summer vacay - part one - tennessee.

On Friday July 24th we set off on a long roadtrip adventure.  We would have stops in Louisville KY, Gatlinburg TN, The Villages FL, Walt Disney World, Atlanta GA, Nashville TN...Home.

After a one night stop in Louisville, Kentucky we headed to Gatlinburg TN for a full week with the Harvey side of our family (my mom's side).  Tennessee was somewhat of a central location for everyone spread out over 6 states. There were 21 of us in a big 8 bed/8 bath cabin.  It worked out wonderfully.  It was a full week of activities, time together, many nights of games and laughs.  Each night a different team prepared dinner - dinner was always delicious!

Todd organized a day at the lake - it was so fun!  We had pontoon boats, jet skis and a tube.  Quinn's first time on a jet ski and tube.  Quinn and I each took turns riding the jet ski with daddy.  Daddy could jet ski all day long - one day we will have to get one (or two) at our future lakehouse. :)

Andie was not a fan of her lifejacket at all!  Can you blame her? look at how uncomfortable she is in it (this was before the tears started)

We went to a Tennessee Smokies baseball game.
Don't let these smiles fool you - it was HOT - like not enjoyable at all hot.
Two little kids to tote around makes it about 20 degrees hotter - so that's about 122 degrees.

We spent a morning at the Aquarium of the Smokies.  My little camera was set on the wrong setting that day. oops.  We had to get a pic with Megalodon jaws.

All four of us in one room (with a one year old) went pretty smoothly.  Quinn had to contain herself when she went to bed.  Usually she puts on a whole set of songs and lots of talking when she goes to bed on her own in her own room - so it was hard to try to stay quiet for Andie. :)

First week of vacation was great!
We loaded back into the van and kept heading south...

disney dance video.

We have returned from a 17 day long vacation.
About a week before we left I started to question why we would choose to stay away from our own beds for that long of a duration (with a one year old in tow!) - but things went pretty smoothly.  It was a long road trip in the car for all of us, and I felt so bad keeping the girls in their car seats so long.  We made stops in Louisville, KY - Gatlinburg, TN - The Villages, FL - Walt Disney World - Atlanta, GA - Nashville, TN & Paducah, KY.
60 hours of travel time, later....and many new memories to cherish forever.

There are lots of pictures to post, and it will take me some time to catch-up.

For now, one of the highlights - our 2015 Disney Dance Video.
We decided to do something a little different than just posing for pictures with our favorite characters and princesses, we asked them to dance...and dance they did. :)

Turn on your volume - enjoy!

sweet little a.

and just like that another month has gone by and our sweet little andie is now 13 months old.

13 months old and as sweet as can possibly be.

The most frequent things said about you sweet girl, by others:

"the most beautiful dark hair"

"so much hair - it is gorgeous!"

"looks just like a doll"

"that little round doll face is the sweetest!"

"she should be doing baby ads" 

"the calmest baby ever"

"does she ever fuss or cry?" 

"the best little baby butt ever"

"she is so quiet and so sweet"

"always so happy"

"want to squeeze you and kiss you all day long"

We get the sweetest compliments about you all the time.

I mean, look at this absolutely stunning little face. 

You are perfection in our eyes sweet girl.
Such a beautiful girl, with such a beautiful soul.
xoxo.

surrounded.

 pretty shoes, colorful leggings, beautiful bows, dainty flowers, rosy little cheeks, all things pink and glamorous...there is just no way around it - Todd is surrounded by girls. :)
....and he loves it!
We know he would have it no other way, and when asked by a friend if he had one more what would he want - "i think another girl" comes from his sweet smiling face.

Pink bows, braids and pretty shoes (that can be hard to put on) are all he knows.

...in 8 years he may be regretting the idea of being surrounded by girls.
the picture below of our 4 year old may explain why :)

She is four!  I was behind the camera getting shots of Andie and little did I know that this was the pose and face this girl was giving the camera.  My goodness, natural little model.  

one more of Andie with her mama.  girls rule! ;)

Speaking of girls - we got to hold a brand new one today!  Nothing better than a little peanut in your arms only a few hours old.  Oh so sweet!  Here is sweet little Hayley (belonging to Heather and Luke) and some of her friends.

I swear we were all way more excited to meet this little lady than the kiddos look in this picture! 

Welcome to the world sweet girl!  You are already so loved.

blowing kisses.

blowing kisses...her favorite thing.

We put daddy behind the camera for this one!  He did pretty well with me shouting out a million different directions - good thing you can't see my face. :)
I ordered these matching leggings from Grandma when Quinn was born, finally used them!

girlies.

In June, I was able to take this gorgeous date with me to my cousin Katie and her husband Mark's wedding ceremony.

My sister and I had a little selfie fun at a wedding later in June (Kimmi and Joey's).

In June we also had fun celebrating my Mom's 60th birthday with a girls night out.  It was a great night with a wonderful group of ladies.

A night out with my girlfriends - celebrating a little girl to be born soon (Heather's).

Fun taking some Maternity shots with some of my favorite girlies.

I'll get some more of these beautiful mamas up on the photography page soon.

and cupcakes and tea with my absolute favorite girlies of all.

*sidenote - thank you to Todd/daddy for his assistance with our tea party shoot. :)  and for being my date for two fun weddings this June (we need to take more pictures of us babe).