Heaven

I must warn that there are a TON of pictures in this post!  We had the most wonderful time in Auburn and Atlanta- it was just medicine to the soul.  Thank you for all of you who made the effort to let us lay eyes on you!  It was an absolute delight to see you and your DARLING little ones!

Here are a few pictures from our get-together at Brick Oven with our Auburn friends last Friday night- it is difficult to encapsulate the fabulous chaos that night was with all the kids- and it was the sweetest chaos you can imagine!  About 20 adults and 9 kiddos- they ran out of high chairs!

Here are Abby Jane and Kirkley on our last morning in Auburn.  Alex and Holly were our wonderful hosts for the weekend, and we had the greatest time having some long-overdue catch up time with them and getting to know sweet Kirkley!

On Friday, we showed Abby Jane where she should go to school.  Here she is in front of Samford (which is also where Jake and I got engaged!)  We also were able to take her by my old office and go see the new Student Union and Jake's old coworkers.   

Saturday morning, I got to have breakfast with my girls (excepting the few who couldn't make it in town), mostly roomies and Jake went to a breakfast with Alex at the Conference Center for a Tiger Trail induction ceremony. It was SOOO amazing to have that time with my girls!  Holly and Alex were kind enough to watch Abby Jane so I could actually have a real conversation.   
Then, we got the huge hook-up when Ken was able to let us get into the game with a few of his football players who were being recruited by Auburn.  Which would mean we got to go on the field before the game and every time we came and went from the stands.
It also meant that Abby Jane was given a name tag with the rest of us that said, "Auburn Football"  "Abby Jane Gross"- five of Jake's and my favorite words all together.

She did great during the game and actually took a snooze in my lap for about an hour.  The ambient noise of Jordan-Hare is the greatest sound machine ever.  We snapped this one on our way out of the stadium.  It thrills our hearts.

Here she is with Pop-Pop.  I think his heart was as thrilled as ours in sharing an Auburn game with his granddaughter!

We got to see so many friends in the course of the day- the Carothers, the Williams', and both sets of the Jonas'- to be such a huge school, it's amazing how you can run into so many people you know.  Here is Abby Jane and I with Joy and baby boy Jonas on the way.

Jake with Ash and Chris at Toomer's after the game.  Thank heavens it was rolled.  Let's not chat about last night's game.

After the game, we all went over to the lounge at the conference center to watch the Alabama/ Georgia game.  Abby Jane was partying it up and absolutely enthralled by her "Uncle" Jeff.

Then Jake flew to Little Rock for a conference, and I went up to Mom's for several days.  We had lots of great dock time while we were there!  

Here is Abby Jane with her Mimi at GG's apartment.

Most of you know Abby Jane well enough to understand that it was AMAZING when she just chilled in her GG's lap for about 20 minutes when we got there.  

Mom's Lab, Mack, was Abby Jane's fascination.  At first it was a love-hate thing- she'd reach for him but fuss at the same time like she was scared.  By the time we left, though, she was obsessed with watching him, patting him, and, as seen below, crawling on that sweet dog.

Susan, Ryan, and Ashley came down from Greenville for the day on Tuesday.  We did a little fall photo shoot of Ashley and Abby Jane.  Ryan was very busy playing the whole time- one of the only times he's ever had all of Grammy's toys to himself!

Grandaddy and Joan came over to see the little ones.  I love that Abby Jane is getting to know her great-grandparents!

We spent an afternoon with Betsy (and Baby Gillies on the way) and Cade.  We loved getting to see their new home!  

Abby Jane was SO delighted to see her daddy when we met up with him at the Atlanta airport on the way back to LA on Thursday!  She then surpassed our expectations by doing great at MOPs on Friday morning, even with that time zone change.  It's amazing how fast kids adjust.  Happy Sunday, everyone!