This and that

I've missed blogging!!  We haven't fallen off the face of the earth, I just grossly underestimated how busy life would be when we arrived back in the US!  We are finally getting settled for our 10 months in the states and I found my camera charger and bought a new memory card reader (the old one disappeared somewhere in the packing and unpacking) so I"m finally able to share some of our pics from the last 6 weeks of craziness.  We've done so many fun things that will require separate posts for all the pictures we took- Disney World, Beach trip, trip to the TN aquarium, time on the farm in GA etc etc.  This post is probably going to be totally random.  I've had lots of thoughts running around in my head as far as things I could post about, mostly thoughts on being back in the states etc, but I think at this point, I"m just going to try and get some pictures out there and give a summary of our craziness since arriving in the states on September 9.  Thanks to my mom, we had Chick-fil-A nuggets right when we stepped off of the plane in Memphis, but that didn't begin to satisfy the craving!  Chick-fil-A was our first lunch stop the next day for lunch- yummy!  Happy tummies! 

One of my favorite things about the location of our parents is having mine in Memphis where we can experience lots of city life type things and having Jason's parents on a farm outside of Rome, GA where we get the best of country living.  The day after our CFA feast in Memphis, we headed to the Memphis Zoo.  I really can't say enough good things about this place.  I've grown up going there so I'm a little sentimental but the improvements they have made to it over the years are phenomenal- it's a terrific zoo and I highly recommend it if ever you are in the area.  We got a year membership because I know we'll be going a lot. My brother and his family live close by so it's great to all be able to go together. 

No, the extra blonde is not Naomi's long lost sister although we've been told countless times since arriving how much they look alike.  That's Sarah Ann, my brother's oldest.  She and Naomi are 7 months apart and both in JrK at school and are quite the pair!

This is one of my favorite things at the zoo.  It's called the Birds and the Bees.  You get a little stick with bird food attached and there are these beautiful birds everywhere that you can "catch" and feed.  The kids love it!

Here's another shot of the "identical cousins" when their JrK class went to a nearby pumpkin patch for a hayride and picnic.  They each got to pick their own pumpkin out of the field. Such fun!   

(Side note:  blogger seems to have changed the way you upload pictures and it is not recognizing when I turn the pictures and save them- any help anyone?)

Speaking of cousins, one of mine got married a few weeks ago so we got to make a family road trip for the wedding.  It was the girls first time to go to a wedding (at least that they can remember well) in a long time and they had so much fun getting all dressed up.  

(Again- WHY can't I turn these pictures???!!!)

All the girls...

The reception was at a country club in Chattanooga right on the river- it was beautiful!

Of course, when you walked into the reception hall, the wedding cake was front and center- Naomi was absolutely captivated.  What she didn't understand was why she couldn't have some right away.  She stood as close as she could get to the cake until the bride and groom arrived to cut it- some 30 minutes later.  But it was worth the wait!

Abbey, of course found a corner for reading in the midst of the party...

We did a lot of traveling during our first month in the states.  In the midst of the craziness we didn't forget to celebrate Abbey's 11th birthday- I can't believe my baby is 11!

With both families (above in memphis, below in Georgia)

It's been a busy 6 weeks for sure!  We've had lots of great family time in both TN and GA.  Gotten re-acquainted with cousins...

and dear family members...

(above is Naomi with Millie- they go way back),

we've driven from TN to Ga to FL

back to GA, then VA and back to TN...

It's been busy, busy, busy and we're happy to be somewhat settled in one place for a while.  Here is a picture of the girls in their school uniforms.  They are so excited about going to school where Annie teaches.  The older two have uniforms but Naomi's JrK class doesn't have to wear uniforms yet.  It took me a while to convince her that this outfit that she wore on the first day was not her uniform....

Hopefully, before I post about the rest of our adventures I'll figure out what blogger has done to make me not be able to turn my pictures!!