip to see Ryan's flower shop (otherwise know as Brenda's House of Flowers in Woodstock!)

bffs. aww.

tasty? 

they turn out the lights & have a disco party. it's hysterical  watching the kids dance!

loved the ball pit

pool time with miles & melinda

silly girls.

decorating cookies...good for 5 whole minutes of distraction!

time for a walk. they dressed themselves. in 90° weather.

cassidy's buddy nathan at the train museum

storytime activities. it was beach day.

somebody had spaghetti for the 1st time. clearly a success!

ryan & his buddies at BHOF

The following week we kept ourselves busy with after dinner swing races, a last minute trip to Chattanooga to see BFF Sara & some other Spring Grovians, visiting the aquarium, taking a tour of Publix with some MOPS mommies & kiddos and then ended the week with the Lumpkin July pool party at Gran & Poppy's house. Never a dull moment!

we love the swing park in our neighborhood!

road trip!

choochoooooo!

chug-a-chug-a-chug-a-chug-a....chooochooo!

cassidy & SPY before dinner

feet of BFF Sara & Jackie. the tradition continues.

the rest of BFF Sara & her buddy

the next day he fell asleep in the high chair by 8:30 am. trains are tiring.

georgia aquarium

cade loved the tunnel

watching the 3D movie

looks like nemo...but is named depot! 

more swings!

upside down swinging

We love our Publix! They showed the kids all over the store & gave us lots of yummy samples!

gran's silly girl

sweet saige

kalea is one of the big girls

cade is SOOOO big!

can you find michael in this picture?

The final full week of July the girls went to Cooking Camp at the church where they go to preschool. It gave Cade & I some time to clean, do laundry, organize & pack. We did manage to fit in some silly time as well as one "ice-cream for dinner" night at Menchie's. Then we hit the road & headed to OBX for a week of craziness fun family bonding with 8 adults & 7 children, ages 4 weeks to 4 years. More of that to come! 

frozen yogurt for dinner?!? why not!!??

i LOVE kalea in pigtails!

monkey see. monkey do.

mini-me

cassidy drew a picture of her blankie. what an artist!!

we take a lot of pictures like this.

doing a trial run setting up our new tent

sleepy in the car during errands.

all i need to pack for the beach, right? 

guess who chose their own outfit?

how I cleaned out the fridge.

everyone in PJs & on the road for the overnight drive.

10 hours later!

More beach & August photos to come!