Visit to the South

July 10th through the 18th, we took a trip to the South to visit my family. It had been so long since so many of us had been together, and it was great to visit with everyone. The kids have all gotten so big and grown up! We spent the first part of the trip in South Carolina, where everyone got together at my oldest sister Paige's house. The second part of our trip we spent at my sister Bridget's house.

This was Elise's first trip on a plane. I was nervous about how she would do, especially since we had to wake her up before 5am to get to the airport in time for our flight, but she did pretty great. We even had some compliments from strangers on how well she did. And she wasn't two yet, so we didn't have to buy her a ticket!

She loved looking at the planes at the airport.

Paige and Elise at a really fun indoor play place

It was huge! Elise was in heaven. We went here twice during our trip. It was fun for the kids and helped get some of their energy out. I got pretty worn out following Elise around in there while 7 months pregnant. The play place was so big, though, she probably would have gotten lost or stuck in there without someone with her.

We also went to an awesome children's museum in Charlotte, NC, but I didn't get any pictures. I also somehow didn't get any pictures with Paige's husband, Earl, in them, but it was great to meet him.

Elise finally got to meet Nana (my mom)! 

Elise was actually meeting everyone in my family for the first time, except Bridget and her husband Kip and their son Elliott. And of course, she knows Holly's family well, since we lived with them for several months.

Hudson got to meet his Nana for the first time too.

And I got to see Bryce for the first time since he was a year old. He's gotten so big!

Dylan and Holly

Jordan and Elise

And we got to meet Elijah for the first time! He was so close to walking on his own.

Paige, Bridget, Jordan, and Holly

My sisters and I (minus Lauren) got to visit our dad's gravesite together. It was pouring rain, but I was so glad we got to make that trip.

Elise loved the dog, Cookie, and all the fun new toys.

She loved Dylan so much. And the buckles on his wheelchair.

Mia, Hailey, and Kenneth played a lot of this one Wii dancing game.

Elijah, Dylan, and Hudson hanging out on the floor together

Jordan and Holly

Daddy and Elise eating ice cream together

Holly and Garrett

Paige and Dylan

Mia, Hailey, and Lauren

Bailey, Bryce, and Kenneth

Kenneth, my mom, and Mia

handsome Hudson

Hudson, so happy just to hang out on the floor with a spoon

After we spent some time at Paige's house, we headed to Bridget's for more fun.

Bridget and Elijah at the waterpark

Matt and Elise

Hudson and Holly

Elijah, Bridget, Kip, and Elliott

We also went to a children's museum in Greensboro, NC. I did get pictures there. It was a lot of fun too.

Elise and Matt with the train

There was a fire truck, a police car, a plane, a racecar, a mail truck and more to play in.

Elise in a giant chair in the lobby

Elliott and Kip playing trains

Matt and Elise in the garden

Elise in the play pizza kitchen

Hudson and Holly bouncing

The plane is in the background (it had a slide too).

Elise liked bouncing too.

I'm not sure why, but she is obsessed with this video of herself and still asks to see it all the time.

me, Elise, and Matt in the giant chair

Speaking of giant, try to ignore how huge I am in this picture.

Elise had a lot of fun with her cousins. Bryce and Elise got a lot of amusement out of this popped air bed.

I couldn't believe how well Dylan was getting around! I haven't seen him since before he learned to crawl.