outside, outside, outside, water, water, outside, shoes, shoes, shoes

These are the things that occupy most of Ava's time. How can I get outside-how can I get to water-if you put shoes on me SURELY we are going outside. I hear these words thousands of times a day. :) I figured we'd go ahead and go for a walk while it's still relatively easy!

Whoever made up that sugar and spice thing? Yeah right. As evidenced by the next two pictures, we prefer rocks and dirt. (especially when mixed with water)

Stopped to swing at Aunt Lindy's house.

By the time we got home she was ready to cuddle with Dad's back. I love how she does this-always crawls behind him on the couch and pats his back and puts her head down on him. So sweet!

Donuts (& the orchard)

Really I need to ditch the Hashbrown title and just rename to something about donuts since they are one of my main goals in life. Today was a GORGEOUS day so we headed with Oma and Opa to an orchard for some pumpkins, and pumpkin donuts. :)

A little sunny for those of us without a visor. :)

Checking out the little slice of heaven in front of us.

Daddy and Ava sharing a caramel apple. When a couple has a BMI like we do you start them early on refined sugar, donuts, and McDonald's. We are so proud.

A Little More Wedding.

A few more pictures from our weekend...

Don't those outside pictures look like they are from a movie set?? It was absolutely breathtaking!

Below, I just wanted documentation that I was on the dance floor 9 months pregnant. I sat out Jump Around and the "how low can you go" portion of the cha-cha slide, but other than that-I figured we could use a little exercise. :)

We have adopted several J wedding traditions including "Piano Man" being the closing song of the evening....and lifting up the groom during SHOUT...this was no different and so much fun!

Madison

This weekend we attended our 6th "J" wedding...the secret society in an aforementioned post of Taylor buddies. These pictures are all out of order-but I included tons because we had so much fun I just wasn't sure how to narrow it down! (Although the boys did have the camera for a little while and it was quite easy to leave out several of their prize winners!)

I am so thankful that Mark has such a good group of friends-and also that they have married (or will marry) such WONDERFUL women. It makes these weekends much more palatable to have people to roll your eyes with. :)


The J members outside the capitol in Madison.
The cutest ushers in town.
J Wives (we missed you beth!!)
Kate and I were reversed :)

Kristy and I on the elevator on our way to the rehearsal dinner.

Mark showcasing our newest arrival. :)
CUTE GROOM!!
CUTE COUPLE! (such a gorgeous dress!!)
Yeah, you never know with Mark.

Greg came and roadtripped with Mark and I, and then several others to Madison. One of the best 8 hours I've ever spent in a car!

Hanging out at Starbucks on one of our 5 stops of the trip!
I mean, really?? Eating where you smell Valvoline? Gross!
The cozy portion of our roadtrip once we picked up the Kish's and Virgil from the airport. Mark and Greg were just fine though in the front seats.
Hitting up a little outlet mall on our way!

meanwhile...back at the ranch

Today was absolutely the most perfect day ever. I love fall coming. Except that it means winter is coming.

We still have our sweet Ava (since she hasn't made a blog appearance for awhile)--although I am having a lot of guilt about leaving her every weekend lately!

You may think, oh Opa is holding her hand. No. This is not how it works with Ava. She grunts at you until you take her hand, and then she PULLS you where she wants you to go. There is really no free will involved. Except for her own.

This picture gives me a knot in my stomach! Putting together our second crib.

This pretty well displays my emotions about the whole thing!

Every Kish begins with "K"***

Before we headed home from North Carolina, we got to see our friends the Kish's. God did a really cool thing my senior year of college and put Kristy and I in two MISERABLE classes together. Often shared trauma brings people closer, and this was certainly the case for us. BUT-the reason it was so cool that we met and became good friends, was because then 2 years later, when I met Mark-he just so happened to be good friends with Justin..her almost husband. (I will save how I got them together for another post :)) Anyway-Kristy and I still communicate almost every day in some fashion-and she is one of my favorite friends ever! We have gotten to share many weddings, wives weekends, and other events because of our husbands being dual members of a secret society. We love you guys!

***********Kristy came up with the very creative title I used above for her blog that she is going to start when they have kids in a few years. I can't take any credit for the creativity. :)***************

36,000 feet at 37 Weeks

I didn't publicize to most people (including my mother until the day before) that I was going to be flying to North Carolina 37 weeks pregnant. I knew everything would be fine. The people I did tell wondered what if they wouldn't let me on the plane...let me tell you, I think it's like asking a woman her weight-they don't give you the once over and ask if you are past 36 weeks. And I just kept sweet baby #2 super sucked in during our check in. :)

We went for Mark's 5 year Recognition Dinner for work. His company always puts on lovely parties, and usually they involve steak-this year was no exception-so between that and the fried pickles we got for lunch, it was well worth the risk of a baby born at the Duke Hospital!

Terri, whose dress I would have stolen off her body, is in charge of Mark's travel(and also puts together these fabulous events). This is not an easy job. We were also able to talk in person about our shared love of Project Runway. But did I mention her dress??

Above..Mark and the boys-and then the same ones after my belly. CLEARLY Mark is the most mature of that group.

Mark and Terri! Probably the woman he corresponds with most besides me. :)

Saturday was the "Family Fun Day"...Mark and I on the train ride, and below-the basketball bungee....see Mark getting flung backwards below. While flying was a risk I was willing to take, I did not partake in any inflatable events!

chocolate makes my clothes shrink...

My fabulous husband gave me the weekend off and I got to spend it with some of my favorite people in the world! We had a fun weekend of eating, shopping, and doing nothing. One of the highlights of my weekend was a plaque with the above title. I decided it might be my new motto, and if it had said "donuts" instead of chocolate, I for sure would own it right now!

The other 3 generously gave Ali and I "hooter hiders" to use with our upcoming offspring. I was just getting a sneak peak. :)

And really, how can you spend a weekend together without playing a good round of MASH.

Ali and I comparing bumps...and a few other shots.

we are the pirates, who don't do anything

(we just stay home...and lay around)

or at least that's what it looks like in these pictures. probably my favorite veggie tales song ever....

a few random shots from the last couple weeks.


my two favorite people pretty in pink :)

ok, this is total self/double chin disclosure...but i just thought she looked so cute in this picture and it's maybe the only picture of late where she is cuddling with me.

this was hilarious-i went to get her up and she had gotten her shirt like this and was screaming about it. made her keep it that way until i could properly document it...then helped her out :)

Ok, so-I've encountered a lot of persecution for this in my life, but I LOVE lima beans. Not canned, but frozen baby lima beans boiled and salted. MMMMMmmmmmm. I have passed this love on to my child...we had almost a whole bag. She was very kind to feed me. :) So cute how they want to share everything!