Christmas Card Photo outtakes

I decided I wanted the christmas card photo to be in their christmas pjs this year. We got some great professional photos taken, but they were mostly of the whole family or the girls individually (they were impossibly crazy at that photo shoot, at one point Harlow tackled Violet in the mud). And honestly, who wants to see pictures of US, they just want to see the girls. It is impossible to get them both to look and smile! I ended up getting THE photo by blowing in their faces..and boom, smiles, but I had to be quick. I really admire all those professional photogs out there.

Halloween

We had a great Halloween this year. Harlow was pumped up all week to go trick or treating. When the day finally came, she walked right up to people's houses and YELLED Trick or Treat! But then when it was time to say thank you, she would say "tank you" so quiet! The day after, Harlow and I went to a halloween party and of course she wanted to be Daisy instead of Minnie "like Violet". So we just put on a purple dress she had and used Violet's nose from the night before.  Violet also had a second costume since it was a little cold out for her Daisy dress. Best Pinterest tip for Minnie, putting yellow socks over shoes (cause who owns yellow shoes?)

Pumpkin Patch

Visit to our favorite (well now since we discovered it last year) pumpkin patch in W-S.  No shortage of photo ops at Hawks!

One year stats

Violet is 21 1/2 lbs (76%) and 30.5 inches (91%). Our tall girl!

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Violet 12 months!

This morning we celebrated her birthday with pancakes and then just had a relaxing family day. Violet seems to have grown up so much this month! She has 6 teeth. Walking is her main mode of transportation and her balance is really good. She has stated trying to communicate, mostly in the form of grunting and pointing, but I swear she might have said mama yesterday. She likes to carry her baby around. She always wants to go outside. Today she walked up to Harlow and gave her a hug. She says "muah" and gives kisses. Her hair is growing and my baby just doesn't seem like a baby anymore! *tear. 

Violet's birthday week!

Violet's birthday is on Sunday. We had her party a weekend early, because, well, that just worked out better. I somehow got no photos of any of the party guests, but it was a great time with my parents, Uncle Lucas, and some of our dear friends. It was Violet ombre theme. I figure she might get tired of purple EVERYthing as she gets older, but I could get away with it for her first birthday :-).

Summer recap: Pigeon Forge

Since it's October tomorrow, I figured I should finish the summer recap (um hello september went fast!) Back in August, all the BFF's drove 10 hours, and we drove 4 over to Pigeon Forge, TN. It was a trip we had been planning and looking forward to for a while. We knew it would be crazy with 8 adults and 9 children 4 years old and under! It actually wasn't as chaotic as we expected thanks to two 4 year olds that entertained each other beautifully, two well behaved (well sometimes :) 2 year olds, and four mild mannered babies.  We had an absolute blast. The setting was beautiful in the mountains and house was plenty big for all of us. Gatlinburg is, well, an interesting tourist trap. I am hoping we go back sometime when the kids are older and we can do go carts, putt putt, and a gondola ride. Our activities this trip were a little more young kid friendly. We went to the Aquarium, a total hit with all the kids (and parents). We were thankful we went on a weekday when it wasn't so busy. We went on a hike (not as successful). Two year olds hiking uphill two miles = daddies (and mommies in my case since mark had V in the bjorn) with sore backs. We never ventured out to a restaurant. Can you IMAGINE..."we will have a 17 top please, with 7 high chairs, thanks", but we did make some good meals at the house (mainly Shane's burgers with the Cooks fancy beef that were AMA-zing), and we did go out to ice cream too. The adults spent the evenings drinking, playing Card Against Humanity, and we finished off the trip by pouring an entire trash can full of ice water over Eric's head for the ALS ice bucket challenge.  I am hoping these family trips will be an annual occurrence!