Amelia's Cake Smash

Our sweet Amelia Linh turned ONE on September 25th (more about that day later). First, here are some of my favorite pictures from her cake smash/1 year photo shoot. Big thanks to Addie Butler Photography for these pictures. I think they capture her personality perfectly - happy, sweet, and a little sassy (I'll let you figure out which picture demonstrates that quality).

Lucky 27

I had a birthday on September 10 (same day as my mother-in-law too)! The kids were so sweet and wanted to help me blow my candles. It was such a fun year -- new baby, new city, and new home! This next year has a lot to live up to. I'm calling it lucky 27. Excited for what this next year brings!

 No baby fingers were harmed, promise. 

Logan totally out did himself in the birthday gifts department. 

I got new running shoes (Inov-8), new backpack/diaper bag, and a hand-made frame for our world map. Love it all! 

Hudson starts preschool

After we got back from beach week, Hudson started 3 year old preschool (pre-preschool, if you will). It's just two days a week for a few hours, Tuesdays and Thursdays. When we first moved to Charlotte, I was really bummed -- mainly because I wanted Hudson to do 3 year old preschool in Raleigh (seriously that was on the "cons" list of moving to Charlotte). We had heard the bishop's wife did a preschool based out of her home, and everyone had such great things to say about it. I knew I wanted Hudson to go there too, and plus he would be with all his little friends. Well, then we moved. I went back and forth over whether I wanted him to be in a preschool program here in Charlotte (he's only three so he really does not need to be in school yet), but I thought it would be good for him and me to have a little time away from each other for a few hours during the week.

I researched tons of preschools in the area. I wanted him to go to the program just up the street at a local church. It was perfect. We could walk there and it was SO close to home in case of an emergency. Turns out the program already had a wait-list (in June, mind you) and it costs the same as BYU tuition for a year. No thanks. Luckily, a friend from church had told me about a preschool in her area that she sends her kids too. It's about a 15 minute drive from us (not too thrilled about the commute), but after touring the place and meeting his teachers -- we loved it and thought it would be worth it! So, we signed a contract and we were all set. His first day went off without a hitch. He loved it! The next time, he cried for about 5 minutes after I left and then he was fine according to his teachers, but that was the only time he has cried while at preschool -- so awesome! 

After, two months in -- it has been such a fun experience for Hudson! He has learned so much already and really enjoys going. They have had fun events every month so far -- show and tell, firefighter visits, Halloween pumpkin patch/trick or treat, etc. His teachers (Miss Jane and Miss Stacie) are also the sweetest and so patient with him. He wasn't potty trained when we started (bless those teachers), but he is almost there -- I'll chalk that one up as peer pressure. ;) His teachers tell me he is also finally coming out of his shell and expressing himself a lot more. They say he loves playground time and arts/crafts. He's such a big boy, and I am so proud of him! 

Below are his first day of school pictures: 

Some of the arts and crafts he has done (I mean, c'mon -- so cute!!): 

Beach Week

Corbett Beach Week -- one of the highlights of the entire year. This was our fourth year going, and the first time Logan got to stay the whole week! It was such a relaxing, happy time being at the beach and with the family. It always ends a little too soon, but oh boy it was great while it lasted. I was in a funk for a few weeks after beach week -- kind of needed a vacation from the vacation. ;)

We were there Saturday - Saturday. The weather was great and we played hard every day. My favorite moments include going out on the surfboard with Logan, the Corbett 5K, ultimate frisbee game on the sand bar, playing Mafia as a family, watching the kids play in the sand, and girls day in Southport.

Here are some pictures from our week (a little out of order, but you get the idea):

 all packed and ready to go -- the kids were troopers (even with little leg room)!

the view from our bedroom -- LOVE!!

annual group shot after church

I have a picture of them playing cards from last beach week. 

So fun to see the difference -- Hud has gotten so much bigger!

Love this kid! 

She's such a cute beach baby! 

They loved playing in the sand together. 

Pretty much all the sand and water they could possibly want.

And way too many sea shells

Girls date in Southport, NC

walking the beach after dinner

crab trapping with Gramps

feeding seagulls --Amelia loved this! 

last day there and a family picture

the kids with Grammy and Gramps

I need to get the rest of the pictures from all the family, but you can tell how much fun we had. Corbett beach week is such a special time and I hope the tradition lives on, even if the rest of the family is in different parts of the country. We certainly love the time together. You can check out previous beach weeks here - 2013  or 2012 or 2011 (kind of fun to see the changes through the years).

Until next year, beach week. :)