Welcome Home!

 

These fun signs were awaiting us at our apartment when we got home. Along with lots of muffins, a casserole for dinner the next day, and a fridge stocked with Coke Zero, Coke, and other essentials.

We have the best friends and community. 

So blessed. 

So thankful.

( i couldn't get a good picture of this one--its from the Heads)

On our way....

 Our journey began the night of the 20th as we packed all these bags into the cars to head to the airport at 5 AM. We had 10 checked bags, 5 rolling carry-ons and 5 backpacks. And a baby bag for Knox--forgot to count that in my calculations--oops.But they let us on anyway--they probably couldn't count how many bags we had in all the crazy!!
We got to Detroit fine and then didn't make it on the flight to Beijing. 

So we spent the night in Detroit....

did a little of this (pizza and a movie in hotel room)

 

and woke up to this!! 5 inches of snow! The kids were so sad they couldn't play in it, but we only had one set of clothes for the next 24 hours of traveling.....

 

terrible pic of me, but we had to document Knox's first snow experience :)

We made it on the flight to Beijing and even had two first class seats! ( we were flying on buddy passes)

Matt and Everett took the first class seats ( children under 6 can't fly up there on buddy passes) and enjoyed the yummy food and seats that turned into massaging beds!! I did sneak up to take a quick nap once :)

 

this guy was my big helper and held Knox for about 3 of the 14 hour flight!

 Knox spent a fair amount of time in this great bassinet! 

He is such a wonderful traveler--we are so blessed!!

 

happy boy!

Lunch with Poppy

Great picture from lunch with Poppy before we left

2 months

 

Look at this little chunker!

Knox is two months old. Wow. 

He is eating great, which the double chin might have given away. 

He sleeps great at night--about 7 hours. He sleeps well during the day but is mostly being held by people, not sleeping in bed. 

He got his 6 week shots like a champ.

He has been my only baby to get sick--had a cold for a bit, but I guess that's to be expected with 3 older siblings :)

He sometimes has a fussy time in the evening for about an hour, usually 7-8ish

I think he weighs about 9 lbs. 4 oz? 

He is about 23 1/2 inches

no more newborn clothes--we are solidly in 0-3 months

He takes his paci to fall asleep during the day, but doesn't use it at all at night

He is smiling and laughing up a storm. I LOVE it!!

kids are still fighting over who gets to hold him. i love that too.

we are so blessed!

Fun day!

 

A couple days before we left, Matt's brother's family came over from Birmingham to meet Knox and hang out for the day.

The kids played at the park--enjoying a warm winter day,

 

laser guns were pulled out,

and Knox got some love from Aunt La La!

And then we ate at Mellow Mushroom--yummy!!

Family Pics

 family picture

We had a sweet friend and FANTASTIC photographer (becky williamson photgraphy--check her out on facebook!) take some family pictures when we went to Summerville. She also took some great pictures of Knox. I just LOVE little baby pics and she did a great job, as always :)

we never get pics of just the two of us :)

 

totally captured rylie

  

 

 

i love this one

 

This guy LOVES to hold Knox---what a great big brother he is!!

Happy Valentines Day!

 HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

a little valentines love from Knox

 We celebrated this year with my sister and her family. The kids had a great time playing together and eating their valentine candy from Nai Nai!

Rylie and her cousin Ashley. She loves to hold her, but Ashley is on the go now and doesn't want much to do with being still!

Rylie dressed like Nai Nai. Don't even know what to say.......

Queen Anne's Revenge

 One day while we were in Summerville we had a family fun day. We went to a restaurant called Queen Anne's Revenge. It is a pirate themed place we had always wanted to take the kids to when we lived there, but never did.

 The kids LOVED it! Especially Everett, our history buff. He read all the articles around the restaurant about all the pirate history in Charleston.

We then played a little minature golf--E got the first hole in one!!

 

followed by Matt.....

 

and then Kadie. 

And I won't talk about who won the round, except to say that she was wearing a scarf :)

practicing our cannon skills.....

Rylie's poor eyes weren't used to the "bright light" as she called the sunshine. Poor girl is accustomed to gray dreary skies.

Chef Mickey

Hollywood Studios

 Meeting Wreck it Ralph and Vanelopi

Ry had a huge crush on Wreck it Ralph and kept going back through the line to hug him :)

 

Mr. Incredible and Frozone

 

Enjoying some Mickey ice cream

 

Toy solider 

 

riding the speeder

 

 

the kids new dinosaurs they made at the T-Rex cafe.