Fall vacation

Who doesn't love a fall vacation at the beach?! It is the best--perfect weather, no crowds, and lots & lots of FUN!! We stayed with Nana Kat for a few days and then headed out to Carillon Beach for our annual vacation with Nana, PaPa, Aunt Laur, Uncle Aaron, Aunt Chrissy, Uncle Charlie and Rachel. Of course we missed Christian & Kelly... they had to miss because Christian just started a new job...we'll let it slide THIS YEAR.

We were new to Carillon but found a wonderful house right on the beach so decided to give it a try.  We were a little nervous because we have gotten spoiled being able to walk to all of the places in Seaside, but we had a great time and just loved the house!   

I think every beach trip with the girls has gotten easier & easier and Dean & I have been able to relax a little more each year.  This trip was by far the most relaxing yet-- we (as always) had a bunch of helpers, much less baby equipment was needed, and thankfully, both girls were WONDERFUL on the beach.  We would head out there after breakfast and they would play their hardest until lunchtime.  After lunch & a quick rest, they were right back at it until dinner time...

Here are some of the pictures from our trip

Nana Kat's view of the sunrise

feeding the seagulls 

our view from the house in Carillon-- right on the beach, it was sooo nice!!

we had some rain early in the week, so the waves were huge for a few days... not that these two noticed ;)

it isn't that often that we get this group together, so we wanted to make sure we celebrated PaPa's 60th while we were all in one place.  we wanted to put a picture of his face on the cake but we all wimped out ;)

Aaron & Laur cooked a Yummy mexican feast

Quinn conned PaPa into taking her for pancakes 'n bacon

we did get a sitter 2 nights to have some "grown up" time out.  here we are at one dinner @ Paradis

this is how Quinn spent many of her "rest times"

"resting" with PaPa by the pool

I'll blame this one on Laur-- she insisted we got one group photo and this happened to be the last time we were all together (SOME of us had to cut out early to go back to work...but I can't be mad because SOME of us had to back out of the trip completely because of work, CHRISTIAN ;) so here we are.. pjs, workout clothes, & all 

Nana Kat came to play

we had some cousins come to play!!  Margaret & Wes were sweet enough to bring Maggie & William to play.  The kids had SO much fun, especially Quinn & Maggie-- instant best friends!

too cute, here they were playing in front of their "private island".. no clue what William is feeding Kathryn ;)

finally! two smiles & everyone is looking at the camera!!

Quinn was a little nervous of the waves this year, I think because they were so big the first few days

and Friday night came so quickly... we continued our tradition of making sure we had everyone on the beach for the sunset-- nothing like waving bye-bye to the sun on your last night 

laur & her Godparents

our family picture this year ;)


Once again, it was a WONDERFUL TRIP!! Can't wait to do it again!!

first day of preschool

well, this is a few weeks late, but better late than never ;)  the girls recently started back to school, and I wanted to post some pictures of their first day.  Quinn will be going on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (Miss Jenny & Miss Charmie) and Kathryn will be going on Mondays and Wednesdays (Miss Cheryl & Miss Rupa-- we just LOVE that she has Miss Rupa, since she was one of Quinn's teachers from last year!).  

Everyone was very excited for the first day; the week before we attended a popsicle party for Quinn's class and Kathryn's teacher came to visit us at home.  Quinn even had homework-- the first day was show & tell, they each had to bring 3 items... can you guess who was #1?!  (Doggie, one of her "Arials" and also the Angel from her Angel book that MomMom Nakrasius gave her).  

they both have been doing GREAT in school--- we never had much of a doubt about Quinn, she seemed to miss it big time over the summer, especially seeing her friends.  But I was a little worried because Riley is in a different class this year.  She is still a little bummed but they still see each other some, on the playground & in the hallways.  Quinn does have Sage in her class again & is (of course) already quickly becoming friends with the rest of her class.

I was a little worried about Kathryn.  On her first day, after we dropped Quinn off she said, "come on Mommy!"...she thought I was going to class with her ;( But shortly after, she spotted Miss Rupa and off she went, so very proud of herself and happy as can be.  Her only issue has been Fridays,...on the first Friday that we had to drop off Quinn (Kathryn doesn't have school on Fridays), I think she cried for 30 minutes straight..."mmmmmyyyyy schooooool" ;( I will have to come up with something a little more fun than Kroger for our Friday morning dates.

They now love to torment me with car pool, they know I love to walk them to their classes & give hugs and kisses & they think it is hysterical to spring "car pool"! on me every other day and watch me pout.

Praying we can keep the enthusiasm for school this high when they get older!!