Addie Kate's 4th Birthday at School!

Addie Kate loved celebrating her birthday at school! She was most concerned with having a crown, which of course, her teachers gave her.

She was my typical, acting-silly-when-shy, girl.

(And yes, of course, she had a birthday dress. A few to be exact. But they weren't orange. And this was a Friday, when you have to wear orange in the fall. So this is what daddy put her in that morning.)

And did these so-Addie-Kate facial expressions while her friends sang to her.

Pinkalicious cupcakes with jewels on them. Her request. (And as Tommy saw me doing this, he asked what about the boys? I told him it didn't matter, that boys, especially little ones, were just as excited to get stuff like this as girls are. He didn't believe me, until he saw it.)

This was the first of a weekend of festivities for our girl. Birthdays at our house are always at least a weekend long and quite a big deal.

Picking our Punkins

On our way home from Lexington, we stopped in Laurens at the pumpkin patch. It was so nice not to be pregnant, and to instead have our precious baby boy with us this year! 

I'm telling you, he is always strapped to me!

Addie Kate really did enjoy herself. You'll see a smile in some of the pictures!

Like when her daddy started pushing her in the wheelbarrow. For my little girl, that's always lived in a subdivision (mommy's not a fan), we don't even own a wheelbarrow!

She loves it out there! Loves being outside, and loves pumpkins!

I put both pictures in, so that you can see happiness or smiles on both kids faces, but it's rarely possible at the same time!

Wouldn't this have been cute if they had been in the adorable, matching outfits that I'd planned. Tommy and I weren't on the same page, and he'd gotten them dressed after church. He was not happy when I suggested changing their clothes. And I let him win.

They both loved it when we let Addie hold Drew for a short wagon ride to the tent where they weigh the pumpkins.

She seriously has her hands all over him ALL. THE. TIME. We tell her all the time that one day Drew is going to get her back, and we are going to sit back and let him! She has aggravated him from day one!

Although in non-matching outfits, a grumpy almost-four-year-old, and a crowded pumpkin patch, we had a good time, as always! (We got a big, pretty, orange pumpkin for our little punkins, and I got myself a pretty white one!)

Mema's Birthday

We were able to be with Mema on her birthday this year, which I love. We certainly don't get to see her enough, not living in the same town, and I know she misses her great-grands. 

Addie Kate loves Mema's house, because Mema has dolls. Several of them. And because Mema loves to color, and we all know how much Addie loves to color, so they are just as happy as they can be to be together!

While Addie Kate and Mema were coloring, Tommy got camera happy with Drew and me.

I can't blame him though, Drew is just so full of sugar in those sweet cheeks. And since I'm always the one behind the camera, I let him take them!

So Mema could hold and play with Drew, I took over the coloring with Addie.

We love you Mema! Happy Birthday!

The State Fair

We took Addie Kate and Drew to the State Fair with Heather, Steven, Lawson, and Landon (Anna Kate stayed home!). I was a little nervous, but we did well this time - went on a week day and went as soon as it opened. And it was great! Addie Kate and Lawson had so much fun together! I think the perfect thing is to have two kids the same age so they can ride together. Poor Landon wanted to do everything they did, but could only do a few things. Luckily, Heather could easily distract him with a snack!

Addie Kate and me in line for the Carousel. We hit it first and it was enjoyed, as usual.

Landon did get to go on it, luckily!

No, she isn't having fun or anything!

The kids then went to ride another ride, but as we were waiting, Drew started fussing and wouldn't settle. When I went to pick him up, He had had a blowout - everywhere. I had to take him in a building (luckily close by) and change him, where he proceeded to scream the entire time because the changing table was next to the air dryers, which were LOUD. Poor guy, I felt so bad for him, and everyone in there. Fortunately, one lady realized what the problem was and started directing people to just air dry their hands. But he was too far gone. I took him out of the bathroom to change him, but he was still screaming. I gave up and took him out in the crowd for help finishing dressing him. I knew he wouldn't let me put him down, so I put him in the Baby Bjorn for the rest of the time - all 3 hours more that we were there!

So I missed Addie's first real ride. Ugh! I hate that! This (above and below) was her second ride, and she absolutely loved it!

When we had lunch, would you believe I still had to provide entertainment. I mean, we were at the fair for heaven's sakes!

More rides... Everyone joked that this better be the one and only motorcycle Addie's ever on the back of!

Look at Lawson getting into it!

Addie Kate loved the slide! She still wasn't tall enough to go down by herself, but that's ok. I think Daddy secretly likes going with her, and I know Mommy does!

This one she rode by herself! When Tommy went to put her in, she wanted the pink airplane and Lawson didn't, so she rode alone! I was so proud! And surprised! (And a little nervous!)

Ahhh, the swings. I love them too, and Addie Kate loves to swing, so I don't know why I questioned her wanting to do this. She did, and she loved them. She's told me that they were her favorite. She was so stinkin' cute in them too!

I may frame this picture. I mean, the look on her face - pure joy!

Drew started to wake and needed to be fed. I planted myself under one of the tents, where there was no show going on and just a bunch of older people resting, and fed him. If you'd asked me 5 years ago if I'd ever breastfeed a baby - or what I thought of someone else doing it - at the fair, I bet my answer would be completely different than it is now! Ha!

So, Tommy and everyone else took the kids to see the animals. Not my favorite part - other than the cows - so I didn't mind missing it!

I can't believe they let the kids pet and feed the animals- yuck!

We parted ways with Lawson and them then. They went on home and we tried to use up some tickets. Addie wanted to do the swings and slide again.

Again - just a little excited! I was sitting on a table watching her, and Tommy was getting us another snack (ha!), and I would hear her sweet little voice saying, "weeeee!" and "I'm flying!" I was so happy that seriously, I got a tear in my eye. She's growing up and it's so bittersweet. I love seeing her new adventures and her joy in all the new things she can do!

Tommy took Drew and I got to go on the slide with her.

We had so much fun!

I think I did as much as her! It was overall a great day! I cannot WAIT to take her to Disneyworld. If it's anywhere like this, it'll be worth every penny!