New Orleans and Dar Dar's visit

We headed to New Orleans for the AL/LSU game and Mom came and kept the kids for us. It was a fun trip and went much quicker (driving time) than Gatlinburg because of no kids! Thanks mom! Sorry we missed you again Dad!

DarDar promised him Chuck E. Cheese so we went for lunch on Thursday. He loves CEC and thinks he is best friends, just like with Big Al.

He loved this thing-you know where you watch a movie and your seat vibrates like you are on the roller coaster too? I can't think of what those are called right now:).



She found this football and wouldn't let it go!



When CEC came out Alex said, "hey, I knew you would come out here!"

Is she gonna be boy crazy? We lost her for a little bit when these college boys came in.

Alex had to play DarDar in baseball. Avery gets the nunchucks and thinks she is playing too. It suits everybody! Alex kept pitching sliders, fast balls, and curve balls to DarDar. I think she finally tipped a few off!haha!

Avery had to show off her new coat. She loves it and once it is on she doesn't want to take it off and she gets mad if you try to take the hood off of her.

Playing with DarDar's phone.

My one picture from New Orleans-Emily and I outside of Commander's Palace after a delicious brunch!

Happy Halloween!(finally)

Halloween was busy, but tons of fun! I think the kids had a great time. We had trunk or treat at church and then a neighborhood party.

Abbie, a ninja princess, Avery, and Alex. Avery was over her hat by this time and she had been loving it!

Alex and his pal, Zion, a skeleton.

Trunk or Treating! Alex was all about it but Avery would just walk up and stand like, "ok, what are you gonna drop in my pumpkin?" She eventually got to where she would take the candy and drop it in her pumpkin herself.

Aunt Betty at the Mexican fiesta trunk! Love it!


Avery picking out her candy from Grammy's trunk.


The sweetest pumpkin!

With their skulls from Mimi and Granddan.

Walking out with Mimi-I think Avery was ready for dinner.

At our neighborhood park. It was dark and Alex kept getting upset thinking Avery was eating his hotdog-haha! It looks like the dog is about to snatch something.

Angel, one of the girls who helped plan the party, made a pinata. The kids all got a swing at it. Angel made a strong pinata because it took a lot of strength to break it open!


The candy grab!

All that candy and this was his favorite thing:)
Ready to say "Trick or Treat!"

BUSTED! Avery figured out real quick that people were dropping candy and other good stuff in her pumpkin. She sat back in her wagon, opened a ziploc bag, and started munching on her cookies without making a sound. It was so funny!
They look scared! I'm not sure of what...

After our neighborhood trick or treating we headed to Grammy and Papa's house.
Avery toddled right over to the coffee table and slid the candy corn very smoothly toward herself like she had no plans of leaving it anytime soon.

Outside Grammy and Papa's house.

We stopped by some sweet friends, the Kings', house and Alex had to get his picture made with the ghost:).

Sorority Row Trick or Treating

We went out trick or treating on Sorority Row and to the football complex with all of our friends before Halloween.

My cute trick or treaters-Mario and the pumpkin.

The whole group ready to go-Alex, Avery, Larkin, Paige, Caden, Jack, Emily, and Sarah.

Mario and Princess Jasmine.

Ready for some trick or treating!

It started lightning and so they shut down Sorority Row. We then headed over to the football complex since it was inside. When Alex sees a football field he thinks he has to run as fast as he can for as long as he can. Crazy!

Avery wasn't quiet sure about the grass...

Marcell Dareus(DL for Alabama). We waited in line for Alex to get a picture with him but then they took him away for a TV interview-how rude! Alex was so upset, actually, I was probably more than he was because I thought it was terrible they took him when people were standing in line-OK rant over.

Gatlinburg with Grammy and Papa

The weekend of the TN/AL football game we headed to Gatlinburg. We left about lunchtime Friday and got up there Friday night. It was a long trip with the kids but we finally made it.
He watched movies the whole way there...

and she tucked herself in with his jacket.
Avery loves going through Grammy's purse and pulling everything out, especially at restaurants!
Once we finally made it to our chalet the kids had to check it all out.
Avery loved this bear-she would kiss it and give it a drink of her milk.
Saturday before the game we went to Ober Gatlinburg to play. Alex had an awesome time! He stole Papa's popcorn...

and I thought he was playing at the arcade till I walked in and saw this.

Avery loves the carousel, thankfully, she got to ride it twice so there were no tears.


John told Alex he could go ice skating in Gatlinburg, so we had to do it. He was really excited, but once he got on the ice he wasn't too fired up. At least he can say he has tried it once and hopefully, he'll try it again sometime:).


All by himself!


The band marching in-I took this picture for Alex because he loves them.


We headed out to Cades Cove Sunday for a nice L-O-N-G drive. We were trying to find a place to get out and throw the football because that is what Alex really wanted to do and we needed to stretch our legs. He was not happy with this spot as you can see in the picture. The grass was too high and he said he couldn't run fast:(. Look at those slumped shoulders! He finally got into it a little bit and played.

I can't remember why but for some reason she started rolling around all over the blanket.



Off to find some shorter grass.

Returning from a game.
Football with Grammy, too!

Avery took a break from rolling to read "The Giver."

We ate lunch before heading out to Cades Cove but obviously, Avery got a little hungry on the drive.

I'm pretty sure (by the way Alex is holding his hands) that Alex is telling John this is not a good spot.

Alex and Papa.

We were talking about how Avery didn't really have any "girl" toys to play with, so Papa and Grammy bought her a purse and put a bracelet and a Dora doll inside. We placed it on the bear for her to find the next morning.

She looks real excited doesn't she?
The kids with their new toys. Alex got a truck with taffy on it. He calls it his "big red truck."
Playing outside our chalet before we left.

Our view!
On the way home the trip got very long. Avery fussed a lot and kept dropping everything and saying, "UH-OH!" So I decided to get back there and sit with her. Alex was totally oblivious to us because he was tuned in to his movie-ha!
I was trying to think of anything to keep her entertained so we started taking pictures of ourselves. I absolutely love her faces! She's crazy!

This one is my favorite!