Back to Wilmington

On Wednesday, Grant and I traveled to Wilmington to catch up with my friend Brooke and her two kids, Borden and Maggie.  Brooke just moved back to Wilmington from Winston Salem, so we paid her a visit in her new casa, it's gorgeous by the way!  Wilmington has always held a special place in my heart.  I traveled there as a child to go to my parents beach house, Ron and I were married there and we lived outside of Wilmington our first two years of marriage.  I always feel at home in a way when I return.

My dear friend, Kim was able to meet us at Brooke's.  I was itching to get my hands on Kim's seven week old, Gabe and boy, he didn't dissapoint!  He is the best baby, never makes a peep and is already sleeping through the night!

Gabe was very generous with his smiles for Auntie Jena

After some play time at Brooke's house and some adult conversation, we went out to lunch and then let the kiddos run wild!

Grant and Maggie always enjoy their time together, these two are only a few months a part in age

Grant never misses the opportunity to kiss a pretty girl!

Our time together is always precious.  These visits mean the world to me and are always too short!  Our kids are growing up way too fast...

Betty Turns One

We celebrated our niece, Betty's first birthday on Saturday in Charlotte.  George unfortunately awoke the night before with croup sending everyone into a tale spin.  Lesley called all the party guests that morning and gave them the option to come or stay home, so needless to say a lot of the little ones didn't get in on the birthday excitement.  The party was fantastic though with lots of family and great food!  Thank goodness, Grant never showed any symptoms of croup, I kept thinking each night, "Is this going to be the night he wakes up barking like a seal??"  Poor George was not himself and Grant couldn't understand why George couldn't play with him.  He kept asking, "George go night night?"  "George hurt?"  Betty on the other hand was jubilant on her big day!

Lesley made the cutest cupcakes in ice cream cones, they were a hit!

Having a boy, I delighted in all the pink, love these seersucker napkins

Lesley made all the poms that were used on tabletops and hanging from the ceiling as decoration

Grant and I with Aunt Lesley and his baby cousin, Betty

Grant loves their lab, Drake, which is the sweetest, most gentle dog you could ask for

Grant and Emily, distant cousins and a month a part.  Check out the photos from the last time these two were together, they were just one and two months old.  My how they have grown!  Click HERE

Time to sing "Happy Birthday to You!"  Lesley and Lanier with Betty

"Hmmm, this is good!"

Betty making a mess

and when it was all over, she had eaten the entire thing!

Grant loved his cupcake, it was so funny to watch the kids with these, the majority of the group didn't know whether to lick them or bite into them.

Later in the day, George and Grant getting ready for the oyster roast Lesley and Lanier hosted for 100 of their closest friends.  Yep, it was a busy, crazy day but sooo much fun!

Playing in PJ's

It was time.  Time to hop into the car once again and travel to NC to visit our loved ones.  After all, I had not seen my niece and nephew since Easter!  The thought of letting Betty's 1st Birthday Party pass me by was just too much to bear.  So with Grant by my side as my co-pilot we made the trip to Charlotte.  He was an angel in the car.  Have Diego?  Will Travel.  Grant loved spending time with his cousins.  He followed George around all weekend saying, "Geo--rge" in a sing song voice and was thrilled by all his toys.  We had many adventures but spent a lot of time playing around the house in our pajamas.

The boys loved having stories read to them by Mimi

Sweet Betty opening her birthday present from Grant, a "Jenna" Melissa and Doug Baby Doll.

Grant was introduced to George's favorite cartoon, Transformers.  He also wore George's goggles around the house all weekend, hence the strap around the back of his head.

George had awesome GIANT coloring books and they colored pictures for Mimi's office.

Grant flipping through a toy catalog making his wish list for Santa and goofing off with his cousins.

These three are so much fun!  In case you're wondering what we were doing here? 

Waiting on Poppy to make our delicious breakfast in his "Big @*$ Pan"

and boy was it yummy!

Now on to the amazing foliage in Lesley's front yard, this is what I miss about living in NC, seasons!

The trees on her street were breathtaking, even more so when a big gust of wind would stir up all the leaves and blow them about.  Ah, I love fall.

I Have a Secret

Grant's going to be a BIG BROTHER!

Sunday Funday

Grant's not letting the thought of Monday ruin his Sunday.  He has a big work week ahead but he's still in great spirits and enjoying showing off his hard hat...

He Was A...

Golfer and a darn cute one at that...

Grant ditched the golf clubs and later the hat for a glow stick and his candy.  We had his best buds come over to trick or treat with us last night.  Luke, otherwise known as "Elvis,"

Savannah and Scarlett were Dorothy and the Lion from Wizard of Oz

They had a blast trick-or-treating and gathering candy

Grant was so obedient and grabbed just one piece at each house.  I was real excited when he choose Reese's peanut butter cups, Yum

Thanks Ms. Lindsay!

and then he ditched the beret

Grant loved his bud, Aiden's cowboy costume and Maddie was a beautiful witch!

Camille looked sweet as can be as a Strawberry and Cameron, Dr. Seuss

Our crew making the rounds, truth be told, we only visited around eight houses.  Grant had just as much fun answering the doorbell back at home and being greeted by the groups of children dressed up!

Our family, Halloween 2011

Kimmy and her courageous lion, Scarlett

All the kiddos loved this ghost and wacking it with their glow sticks

Alas, Grant checks out his loot, he was most excited about the candy corn and gummies.  Mommy was very selective about what our little guy consumed after 7pm, BEWARE of the sugar high!

Halloween was sooo much fun, Grant has been talking about our adventures last night all day!