Alabama odds and ends

We left the beach on a Thursday but had a few more days before heading back to North Carolina for Claire's last week of Kindergarten. So we headed north to spend a couple of days in Madison.

These signs are all over Alabama. And it drives me CRAZY that no one checked the (lack of) punctuation here. Do you think he really wants us to call him "Alabama," rather than "Alexander?" C'mon, y'all. It's not hard: Call Me, Alabama. GAH. One comma.

We stopped at Buc-ee's on our way north, and I made sure the girls knew about this beaver statue. As soon as I told them, they made a beeline to snuggle it. As I knew they would. They still like to hug the big red cement spheres outside of Target, so a happy beaver was a given.

A truck was a close second, obviously.

Mom and Dad bought them their very first icees, and the girls could not have been more elated. (and then we had to stop for many bathroom breaks)

These are not posed or staged faces.

They were legitimately VERY excited about those icees.

Lily...

Seriously. They were so excited.

Heaven help us when she's actually behind the wheel...

Sweetie baby. I just wish she would have slept some on the 7-hour drive...

...but our children don't do that.

We were back in Madison for a couple of days, so we tried to squeeze in a few of our favorite things.

Blue Plate breakfast (Lily was super into it)

This one was very popular with the Blue Plate crowd.

Hanging with the pets (real on the right, stuffed on the left- yes, one of my offspring staged McDougall the stuffed Westie in this position)

A few of us got haircuts.

We made a Bridgestreet visit.

Brynnie's first merry-go-round

Group shot

I might frame this one.

A little train ride!

That Saturday was my birthday, as well as a dear friend's wedding just an hour and a half down the road. AND my aunt and uncle drove up from the Birmingham area to visit us for a little while. I didn't get many pictures of our rather full day, but I did grab a couple of my redheaded aunt with my reddish-headed baby.

A special bond.

Brad and I got back from the wedding Saturday night, and we (plus my mom!) got on the road Sunday morning to make the whole drive back to Durham. It was a long day, but the girls did a really great job (and were happy to watch 3 movies), and we adults listened to almost an entire Agatha Christie novel, which was lots of fun (I'm working on an Agatha Christie reading challenge and brought Mom and Brad in with me). It was really not too bad of a super long drive. And I grabbed these cute shots of Lily singing "Amazing Grace" into her Water Wow water pen. I got a video, too, but it won't upload. 

Thank you, Nana and Poppy, for a really great Alabama visit! We had just a wonderful time.

We hit the ground running as soon as we pulled into Durham, so hopefully, I'll have some newsy posts up for you soon!

Brynnie's birthday: original and belated

We spent Brynnie's first birthday at the beach! She had a most wonderful time, OBVIOUSLY. Who wouldn't? For her actual birthday, she went to Lambert's for lunch, took naps, and had a cookie for the first time. She loved all of these activities. 

Things we learned about Brynnie:
1. Brynnie loves sugar.
2. Brynnie LOVES being celebrated. She reveled in being the center of attention, which was a surprise to exactly no one.

She knows it's a big day all about her.

Beautiful day for a birthday! Also: Lily's posed hand.

Nana has given each girl a wildly fun birthday hat, and this is Brynna's. She was feeling it.

Gifts!

Food!

Just loving her life, guys.

We had the best server. She brought a balloon for each girl, had the guy at the mic wish Brynnie a happy birthday, and brought a treat bag with coloring books + crayons for all three kiddos. She was great!

Pictures with the birthday girl. Who was very into that straw.

Well done, Claire!

What a ham. Brynn, not Mom.

Still chewing that straw.

Lily just hopes that one day she can wear us down to the point that we'll put money in one of these things for her.

Birthday dress! (But not to be worn while eating- just for monthly pictures)

We'd had plans to go to the outlets after lunch at Lamberts, but it was hot and nappish time, and Brad and I decided to cut our losses by taking everyone home for nap. It was definitely our best move. That evening, we had supper and then sang to Brynnie and gave her her very first cookie. She LOVED it.

Sugar success.

When we got back to Durham after our beach trip, I pulled together a (very low-key) first birthday party with friends. And again, Brynn thought it was brilliant. Because parties are her thing, it seems.

Not only does she love cookies, she also likes cupcakes.

Friends! (Harbers, Eberts, and Kendall- not all pictured here)

Someone was really loving her outfit.

Birthday party snugs with Nana

Cuddles with Kendall

And then, she got to demolish some wrapping.

Brynnie loves a birthday, y'all.

We love that Brynnie. Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate, who sent gifts and love, and who loves Brynnie with us. She's already looking forward to next year.

And a quick stroll down memory lane of first birthdays:

Claire in 2014

Lily in 2017