Madison, WI

In mid-August, I had a meeting in Madison, WI.

 

Fortunately, we stayed about a block away from the state capitol building!

So of course Elle had to be given a tour to add to her growing collection!

 

We were all excited that Clay was able to drive up from Indiana. They had lots of fun playing while I was working!

 

A self-family portrait :)

Our hotel overlooked a big lake. Elle liked to go down every night after dinner and look for boats.

Friendship Fire Station

In early August, Elle and I went with her buddy Jacob and his mom Erica to the Friendship Fire Station Festival in Alexandria.

 

It was a hot and humid day but still lots of fun!



The fire station - it was built in 1855!

I thought this picture frame was amazing! The details that are carved in it all related to firemen/fire stations. Very cool!

 

Elle and Jacob were not nearly as impressed with the picture frame, but they did enjoy climbing on fire trucks and in the ambulances and getting fake tatoos of insects!

More Vacation!

After we left the beach, we weren't ready to head back to reality (aka DC) so we spent a few extra days in Raleigh. It was lots of fun for the 3 of us to just hang out and do things as a family - a rare occurence around here!

 

 Elle and Daddy enjoying a few books before bed. 

Since sea turtles weren't enough for Elle, we took her to the Hill Ridge petting zoo/farm to see some goats. She is a bit obsessed with them. It was great - if you go to a place like that in late July in North Carolina, you LITERALLY have it all to yourself. Maybe because it was 100 degrees??

This was the oddest thing I think I have ever seen. To feed the goats, you had to drop the food in these PVC pipes and it rolled down to a trough. Must have some frisky goats in NC!

Elle was really excited about the big slide!

 Lots of fun but really bumpy!

 

After we left Raleigh we did a quick stop in Richmond to see the state capital building. It was designed by Thomas Jefferson and is really beautiful.

I don't think Elle was impressed.

Look, there is a stone bust of some historic person! Poor kid - she is doomed to have lots of history related trips in her future!

With "the man", Thomas Jefferson.

This was Elle's 5th state capital building tour :)

Holden Beach 2012!

Last July, for the 10th year in a row, we returned to our favorite beach

- Holden Beach -

for a family vacation !

Our little beach baby had lots of fun with stickers, sidewalk chalk, sand and her cousins for the week!

Clay introduced Elle to lacrosse while we were there. I'm just glad she didn't break anything with the stick!

Elle turned into quite the waterbug this summer. She really enjoyed herself at the beach and in the pool!

With her cousin, Tenny (with little sis, Gwen, and her dad, Jason, in the background).

No fear!

Look out below!

Poor Clay had no idea what he was in for...

Hey! That's my hat!

Nope, it's mine Daddy!

Are you sure you want it?

 

Ok, here you go!

 

Lots of fun to be had!

By about Wednesday, she had even quit wearing the duck...made me a bit nervous.

Every year we have a picture taken on the last afternoon. It was really windy this year!

With Gram and Grandpa Brown.

 

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the family beach trip, we had a photographer come this year.

 

It was lots of fun and we can't wait to go back again next year!

 

And Now Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Blog!

Ok, so I've been a little busy.

 

Does that explain a 7.5 month break in the blog??? Probably not.

 

Between some crazy stuff at work (which culminated this morning with a unanimous vote by our Board of Directors! Yay!), Clay getting out of the Navy at the end of last June, and just regular life with a 2-year old, it has been a super busy time in the Brown household.

 

As things seem to be calming down for a little while, I am hoping to get back to the blog more regularly and catch you up on what we've been up to.

 

Our little one has been growing up quickly!

 

August - 26 months old

 

September - 27 months old

It's not all bubbles and rainbows around here...

October - 28 months old

(I forgot to get a November pic - first time I've missed one since she was 6 months old!)

 

December - 30 months old and ready for Christmas!

(Then I forgot for January too - arrgghh!)

 

Stay tuned - more fun to come soon!!