A Visit to Charlotte & the Apple Orchard AND Birthday Party Fun!!

We had a great weekend getting to catch up with some of our closest friends in Charlotte.  It had been way too long.  You know how much you enjoy a friendship when it has been a while but you pick right up where you left off like it was all  yesterday.  That is how we are with Michael and Amy.  We left Saturday morning and headed to the apple orchard in Hendersonville to meet them.  This trip had become a yearly trip for all of us, but for some reason we didn't get it in last year.  We couldn't let that happen again :)  We did laugh and say that we had been to the orchard in every type of weather and this year we added light rain/fog to the list.  Of all days!  We didn't let that stop us from having fun though.  At Sky Top the apple donuts alone are worth the drive so we were happy.  Our timing was perfect because they pulled in right behind us.  We got everyone ready to go and started by heading to feed the farm animals before it started to rain.  Even now when you mention to Kate anything about going to the apple orchard the first thing she says is "tickens".  She remembers the chickens!  They each fed the goats, sheep, peacocks, and chickens.  We walked through the bamboo forest and then made our way to the playground.  Our favorite apples were not ready to be picked yet so we will have to make another trip back for those which is fine for us :)  We did buy some apples inside though.  We got apple cider slushies, donuts and apples.  We let the kids play for a bit on the playground and the animal hay bales.  I really love this place and I know we will be going back to enjoy a sunny day!  The girls are all about it!

This cracks me up...Trying to get a picture of 4 kids smiling & looking is NOT possible :)

Climbing the bamboo

Kate's smile is too precious here!  I can't help but remember how last year she wouldn't even be still!

Another one where I love her smile!  She has just started to sit and smile for the camera

I look over and see Cohen giving Kate a boost to get on the table with the bees...

You can see how foggy and damp it was 

Check out Ashton's face...he was not happy that Kate got up on the tractor to steer with him

We left the orchard and headed back to Charlotte to spend some time there.  Amy and I rode together and let the guys ride together.  This gave us some good time to catch up.  When we got back we let the men take care of the kids and watch football while we went out for some shopping.  What we do best:) Later we picked up dinner and headed back.  Jessica came over that night and I LOVED catching up with her.  We could have stayed up all night just talking and laughing.

The kids had movie time while the Dad's watched football

Love some Jessica!!

Ashton was all about Cohen...he would follow her around and just look at her.  It was so sweet!

Sunday we had to leave in the morning to get back home.  We had 3 birthday parties, but only made 2 of them.  The kids had so much fun all day, thank goodness or else it would have been meltdown central.  Our first party was for Nolan who was 2!  I can't believe these babies are already 2.  The kids had a blast playing at the park and taking 4-wheeler hay rides from Ted.  Kate got some good hugs from Nolan when we left.  We like to laugh about it because last summer Kate was grabbing Nolan for big kisses.  It was precious, and they still are!

Hayride fun!

Loving on Noles!

We left Nolan's and headed to Autumn's kitty cat party.  Caron is so creative and had the cutest set up with all the cat things.  Each girl had their own kitty cat collar and ears to wear.  The kids were off playing as soon as we got there so we got to enjoy some adult conversation :)  They came down long enough for cake and presents :)  It was so much fun getting to celebrate with our good friends.  The whole weekend was just so much fun and we are so blessed to have so many good friends.  I love them all!!

Cohen & Josie sporting their kitty cat accessories.

I didn't get one of Autumn and Kate together but this picture is one for keeps.  This is the 2 of them playing in Sunday School with the drum.  Both girls loved having it on their heads!  Watch out world for these 2!!

Sleep Troubles

So I know I mentioned that Kate had mastered the "climb" out of her bed and how we had to convert her baby bed to a toddler bed.

Can't believe my baby is in this bed!

Well that has been one of the many sleep issues we have been through with her over the past week and a half.  While some days are much much better than others, we still have a time getting her to go to bed, take a nap, etc...  We have tried it all too...sleeping with Cohen, laying down with her, letting her cry it out, you name it.  We can lay with this child, have her sound asleep, and then when we make a move to get up, her eyes pop wide open and she screams, "lay wif me!"  She has to be doing this in her sleep or she has the ears of a cat!  We have closed her door and let her scream.  She beats on the door screaming, "open de doe".  A few nights she has been so tired that it has worked with us laying with her.  One night about a week ago, I came in from a picture session to find Cohen fast asleep in Kate's toddler bed and Kelly and Kate were asleep in Cohen's bed!  Talk about a mixed up sight!  This was all at 7:00 as well.  These girls were super tired!

Tonight while I was working in the kitchen, I heard a door shut and later went to inspect...I found Kate laying in the hall with her blanket and pillow.  Notice that she had shut her door to her room.  I guess she decided to walk out and lay in the hall.  We have also found her like this some mornings.  Sometime in the middle of the night she would walk out of her room and stop in Cohen's doorway.  All of our rooms are right there together though so she doesn't go far.

On top of all this, it is hard to get her to nap as well.  A few times over the last week, she has fell asleep in the car which is rare!  Then it is hard to keep her asleep as I transport her into the house.  We have had 2 success days though!  I'll take each one I can get!    The cutest thing was one afternoon we had to shut the door and let her cry.  When it had been quiet for a while we peeked in and she had fell asleep in her rocking chair with her Bible.  It was so precious.  Since this picture, I have found her in her bed asleep on her Bible and again in the chair.  I love it!

After getting her hair cut.  She was out in 3 minutes! Annie wore her out!

Each day has gotten easier but I couldn't help but document these sleep problems.  We never had a problem with Cohen that I can remember.  Cohen will still go to sleep quick in the car and once she's out, she stays out.  Hopefully Kate will get better and better.  I mean we all know how wonderful sleep is, right?!

Fun at the Fair and a Birthday Party for Nana!

We had another fun weekend!  Don't you just love when Friday gets here!?!  I know I do.  Friday I had a maternity session, which I love doing!  There is something about maternity sessions that just get me.  I   think it is so sweet and I love being able to share in that special time.  Another reason I need to start a photography blog!  One day when I have more time :)  Anyway...after my session, we loaded the girls up and headed over to the big city of Carnesville for their fair!  Carnesville is such a small town but they know how to do a fall festival and fair!  Last year was their first year doing the fair part and we loved it!  It was perfect for the kids.  We were more than happy to go back again this year and once again, it didn't disappoint.  We went with our neighbors, the Harbin's, and from the time we got out of our car the kids were all excited over seeing all the rides and lights.  We got their wristbands quick and headed off to the rides.  There is nothing like seeing your kids so excited, squealing, and running from ride to ride having so much fun.  I think they rode everything they wanted except one ride and a snow cone help make up for that one.  They rode the swings, the ferris wheels, merry-go-round, slid down slides, jumped in the bounce houses.  It was a kids fun fest, and us adults enjoyed ourselves too!  It was a fun start to our weekend! Once again I had to rely on my phone for pictures!

Kate stepped in for a minute and didn't stay still as you can tell from the blur!

See our 3 babies on that BIG ferris wheel?! Their heads don't even show above the bar!

Loving their snow  cones 

Just for our girls..."sometimes you gotta put those kids down & get yourself a snow cone" 

Saturday we kept the fun going by watching our Bulldawgs beat those Gamecocks!! GO DAWGS!  SO I have no game pics this week but I do have the sweetest picture ever that I took Saturday night.  Kate has now mastered climbing out of her baby bed.  I think that started Thursday.  We're probably lucky it has been this long considering what a daredevil she is.  Well that has made bed time and nap time more than a challenge.  Nap time pretty much went away these last couple of days.  I laid her down 3 times and each time she would sneak back into the living room and just smile at me.  One time she just looked at me and said "dood mornin, I up".  I couldn't help but laugh at her!   Bed time has been tough because she climbs right out every time we lay her down.  So Saturday night Kelly rocked her to sleep and he would go to lay her down and she would wake up.  I tried and did the same thing. I finally asked her if she wanted to lay down with Cohen, who was already asleep, and she said "uh-huh".  That is what we did and she didn't make a peep.  It was the sweetest sight to see them laying there together.  I love my babies!  We may have to use this trick again.  Today Kelly did convert the baby bed to a toddler bed.  (sniff sniff)  My baby girl is growing up too fast.  I feel like we just did this with Cohen!

Today we had a special birthday to celebrate...Nana's!  She will be 81 tomorrow so we had a fun birthday party with the whole family at Sug and Pop's house.  Lydia always makes everyone feel so special on their birthday and really goes all out.  We had a delicious birthday dinner and just enjoyed seeing everyone.  We just love Nana so much and were so glad to get to celebrate her special day! And...Happy Grandparent's Day to all of our grandparent's and great-grandparents.  We love love love you!

Nana & the Great-grandkids

Nana & her grandkids

You know they have to do the "silly" picture

Father/Son Twins!

Cohen was modeling her "outfit"

 I meant to share this earlier in the week and didn't get around to it.  Story time at the library started back up this week so I had to snap a picture of Kate at the start of the year.  She and Carolina had a good time!