It's Official! Owen is Four!

Ok, panic is starting to set in.....for real. I always knew this day would come and I always knew I wouldn't like it! All my babies are grown up! Owen is four today and it's just really over. No more little ones.... :(

It started four years ago!

Our first kiss....

Blowing me a kiss....1st birthday

2nd birthday at the zoo

Turning 3 and figuring out birthdays are really fun!

I feel like this year is totally different! Owen wanted to have a party with friends and has been talking about his birthday for weeks now! And he just looks so big!

Happy 4th!

Owen, you are an amazing kid! You are so sweet and loving and quirky and fun! We have loved having you as our son and brother for the last four years! I can't wait to see how you grow this year and take on 5 day a week preschool! I am going to really miss it just being me and you at home together but I know you are going to LOVE it! Happy Birthday Owen!

Owen's Birthday Party!

This year Owen really wanted to have a birthday party! What he really wanted was to go to Chuck E Cheese but we convinced him that if we had a water party in our backyard it would be much more comfortable and fun! So inflatable pool and slip and slide, here we come!!


Owen picked out all of his own decorations and party supplies!

And he was really excited about this!

Pinata! 

On the morning of his party we had cinnamon rolls for breakfast! Yummy yummy!

The cake! We were definitely sticking with the Jake and the Neverland Pirate theme!

Pretty soon, his friends started to arrive!

Four of his preschool buddies came along with various siblings so everyone had someone to play with! 

His preschool buddy Charlie

Singing him Happy Birthday

The pinata was fun for everyone! 

Getting into his gifts! 

His favorite friend Riley! 

The party was a total hit with the kids, the parents, and the Birthday Boy!

Dental Delight!

Recently it was time for our six month dental check- up! We originally planned for all 5 of us to go like we did last time but at the last minute Mike had to go out of town and I ended up taking the three kids by myself. I was really anticipating a rough experience trying to keep them occupied, happy, and cooperative.

Turns out we had a great experience and I had no need to worry!

Coincidentally, Savannah lost her first tooth naturally the night before! So exciting! She has three more wiggly too! :) 

Owen, who I was most concerned about, did fantastic!! 

No one had any cavities and we were in and out in exactly an hour and three minutes! I consider that amazing! We had a downright delightful experience!

So after dinner, we went out to celebrate! 

More Fun In Asheville

Our next (and last) day in Asheville we decided to keep a little more low key. We took our time getting up and getting ready for the day. Our kids were so happy playing in the house we rented that it was easy! We we finally did get moving it was time for lunch!

Playing at the house

So we stopped at Mellow Mushroom and got a fabulous table outside in the shade.

What a sweetie! 

These boys were very focused on their coloring! 

Another selfie! 

Too cute for words! 

 After lunch we had some energy to burn so we stopped at the Asheville Botanical Gardens.

We stumbled upon this little rivery rocky area and thought it would be fun to dangle our toes in....

what wasn't fun was the slippery rocks that nearly did us in! 

Again with the hip thing! 

We had a great time with Aunt Susan and catching up with Carrie and the kids! I hate that we all live so far away but it's great to see them when we can! I think the older they all get the easier it will be to get together!

Biltmore Estate

About a week and a half after returning from our DC/VA trip, I had another little getaway planned! My Aunt Susan came down from Indiana and together with the kiddos we drove to Asheville, NC for a weekend with my sister Carrie and her kids.

I bought the kids water guns so they could play outside! Of course the boys had to have the same ones! 

And ganging up on girls is a must! 

Owen decided that shooting himself in the ear was way funnier! 

TV Time....could they all get any closer? 

This was the moment I was waiting for! This was only my third time seeing Caroline and it had been 9 months since the last time. I needed to get my snuggle time in! Good thing for me she really likes taking selfies so I was able to keep her for a couple of moments longer! 

Kate got cuddles too

This is us, minus Susan, before setting out for the Biltmore Estate

These guys never left each others side! 

Do you see what's happening here with my tween? The whole hand on the hip thing? Please, please, someone make her stop it!  

The crew making a pit stop for a quick snack! 

Garden tour!

The view was amazing! 

Caroline enjoying her candy necklace on the shuttle bus :) 

Next we hit up the farm they have added on to the property.

The boys liked the goats

Kate touched this rooster which shocked me because it didn't exactly look inviting! 

And Savannah felt right at home with these horses!

VMI and Monticello

Eventually it was time to head home and we just didn't feel ready to go! So we decided to take a leisurely route home rather than rush. We plotted it out the evening before and decided to first stop off at Monticello for a tour of Thomas Jefferson's home and then drive over to VMI where Mike was at college for two years.

Thankfully it was about 2 hours to Monticello so Savannah was able to nap on the way there! 

Monticello had a kids tour! It was pretty engaging for them and they were able to touch some things which was fun.  It took the pressure off having kids and trying to keep them quiet during the regular tour. 

And they had stations set up outside where the kids could practice writing with a quill

Next we toured the gardens.....one word - gorgeous! 

We ended our time at Monticello checking out the cemetery where Jefferson is buried 

We had about another hour or so and we made it to VMI. It was very fun and nostalgic for Mike! He made us look at the library, the cafeteria, the church, and the dorms!

But at some point we did have to get home so after checking out VMI we decided to get serious and get home! It was a long day of driving but eventually we did make it safe and sound! :) And tired....