Vacation, Part 4

evening walk with Annie and Jacob




walking around the lake with my crew


and lots of time spent at the pool




more game-playing


Miss Priss


paddle boats!




s'mores




sidewalk chalk


exploring with magnets (Honey's idea and so much fun)


water balloons (another Honey idea that was a hit, especially with Jacob)




bluegrass night in Waynesville








and one more round of putt-putt




Nora had been watching all week and she wanted to play, too!

Vacation, Part 3

collecting swan feathers




Nora and Poppa spent lots of time together


day trip to Cataloochee, such a beautiful valley


Annie and Jacob's faces here!






splashing in the creek. after they got out we saw a crawdad as big as a lobster!


Poppa and all the kids


Nora is now the one making me laugh


lots of crafts and games and Daddy time during the week


and lots of treats!






and now Sophie's face

Vacation, Part 2

Lake Junaluska for a whole week! (I don't remember the Gent ever taking a whole week off before, it was awesome.) We fished, swam, tried out the paddle-boats, went to Cataloochee, ate s'mores, played putt-putt, Honey and I went shopping, the Gent and I spent a day in Asheville, experimented with magnets, did water balloons and sidewalk chalk, played games, did art projects, read books, walked around the lake. It was great to have a week away!

Summer Travels

Last month we went to Lake Norman for my cousin's wedding, and then over to the Smoky Mountains for a week. I have lots of pictures, so they will be coming in multiple posts. Let's begin with Lake Norman!

wedding time


Nora and Daddy


Sophie loved the "island"


Babycakes loved the "beach"


Sisters


Jacob loved spraying everyone off with the hose


The big kids all had a turn to drive the boat--thanks, Uncle B!

Independence Day

We went to visit Bebe and Papa Rick over 4th of July--fun to get away!

Jacob loved jumping in the pool


Daddy, too


The girls played a little more calmly


Nora and Papa Rick


Making cookies with Bebe


Independence Day family photo

Nora: 17 Months

17 months and thinks she is a big girl now. Nora talks all the time ("brush teeth" is her favorite thing to say and do) and squawks at her siblings if they do something she doesn't like. No worries about her getting pushed over by her brother and sisters. In fact, two weeks ago she threw such a fit when she finished her graham cracker and I wouldn't give her another one that Jacob felt sorry for her and gave her part of his! Nora has started drinking her water from a Camelbak just like the big kids, and is about ready to move from her high chair to a booster seat at the table. She got her first pair of shoes that were new to her and first thing every morning she asks for "shoe-shoes." She's pretty adorable, for sure! She is still nursing three times a day, though I keep thinking she will drop one soon and wean in the next couple of months. She is wearing size 4 diapers and wearing a mix of 12-18 month and 18-24 month clothes. Excited to see what next month brings in Nora's adventures!