Beach Family Photos

While we were at the beach, we decided to have some family photos taken since we hadn't had any since Mark and I were married. Which means there are no family photos with any of the little ones. Since we were all actually in the same place at the same time at the beach, we figured what better time! Here are some of my favorites, and you can see Robert's favorites here. Oh, and in case you can't tell in all of the photos, Madison was NOT happy about the event. Good thing she is still cute anyways.

My girls.

We got a smiling picture! She will almost 98% of the time smile if you toss her up like this. Even if she is a screaming mess. Then she will scream again.

This is one of my absolute favorites. The colors, the baby toes in the ocean. Perfect.

A perfect candid of Uncle David loving on his favorite little people.

The original five.

The whole crew!

The two big girls. Anna Kate loves her Avery so much!

Twirling under the bridge.

Our four.

Daddy is always the silliest.

Gigi and Ru with their grands. At least Avery is looking.

These girls won't be able to deny each other.

A group favorite:

Anna Kate: "Hey guys, this is my new sister. She is crying!"

Avery and Carter: "Ohhhhh"

Weekend at the Mountains!

This past weekend, we headed up to the mountains with the girls for a little getaway. My friends and I had planned a surprise sprinkle for my college roommate Julie's second baby. In order to not make it too terrible on Maddie driving back and forth, Nanny and Paw graciously let us use their cabin (Thank you!!!!) and we stretched out our time there to two days... we had a blast! This is the first time since Anna Kate was about six months old that she has been on a family trip up to Boone, and she had so much fun she didn't want to come home!

When we first arrived at the mountain house, we ate a quick lunch and headed down to the river! I can remember walking down this hill many times to go play in the river... oddly enough it was much more difficult this time around with a baby strapped to my chest, holding a three year old's hand!

We brought the whole crew! Bailey surprised us by swimming across the river, even being swayed by the current, and Emma went nuts running around on the rocks after getting wet. They had fun too!

I just love this covered bridge!

I love how she looks so big, but still so small here. Can't wait to take her on more adventures!

I couldn't not include this one. We taught AK the joy of throwing rocks in the river... we just need to teach her to aim now..

Next up, Anna's first hike (that she might remember) to Beacon Heights! This was after a complete meltdown at the beginning of the trail. She hasn't walked in the "forest" as she calls it very much. We had to convince her the deer would not come near her. Seriously.

We made it to the top!

I'm on top of the world!

Look! Maddie was there too!

"When did we get up here?"

Daddy and his girls :)

This will be framed in my house soon.

This girl was a trooper on our trip. She endured many hours in the car seat or carrier and missed her long afternoon nap two days in a row and still was somehow this happy most of her wake time.

This. Is. Awesome!

"Mom, when do I get to play in the river?" (See Mark and Anna in the background(

Checking out the river at Price Park!

Madison Leigh, Three Months

Three Months! This past month has flown by, with lots of lake time, play dates, and busy weekends! Madison is as happy as ever, and this month has added bigger smiles and giggling to her repertoire. She is in love with her big sister, and I am working on catching them "chatting" on video. Maddie likes to sit in the high chair while we cook and eat, and she and Anna Kate will talk and laugh back and forth. We are in trouble!

We don't go to the doctor at three months, so I don't know how much Madison has grown, but she is completely filling out her three month clothes with her cloth diaper on and is wearing some of the smaller six month clothes. She can roll from her belly to her back on occasion, but usually chooses to do it in the bed when we are not around to witness. She is inconsistently sleeping 9 or so hours through the night, but the best change in her sleep is that she usually only gets up once and I wake her around 8 to start the day (no more getting up every hour or two after feeding her). She has started to reach out and try to grab toys, and when she is successful she immediately attempts to bring them to her mouth. She loves a pacifier, but only wants it when she is fussy. Madison is a very very happy girl!

I didn't get any of her huge smiles, but this is close enough!

"I'm three months?"

"whoaaaaa"

"Mom, I'm not sure about all of this."

"Hey, what are these things next to me?"

"Okay, I'm over this. Sister, get OFF of me!"

Maybe some day they will smile together.

Momma's vote is those eyes are going to be brown like Anna Kate and Mommy... we will see! (They are still pretty gray in a neutral light)