Celebrating

My best friend got a year older and wiser last month. We celebrated our hero and favorite guy in the world with a beautiful hike.

 Trying to tackle Daddy.

 There had been a bit of a joke about how we were going to celebrate Jake's birthday. Our world right now is pretty much revolving around his writing as he is wrapping up that dissertation, and he said he didn't feel like celebrating much until after he finishes. But I like him a lot, and I'm pretty pleased he was born a while back, so I kept wanting to make a bigger deal of it than he did. We met some friends at the park and I pulled out this cake that I made to celebrate his non-birthday day. That was really his birthday. Maybe you had to be there to think it was funny.

 LOVE my man and any chance to celebrate him! We're pretty big fans of his around here.

Canes Game

Our Bop Bop works with their local high school football team, and this fall we got to go watch a couple of games while all the cousins were together. Joy has become obsessed with the Canes and going to the Canes game. I love this shot of Joy and Bop Bop doing "head bumps"- Bop Bop's special greeting with his grandkids.

 I love Blythe's huge smile in seeing Bop Bop!

 He is always a superstar for these kids, but getting to see him on the football field elevates his status even more!

 Looking at homecoming floats...

 Making good use of a hill...

 Paul and his boys watching the game!

 This particular game was a spectacular one for Abby Jane as it was Homecoming, and we got to see the court announced and the queen crowned. The meeting of princesses, fancy dresses, a queen, a crown, and football all in one evening was like all good things meeting together in complete perfection. It was precious.

The twins cheering on the Canes. If you ask them what their favorite things are, they'll tell you it's football, cheerleaders, and the band. Such a fun night!!

Just hanging with the Gillies

Here's a few more glimpses of our sweet time with the Gillies while they were here!

 Cade and Abby Jane were absolutely thick as thieves the whole time. They were always having these private conversations wherever they were. They seemed to have so much chatting to do and things to discuss.

 The younger set getting ready for a treat from everyone's favorite Mimi!

 Mmmm football brownies...

 Some dear friends of Ken and Sandy let us use their pool one morning- so here we are swimming in October- SO fun and a little chilly.

 Shocker- Joy was the first kid in!

 Cade did some fantastic swimming- which is especially great as spring and summer are just now approaching in New Zealand, and he's fresh off a winter of no swimming pools!

 Water guns were a big hit with the boys!

 Blythe making her trademark lemonade.

 She's seeming more and more grown-up to me every second. Where's the brakes...

Tailgate TIme!

Last month we headed down to Auburn for a day of tailgating with sweet friends! I think one of my very favorite things as a parent is sharing gameday on the Plains with our girls.

We got to celebrate Lauren, in her cute little chevron shirt in the middle, who is expecting her little one imminently now! So fun to spend the day with these sweet friends!!!

 Getting a little tired, a lot sticky, a bit sweaty, and very full bellies- tailgating at its finest.

 The twins playing with sweet Asher!

The highlight of the day for Abby Jane, perhaps one of the hight points of her life to date, was seeing the "fancy girls!"

 Practicing for call-outs.

Such a fun day in our sweet Auburn!

Gillies First weekend in town!

The Gillies came for a visit from New Zealand in mid-September! There aren't words for how wonderful it is to be with folks you love after a long year away. We kicked off their three-week visit with a chock-full weekend!

Friday night: went to watch the Canes game and see Bop Bop on the field with the players. And yes, Blythe wore her sunglasses the whole time.

This one is for anyone else who loved "Friday Night Lights"- Jake and I got a little obsessed last year when it came out on Netflix.

 There's our Bop Bop waving! He might as well have been a celebrity. There is not much cooler than seeing your grandpa on a football field.

 Joy and Jane were pretty into the game. And the cheerleaders.

 Saturday: playing at Mimi and Bop Bop's, watching Auburn play, going to a local festival called Roselawn.

A big weekend makes a girl need her coffee. JK JK, she likes to hold Jake's coffee cup to warm her hands!

 Sunday night: paddle boarding and picnic at the lake. It was fun seeing the kiddos pick up where they left off. Janie and Cade are like peas in a pod- there is very little in a kids' life better than fun with cousins!