So my sister Kristin takes the most amazing pictures ever... especially of my children... I LOVE them! I also love that it gives us an excuse to spend the day with her. We met her in Kernersville's Botanical gardens, where we strolled around, then we headed across the street to the park to let the kids play. That's where she caught so many cute candid shots of them, and those are my favorite. Lunch afterwards, but then we had to say goodbye :(

We started the transition from Spring to Summer off right with a trip to Hanging Rock for some camping. We pitched our giant tent, started a fire, and I cooked the most amazing supper over a campfire! Fish with oranges juiced over them, with fresh veggies... and of course, then it was time for S'Mores!!!

From Camping 2011

From Camping 2011

From Camping 2011

In the evening, it was so nice... sitting around the fire, knitting and just being with Kane and Derrick... we left Kaia at home with our friend Saedi. The next morning, we had a visitor.

From Camping 2011

We took a hike...

From Camping 2011

it was supposed to just be a little circle, but I might have read the map wrong and taken the wrong way...

From Camping 2011

sooooo... over 4 miles of strenuous hiking later we were completely exhausted

From Camping 2011

and ready to get back to camp for hot dogs!

From Camping 2011

From Camping 2011

Next morning I cooked my second full breakfast on the campfire... Derrick was rather amazed that I managed to make an edible breakfast over the fire!

From Camping 2011

The coffee was already brewed, and just being kept warm... the pan is full of fresh scrambled eggs!

From Camping 2011

We also went back to the park but just for a day of swimming for my Aunt Sue's birthday... it was a lot of fun just lazing around the lake for the day, before taking her to Red Lobster for a birthday dinner!

From Summer 2011

From Summer 2011

From Summer 2011

From Summer 2011

And of course there was the Fourth of July, where we went with Sue, my Dad, his wife Pam, my little brother Jay, my brother James and his wife Charity, and my awesome nephew Logan to see fireworks... so much fun playing with them all!

From Summer 2011

From Summer 2011

From Summer 2011

We hit another visit to the zoo... it was so hot! But there was a lot more playing from Kaia and Liam this time! They're growing so fast it's scary!

From Summer 2011

From Summer 2011

From Summer 2011

From Summer 2011

Because I haven't blogged in over a year, lets just bring you up to speed so I can go on with my life... First, we had Kane's 6th Birthday in February 2011. At Funnigans, which was so much fun! They have arcade games, and a big play place, a rock wall... Pizza... As the kids got older, we really used that zoo membership! We took my awesome sister Kristin, and I took my friend Erin and her too cute son Liam... Zoo Playdates are the best... We took Kaia to a Hockey Game, where she cheered and cheered...

From Last couple years in a nutshell

We went to an awesome park for Memorial Day with James and Charity and their son Logan...

From Last couple years in a nutshell

From Last couple years in a nutshell

From Last couple years in a nutshell

And my kids are cute by the way...

From Last couple years in a nutshell

From Last couple years in a nutshell

From Last couple years in a nutshell

From Last couple years in a nutshell

TO BE CONTINUED.....

SPAINHOUR WINSTON-SALEM - Wendell Holten Spainhour, Sr., 87, of Winston-Salem, passed away Sunday, December 26, 2010 at his home. He was born December 13, 1923 in Forsyth County to Leroy and Glennie Roberson Spainhour. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He graduated from Piedmont Bible College and was a member of Century Park Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School. He also taught Sunday School at Edgewood Baptist Church and helped start Edgewood Meals on Wheels. Mr. Spainhour retired from McLean Trucking Company as a Diesel Mechanic. He is preceded in death by his wife, Doris Wheeler Spainhour and a daughter, Lisa Spainhour Lauck. Surviving are two daughters, Sue Spainhour of Winston-Salem, Diane S. Beeson (Terry) of Lewisville; a son, Wendell Spainhour, Jr. (Aludia) of Kernersville; four grandchildren, Brian Beeson, Elizabeth Turney, James Lauck, and Jay Lauck; four great grandchildren. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at Century Park Baptist Church with Rev. Glen O. Murphy officiating. Interment will follow at Gardens of Memory in Walkertown. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel.


We'll always miss you Papaw!

Kaia's first Christmas, and the first one Kane's shown so much excitement for!

We got together with my sister Kristin the day after Thanksgiving, and headed to Old Salem for a photo shoot with the kids...
It was amazing, her pics are amazing, and they were more than I could ever ask for...I am so lucky to have her! My kids are so damn cute!

I knew I had to have that ONE big party for the first...you know, invite everyone and their brother...Kane's have calmed down a lot, and started being geared more for him and his friends, but I did the same for his first. Of course, I would have to make her cake...I have, for better or worse, always made the cakes, and would feel really lame if I stopped now. It would either be, Kane: "Mommy, why does Kaia get pretty store bought cakes" or Kaia in the future :"Mommy, why didn't you make my cake!" So yeah, Pink Elephant Cake here I come...

And I decided on fondant, marshmallow fondant...it was a huge, messy pain in my ass, but it turned out better than I could have asked for a first try with that stuff, and with almost no fondant experience...even if you did have to peel the fondant off or OD on sugar, it looked pretty!


We held it at the fellowship hall for our church, since I didn't want to cram that many people into my house...and it was a nice easy to find location, and I live slightly in the boonies...

Almost everyone came, so that was fun! Kaia had her own little cake of course, with no fondant hehe...

It was apparently rather nom-mi-licious!

Would you like a bite Grandpa Bill?

Who, Me???


Kane was feeling a tad under the weather, he was very pathetic...so the Bennett's helped Kaia with her presents!

She was much more interested in the paper wrapping them though...the presents, not as much...

Katie got her a Caterpillar lovey, and it must snuggle her in the crib to this day, and Sue and Diane got her a rocking horse, which she loved, but Logan wanted for his own! So cute!


And none of these amazing pics would be possible without my fabulous sister Kristin and her photography skills!

And that means...PUMPKINS!
Did you know that pumpkins are nom nom good?

Did you know that pumpkins are "ewwww slimy inside"?

OBLIGATORY PARENT PHOTOS hehehe! We are never as cute as our kids...

Good Job Kane!


And fall also means... the Dixie Classic Fair!
Oh, that means food, and rides, and food, and games, and food...