The Gross Family

Twins' Tailgate Party

Blythe and Joy's favorite things right now are Auburn, football, Aubie, cheerleaders, and the Auburn band. So they had a tailgate party, much to the confusion of all the strangers who asked them what kind of party they were going to have.

Love my big three's!!

Our resident artist, Mimi, painted fabulous faces throughout the party.

Everyone came in their gameday gear of choice, and Jake and I were impressed by the diversity of our party attendees. As long as all those folks can eat on orange and blue under the watchful eye of Aubie, they're welcome on to our lawn party!!!!

It was a sweet time of fellowship with a lot of folks we love!

Mimi also created our "pin the football in the goal posts". I'm sure there's a joke here about dizzy children doing a better job of getting the ball between the posts than some kickers we've seen this fall...

I love this- such a before and after! Lynds had baby Halle six days later, and baby Denver was just two months old at the time... both snug with their mamas!

Happy birthday, little ladies!

Our precious cousin Maggie being her sweet self!!

Yes we had a pinata, and it was sooo cute and fun; NO our little Blythe was not the one who broke it open. But she can swing a bat!

Abby and her buddy Maddy!

Bop Bop loving on some little cousins!

Guests brought cans to donate in lieu of gifts. We got to go to a local ministry the next weekend and let the girls talk with a man there about where the cans go, who is fed, etc. It was a great learning opportunity for them.

We celebrated Katie's upcoming birthday a little early that night. This nine-year-old was EXCITED for her legos! She's a well-rounded kiddo- earlier in the day, she had gone to pick out a new American Doll girl at that store. Which is a place we won't be stepping foot in ourselves any time soon! WHEW!

Ian is one of the funniest people Janie knows- this is the kind of laugh that comes of being around him!

The breakfast crew!

A few pics before church the next day! Love birthday weekends, and LOVED celebrating my youngest babies growing up!

Halloween

Our little s'mores!

At the festival, which was so incredibly fun!

All the girls jumped and played until they were about to collapse.

The s'mores with a pirate and Superman!

Marshmallow, graham cracker sans her graham, and Superman climbing the one of the massive slide.

The girls were so much more interested in the bounce houses than the old school games. But I insisted we play a few classic festival games... I forgot that all you do is hang your string over the board and magically get even more candy. HA then the girls just wanted to fish a.k.a. get more candy. No wonder I have such good memories of games made out of plywood!!!

Blythe and Joy's 3rd birthday

We kicked off the birthday celebrations with going over Shelley and her girls had us over for a little get-together the day before the twin's bday, and we had the most wonderful time as always. We even came away with the cutest pumpkins!

On the birthday morning, Abby Jane went right to work before the girls got up, making their birthday cards! This girl loves a birthday!

Jake gave the girls their traditional birthday roses!

Then we opened their first birthday present right then, so we could enjoy it the rest of the day. What else does two three-year-old girls need than a TACKLE BUDDY? At least that's true of our girls.

The Joneses came over to play that morning, and the girls stayed in their PJs all day!

Nate and Joy broke the tackle buddy in for us.

Lindsey brought fabulous sticker books for the girls and was very patient to help them get right to work!

The big three's ended their day with ice cream and their second candles to blow out of the day. It was a perfect, simple, family day celebrating our sweet girls!

Cabin Weekend Oct '12

So I am playing major catch up, beginning with our weekend at The Cabin with our precious friends, the Sheerins! Katie has been one of my best friends since I was four, so she has childhood memories of going to The Cabin as well- it was so sweet to introduce HER family to this sweet place for us! It was SUCH a precious weekend with these amazing people!

Carlton's first s'more. Not so much his daddy's. Turns out s'mores are a serious weakness of Mark's. HI-larious.

Blythe showing her big muscles.

Picking apples!

Shocker... Joy double-fisting...

Sweet Clara along for the ride at the orchard.

My sweet Katie blesses my heart to no end.

Carlton started a fabulous roll-down-the-hill trend!

Mark turned a year wiser while we were there!

Playing in the creek before breakfast...

Uncle Wayne and Aunt Boo have recently sold their home in Atlanta and permanently moved up to Blue Ridge, now using The Cabin as a guesthouse. Extra bonus for us- getting to visit with them when we go up there. It was so, so fun!