Holiday happiness

December just started and we've already had so much holiday fun so far. I uploaded all my pics in reverse order so this picture timeline will go backwards.

Today we attended the annual "Brunch with Santa" at Quail Hollow with Mom and Bill. They had great activities for kids and food that was so good. Our last family photo was in July (via cell phone) so I was very happy to capture this one:

Interesting how the kids are so much better behaved for Mimi and Bill:

We played on the lawn after lunch, which was awesome thanks to this warm weather.

These 2 below are my mini Christmas card session which resulted in 1 of the 2 kiddos that graced the front of this years cards. So proud to say that I had the cards in hand way early this year, but it took a couple weeks to get them in the mail.

 We had a detailed ultrasound at 17.5 weeks (due to my advanced maternal age :) ) and found out that Buxton and Elin will soon have a little brother!

 Elin is so happy to be the only princess in this family:

And what a princess she is. 

 Right after Thanksgiving we made this awesome Rice Krispies Christmas train that Ben found at Sam's Club. 

 You can see what Elin's favorite part was!

End of summer wrap up

The month of September started with a nice trip to Blowing Rock for Labor Day. We got in our last golf cart rides of the year,

 and creek playing.

Buxton learned how to ride his balance bike in September, which was a pretty monumental event at our house. He really loved learning and the pride it instilled in him was very significant. 

We started soccer for the first time ever. Didn't expect to have to use bribery to keep him on the field most games but I think he did have fun with his team. 

Action shot of first day on his new real bike, in the yard. 

A major highlight of September was Jessamy's wedding and a wonderful weekend away with the girls. 

loved. every. minute 

(well except a few minutes when part of the deck at the reception fell on my ankle and nearly broke it)

love. these. girls.

missed amy SO much! 

October started with Elin's 2nd birthday. My how 2 years have flown by. What an amazing 2 years they have been as this little muffin is the most perfect blessing to our family. She brings out so much good in all of us and fills every ounce of our hearts with love.

I made a chocolate cake with strawberry frosting and strawberry between the layers. All from scratch...and VERY YUMMY. You could say I was a little proud.

This picture is from the actual day of her bday -Oct 4. The day we discovered she had chicken pox!

The biggest trip of our lives summer was to Disney with Ben's sister's family. We left on a Sat. at 8pm and stayed a week. The car trip went amazingly well.

The kids loved the characters:

The cousins love being together! 

 We are so thankful to be able to treat our kids to Disney and spend a full week vacationing with family. 

Just recently Buxton has taken to the streets with his big boy bike and is doing so well on it. 

Can you tell I'm just a little proud!

Another major highlight of Oct was Lindsey and Leo's visit from SF. Got to see her 3 different times! So blessed to still get QT with her in person since she lives 3000 miles away. 

 And speaking of blessings, I close with these 2. And hope to be back sooner than 3 months this next time.

BR Horse Show

We've been having so much fun as a family lately and are loving the stages that these 2 are in. Buxton has become very motivated to do everything on his own, like getting dressed, making his Greens Superfood/Chocolate milk in the morning, brushing his teeth, etc. But he still wants someone to lift the toilet seat for him (I have created a germophobe!). He's become really helpful and loves to bring me things I need, put his shoes away, and even is pretty good at picking up his toys most days. He still constantly says "I love you" too, and I treasure that this little habit has hung around.

Elin is talking up a storm, counting (into the teens!), singing all kinds of songs, and just learned the game of "hide and seek" by watching Daddy and Buxton play. It's super funny when out of nowhere she just covers her eyes and starts counting...not having told anyone she wants to play the game.

We were really lucky to have a visit from the Heffner family recently and Elin ate up all the attention from her Great Grandaddy. He was equally as happy to spend some QT with her.

Two weekends ago we were in the mountains for the Blowing Rock Horse Show. Mom is really involved with the Equestrian preserve that hosts the show and spends 2 weeks every summer at this show. It was quite a treat for Elin and Buxton to be able to ride in the lead line class on Sunday. We had a very proud MiMi!

 Our close friends, Sheila and Jessica Hood, were up for the show and helped Elin during her walk. Jessica used to show and was the perfect "leader" for Elin. She even picked out Elin's very horse show appropriate bows for her hair!

And Buxton loved his equestrian get-up.

The lead line class started during nap time so Elin didn't smile a lot due to being pretty tired. She loooves horses, but her eyes were so droopy that we thought she may fall asleep during her walk around the ring.

All the kids received blue ribbons and bags with candy and a stuffed animal.

Happy boy!

Elin finally cracked a smile when she saw that her prize was a frog!