Bubba finally turns 5

It does seem like yesterday that we were bringing our sweet 2nd child home from the hospital, but in the same thought, her fourth year seemed to go on and on.  Maybe because all of her friends had turned 5 already and she looked like she was older. I don't know, but on the 22nd, she finally turned 5.  We hit the road and headed to Asheville for the night.  The girls just love to stay in hotels so that was a perfect way to celebrate.  Also, a way for me to get to the Grove Park Inn and check out the National Gingerbread House contest. The hotel was the Hotel Indigo and it was pretty standard but they made Addy's stay so sweet.  They had a balloon and ribbon on our door and a plate of cookies and candy canes waiting for her.  Something so simple, she didn't want to leave the hotel to go eat or sight-see. Just jump on the beds and roll around on the desk chair.  Happy 5th Addy!

Addy opening presents

The Grove Park Inn

Lunch time laughter at the Grove Park Terrace

Addy grabbed the camera and started shooting

Time to check out the Gingerbread houses!

Despicable Me

Top 10 Winner

Happy Birthday Bubba!

Addy's Final Christmas Performance

Since Addy will be going off to Kindergarten in the Fall, she had her last preschool Christmas performance. Bittersweet. And unfortunately, I grabbed my camcorder for it and didn't get any good photos. These are all I salvaged from the lousy point and shoot through the camcorder.

With Lily & Ava

Friends Harper & Lia

Addy and her teacher

Addy with Asst. 

I'm doing a little catch up (what's new right?)

Under the Sea

After years of being second fiddle due to Addy's birthday being so close to Christmas, I finally got my act together and had a birthday party for Addy at the beginning of December. In fact, Evelyn and her already had it planned in the Summer just to make sure it actually took place. I guess planning ahead actually works? If you know me, I'm sure you know that wont happen two years in a row. The girls picked an Under the Sea theme so we had games like pass the mermaid, guess how many sea shells and flip the fish. Cakes by Angela made the most delicious cake I have ever had, and I don't like cake. But this cake, I had two pieces and am craving more.

Mermaid puzzles, rock candy, treasure chests w/chocolate gold

The Clan

in our backyard

Ok, its not really our backyard. More like woods across the street but it is so close it feels like our backyard. A hike in there is one of the girls favorite things to do. A lot of times they will go with Brian and take a snack to eat on one of the boulders. Sometimes they wont come back for a few hours and I never understood what they could possibly be doing over there for so long. Turns out there are a lot of dares going on during their adventures. "Dare you to jump across that log", "dare you to knock that dead tree down" or "dare you to climb as high as you can up that boulder". After saying "I don't think so" a lot of times, Evelyn quickly told me I could stay home next time and that I was taking all the fun out of their hike. What are moms for, right?

The crazy tree Evelyn named Arthur and Addy says "it's doing yoga"

Yah, thats right, we bad, we bad

Zoom in to the tent. Do you see the aliens looking out of the opening? Crazy!

Daddy doing his dare