Summer Vacation - continued

After we left the cabin, we headed to Jane's house to visit.  We stopped in Virginia to see our friends Karen, Anthony, and Grace.  We had a fun night of dinner and swimming in the hotel pool.  It was the girls first stay in a hotel (except Addy when she was only 3 mo's old).  The girls really enjoyed staying in a "bedroom" as Addyson called it. 

Here is a pic of the girls covered in stuffed animals in the car and then a pic of the girls in the hotel room.  

While we were in PA, we visited the Hershey zoo and visited with family.  We forgot our camera when we went to the zoo - so we had a decision to make - to buy or not to buy...a disposable camera.  Well, we decided to buy one, and of course, it is still sitting on the shelf waiting to be developed (oh the joys of the digital era!).  I'm not sure what other excuses we have, b/c we didn't take a single picture with our "digital" cameras while we were visiting.  Maybe it's b/c we were having so much fun!  It was so great to visit with everyone - thanks for such a great time. 

We left PA and headed to Kelley and Joe's.  We stopped in Lexington for another "bedroom" stay in order  to take a drive thru the VA Safari Park.  If you're ever on I-81 near Lexington, VA and are looking for a fun activity, I highly recommend this...  Of course, our camera battery died while we were driving thru (are you sensing a trend here), but we got some good video.

So here's how it works...  You drive your car around this 3 mile loop filled with all kinds of exotic animals.  You buy these food buckets and hold them out the window of your car and the animals come up and eat out of the buckets.  It is CRAZY, but SO much fun!  You drive less than 5 miles an hour, so we let the girls sit in our laps and help us feed the animals - this was a little insane also, but they otherwise would not have gotten the full experience.  Here are a few videos that we took.  Sorry if they are a little crazy...remember - wild animals eating from buckets, girls in our laps, car moving.  But, I hope they are an indication of how much fun we had!

 

 

Okay, so they told us NOT to feed three animals...cannot remember other two, but one was definitely the zebras!  The first group of zebra we passed did not even look our way, so I thought we were in the clear.  The second group had other thoughts...  

 Please excuse the minor slip of profanity in this video, as I thought it was too funny not to share - ear muff your kids!

 

 

Thought this was cool...as did Addy.

Only pic taken on our adventure...

After our trip thru the wild, we headed for our last stop, Charlotte.  We had a great time there as well.  A great weekend of visiting, pool time and the girls playing with their cousin, Harry.  Once again, pictures were minimal, but did get a couple good ones.  Thanks Kelley and Joe for letting us stay...we had a super time!

Then we headed for home =)

Summer Vacation

We had a great vacation this summer.  We took a two week road trip, visited lots of friends and family, and made a few other stops along the way.  Thanks to everyone for letting us visit and for "putting us up" for a night or three!  We had such a great time and have such wonderful new memories with our friends and family.  However, as I was picking out pics of our trip for the blog, I realized, I have GOT to get my cameral out more often.  I don't have pictures of all stops, but lucky you...I will tell you all about them =)

We first stopped in for a visit with Lauren, Jose, and Mia.  We visited their Luna Rosa Cafe for some awesome Gelato - yum, yum!  Then my wonderfully sweet, and I should also mention pregnant, friend, Lauren, made us a delicious Italian meal.  Addy, Carly, and Mia had a great time playing together, as did their parents.  It was so great to see you guys...we had such a great time! 
Then we headed to the cabin for a little RnR.  Jane, Gary, Tim and Ben joined us.  We were there for July 4, so we watched the parade and enjoyed the festivities in Banner Elk.

Here are some pics of the girls sporting their 4th of July goodies, thanks everyone.

 

I think this is such a beautiful picture.  

 Carly napped as the parade got under way...

There is a nice swimming hole in Banner Elk, but it was a little cold for the girls (and their mom).  I think they swam for maybe 10 minutes the whole time we were there.  There were also two play areas right there so the girls were just as happy to be playing out of the water as in.  

What great cabin fun...

 

 We thought the girls might like to feed the ducks at a nearby pond, so we tried it out.  That was an understatement!  We actually went back a second time they enjoyed it so much.  These videos are of the second trip...  Guess what - I didn't have my camera the first time.

 

 It had rained that day, so feeding the ducks quickly turned into this...  

Another one of Carly's favorite words - puddles!

We have a new house!

Here are the first official pics and videos taken in our new house. 

Here are a couple of clips of the girls reading books... 

...and then some pics of the girls in our new house...

Gymnastics, lizards, dance, and saying goodbye to Gi and Papa's house

Here is a short clip of Addy's final gymnastics performance. 

Here is a cute pic of the girls together.  I really cannot even tell you where this pic was taken =)

Here is Addy on the day of her dance performance.  

Carly's favorite word in the spring was Lizard.  This is probably because there are thousands (maybe a slight exaggeration) of lizards at my parents' house and we encourage her to repeat it constantly, because it is just too cute. 

 
In June, we said goodbye to Gi and Papa's house and moved into our new house.  Here is a video of us packing up and really just making a mess.  Gi and Papa, we cannot thank you enough for allowing us to live with you during this year of transition.  We had tons of fun!!!

Rounding out May

Here are some pics of Addy on the day of her Gymnastics show.  It was a little less formal then her dance performance, but just as cute.  I wasn't able to take pictures at the show, b/c it was very dark in the gym and we were too far away.  However, we did get some video, which I hope to post at some point, once I get it uploaded. 

 

Then, just some more cute pics I wanted to share.  

I can't believe I'm posting this photo...I'm sure Addy will love me for it someday, but I had to share another one of her famous outfits!  

Dance rehersal

As I previously mentioned, Addy took gymnastics and dance classes this year.  Addy got dressed in her costume during one of her classes to get her picture taken. 

I know I am biased, but isn't she just the cutest!  

After pics were done, they did their dance for us.  We were some proud mama's!  

Mother's Day 2012

I know...I've got some catching up to do...again!  Do you sense a trend here?  I always use the excuse that we've just been so busy.  This time is no exception.  We've had a crazy busy and fun summer.  Addy finished up her gymnastics and dance classes with awesome performances...pics to follow.  We finally bought and moved in to a new house, which we are loving.  We did a little vacationing and then spent the remainder of the summer getting settled into our new home.  Now, Jeff is back to school and Addy will start preschool next week, which she is totally excited about!  Carly and mommy are looking forward to some quality bonding time as well. 

That's the short version...now for the longer version...with pictures! 

Here are some pics of us on Mother's day...

 

If you look closely, my mom is trying to put a bow in Carly's hair.  I'm not sure who was distracting who, but we got the bow in her hair, and I was able to get her to stand still for a picture, two things that never even happen individually.  Score! 

Here are some pics of the girls in early May.  They are some of my favorites!

This is Carly's first ride on the tire swing Papa put up for the girls.  Do you think she enjoyed it.  I must say, I was crazy nervous for her to get on it.  The girls obviously had to take turns riding it.  They would each literally stand next to me and cry while the other was riding until it was there turn.  Then they would trade...

And, of course, they still love the jeep...

I think??? this is the first documented picture we have of Carly wearing her swimmies.  (Back in the fall, she wasn't even walking...she would just crawl down into the lake, over her head.  This was not fun for me...)  This spring, we put her swimmies on and she thoroughly enjoys the water.