I’m Baaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!
A- Did you miss me?
B- If you did not miss me then why are you checking my blog?
C- Leave some love because I do not feel like writing this post or uploading 9000 pictures…but for you…I’d lasso the moon
Okay, where to begin, where to begin. Pull up a comfy chair, grab some coffee or tea, maybe a little soft music and read about my ubber cool, ultra exciting life. Can you sense the sarcasm already…good!
Truly, there was nothing earth shattering about this week except that I got to spend 9 unadulterated days with Ryan and that…to me…is vacation! I also got to visit my best friend who I never get to see, visit my family and stay my first night away from Chloe….I know, I know, I should write away to “Vacations of the year”. You can’t plan this kind of coolness.
Let’s back the train up a bit and discuss what we did before we left for vacation. Besides beat our heads against a wall everyday getting all our photography stuff caught up, we did manage to be normal people and come out of hiding here and there.
We had dear friends of ours come and visit us for a few days, Jim and Kris. They came just in time to watch the Red Sox win the American League Championship making Ryan’s b-day cake all the more appropriate.
Ryan also fired off a few shots of them in the family way. Little Madeline is due to arrive in January. We are so excited for you two. Try to hold off on the Chicago Bears windbreaker Jim! Give the girl a chance.
After getting up at 6:15am last Sunday morning to begin packing us up and getting the house ready to sit empty for a week, I realized I was quickly getting overwhelmed and exhausted and we hadn’t even driven one mile towards our destination. It takes so stinking long to mentally go through a week and pack enough toys, food, baby junk, diapers, wipes, and medicine for this little tiny baby for just seven days!
Needless to say we hit the road looking like the Klampits filled to the gills with bags, toys, coolers, you name it. I typically hate road trips. I mean I love being new places, but I hate the process. What always make a trip bearable and even dare I say “fun” is playing the game “Would You Rather”. I realize there is a board game version, but Ryan and I play off the top of our heads. You know a showdown of wit. It quickly becomes a verbal game of Chicken as the Would You Rather questions go from something like, “Would you rather be burned alive or eaten by a shark?” to more disgusting “Would you rather eat an ounce of your own poop or pop a strangers back and shoulder zits?” Oh yeah…yummy! Every once in awhile they take a moral or ethical route…but usually they are just gross and totally inappropriate. Hours of fun.
Seven hours later we pulled into the beautiful town of Sky Valley Georgia where leaves were in peak season. Too bad it was foggy and rainy…but still you can tell from this photo, that it was picture perfect.
We stayed with my best friend and her family while they were on vacation at a family cabin. It was soooooo wonderful to see her. She lives in Texas and this is only the second time I have seen her in over two years. Ryan went fishing with Emory and the kids the next day and Dikola (yes..that is her name..and no…she is not foreign) got to go into the town of Highland, North Carolina for coffee and to oogle over all the amazing boutiques and furniture stores. This town is perfection to me, so quaint, cozy, and beautiful…I was IN LOVE!!! Coffee with my best friend is pretty much the Shizzznit too!
The hair on these two girls is to die for! Blond highlights for miles and the curls…the curls..it just isn’t fair!
They were determined to get some family photos despite all the rain, so we zoomed around in their van from location to location in the resort jumping out and snapping photos and jumping back in. I say “we” but Chloe and I just stayed in the van and watched Ryan with his jeans rolled like Huck Finn jumping out and shooting them while we stayed dry and watched Charlotte’s Web on the portable DVD player…NICE!
Crazy Coots
We said goodbye to our beloved Braggs and headed East again for an 8 hour trek up to my parents house in Richmond. This is where we said goodbye to Chloe for our first night apart in her first year of life…sniff, sniff. I actually did much better than I thought I would…yeah me! Ryan and I drove another 2 hours towards DC and stayed in a hotel all by our lonesomes. You want to know what we did in the hotel? I bet you do you nosey dirty readers. We did erotic things like play Sudoku and watch the World Series while munching Dunkin Donuts at 10:00PM at night. Oh yeah, we were wild, WILD I tell you. That is how we roll. Actually, it was wonderfully perfect. We went to IKEA and I had to put my drool cup on because I was ready to take out a loan for $10,000 and redecorate our house. Our goal was to look at kids room ideas to give Chloe a “big girl” room in the spring. We stumbled upon some great AFFORDABLE easels and frames to use for our booth at the tradeshow this Saturday and I was thrilled. Oh me likey Ikea, I just hate that it is three hours away.
We spent the rest of the week at “Casa de Parents” sloffing off our kid so we could sleep in, stay up late and eat whatever we wanted. We also spent endless hours playing this:
Old Skool Boggle!
I don’t know how many times I saw the words: tie, tan, foe, toe, wee, pee, are…..after awhile you feel like your eyes are going to burn out of their sockets. But it was fun. I love games…I don’t understand people who don’t. What is with you?
This is where we kept the slave during mealtime.
Chipmunk Cheeks Chloe
On our last day the sun finally broke and we decided to take Chloe to Maymont Park which also has a little petting zoo and luck of the draw, they had a whole Halloween festival going for kids. Here is the problem, Chloe wasn’t in the mood…not in the least. She is the most easy going kid I know and all of a sudden she just clammed up and did a stellar imitation of a savant. My favorite thing is the white girl overbite that she did for 95% of the time. She would not smile or stop sucking in her lip and staring blankly. See for yourself. Can’t you feel the energy and excitement jumping off the screen.
Check out the great rack I saw….Hooters watch out!
A wash and go hair day.
Okay, what is wrong with this photo besides the big white ham hock arm?
Did someone trade my wardrobe with 1992? Is that elastic waisted pants? Well yes they are…not because they are mom jeans, they are actually maternity jeans. We all know what rule #1 is with maternity jeans…..have a long shirt. WHICH I DID HAVE!!! However, everytime I hoisted “fun Chloe” up on my hip my shirt was going up. Did I know this? NO!!!!Should my family have told me? YES!!!!! Should my husband have photographed me? NO!!!!!What in the world, embarrassing!
Let’s turn the tables on my dad. What is wrong with this photo?
That black strap around my dad’s waist is a fanny pack… A FANNY PACK!!! Now that is 1992 in real life. He CHOSE that, I simply had a wardrobe malfunction. Oh dad!
Let’s show a few more photos from the park and call it a day shall we? I am having a hard time going back and forth from writing to watching The Bachelor. That is hard work.
“Oh Chloe, Ladies don’t kiss like that!”
Here is “Queen of Fun” being carried around…we forgot the stroller…not good when she can’t walk yet.
I believe this is the only time we saw emotion the whole day and that was only because the hay was prickly.
There you have it. Aren’t you glad you waited with baited breath for 10 days? This week is insanely crazy too with the trade show, photographing a wedding and Chloe’s b-day on Sunday….shoot me! I am so sick of the pace we are going but the end is so near and it smells sweet! Stay patient with me, blogging is not a priority right now…sorry, but I still love you. Pinky swear.
SO glad I waited. Your photos always captivate me, as does Chloe!
love those pics!!! what a cutie.
Looks like a pretty terrific trip! Gorgeous friends and amazing photos, as always.
I was here every day… I’m addicted to Kelly.
Hi from the Nov. 06 iVillage group
My parents live only a few miles south of Highlands, NC and go to Sky Valley every year! I love it there 
Glad you had a great time.
I love Sky Valley. Lots and Lots of childhood memories there. I want to go on vacation so stinkin bad - so i’m quite jealous! Can’t wait to see the 1 yr. pictures of Ms. Chloe.
Wow! So much to comment on!
Love your blog!
A - TOTALLY missed you!
Your pictures are just amazing and beautiful!
love, love, LOVE games! Especially WORD games!
Hello!! Were you at the WOODBRIDGE IKEA?!?! Which is like 5 minutes from my house?!?!?
Thanks for sharing your vacation with us… my kind of vacation… road trip, good friends, beautiful scenery, games, family, and a night alone! Woo Hoo!
Glad you are back. You guys should get kick backs from American tourism - you make me wish I had the cash for an international holiday. You crack me up - so funny. I myself had a 92 moment earlier in the week forgetting I had a scrunchie in my hair (I swear it’s only for cleaning) and popping out to the shops - gasp! Yes, yes I did bump into someone I knew from uni days. Arg…
HI Kel-I did miss you!
When you say you go to IKEA that is 3 hours away, are you telling me you go to the WOODBRIDGE, VA IKEA??? If so missy, that is my IKEA and I live only 2 MILES AWAY from it. Yes, that is right. So next time you visit your favorite store, come visit us. Seth and I would love to see you guys.
And by the way, you did a great job on the cake. Seth’s birthday is in Nov, so I just might have to do that “B” on top of his cheesecake. (He gets a homemade cheesecake every year.)
Glad you go to get away and have some fun and relaxation. Try to have a good week. I totally understand being swamped with work. We are finishing up a wedding video this week and we are SO thrilled for it to be done!
Una pregunta: what kind of lens do you use for portrait shots?
ok. this has to be a numbered reply:
1- you guys ARE crazy! i mean, COFFEE? at night? ikea?? petting zoos?? dawn and STEVE? i just don’t know how you do it at YOUR age. wah ah…..
2- STEVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! the fanny pack. i can’t.
3- your pants. i think i busted a gut. you’re lucky i love you.
4- i love how your ‘wash and go’ hair looks better than mine after i’ve blown it out, flat ironed it and recurled a few strands to make it look natural. oh yeah. and that process i just mentioned? 2 hours.
5- i, too, love games. your dad still may be my favorite game partner, though!
6- the car FILLED to the brim…..she’s not lying. i got to see it once when they stopped in jersey on their way back from ny. hilarious!
7- we have 2 ikeas within 20 minutes of here. come visit ME.
I cracked up about the “Would You Rather” game! I have played a version of this since I was little. Apparently, when I was young, one of my favorite was something about having a live hamster growing out your cheek. Whaaaaat?
Now, we play a similar game with Joel’s family but we compare everything to money. “For a hundred dollars would you eat your toe jam?” “For ten thousand dollars, would you french kiss your sibling?” Oh man, we get ourselves grossed out but cracking up! I am glad to know there others with sick humor!
Welcome back!
I think those are MY pants, Chrissy! Yay for pregnancy! I know what you mean about getting away with your hubby. Today is the last day I will be able to spend any kind of quality time with Patrick until Thanksgiving! I can’t wait for my unadulterated time with him…I already miss him and I know he’ll be missing us! We’re actually going away without Caleb for our anniversary in December for one night and 2 whole days! We’ll see how I do!
Believe it or not, I have never played a “would you rather” game…sounds like fun.
oh… and i LOVE the cake! Go SOX!
I’m glad you’re back, too. It sounds like your vacation was quite enjoyable. That’s great. As for your fashion mishap(which I totally agree with)- there is a nice gift of grace when it comes to elastic pants and pregnant women. We expect to see a little stretchiness as their bellies grow, not so much with non-prego woman who like to tug their pants up and are ready to go, rather than take the time to zip and button. It reminds me of “Friends” and Joey’s fat pants. No worries. I’m confident your stellar fashion sense has not fallen by the way side.
Your pictures are beautiful! Both friends have lovely families. I hope you are able to accomplish all that is staring you in the face the next couple of days. Sounds like a lot!
Sounds like you had fun. And Chloe is too cute even with her sucked in lip.
Blogging not a priority right now?!!? What!?! What am I suppose to do with all my time?—Your dad looks so cute holding Chloe! Where are some Dawn pictures?
Welcome back! As always…love the pics.
Your hair is so pretty as wash and go!
Welcome to the world of carrying baby number 2, you will never find a shirt long enough!
Chloe is cute even when she doesn’t smile. You should see my sons chipmunk cheeks, they dwarf hers!
My sweet Kel - I’m glad you guys got to get away! I miss your sweet face and am so glad you blog so I can keep up with your life! Did I tell you Chris and Krista just had #4?! Another boy, that makes two of each for them. Anyway, just wanted to say hello!
Glad you had a nice vacation!… the pictures are amazing!
By the way, I grew up in Richmond and worked at Maymont as a volunteer in the summer (when I was a teenager)!
We took my son there last Christmas when we were visiting the family… lots of walking!
Hmmm… did you grow up in Richmond?…
meridyth, your pants are ugly.
chrissy, it’s on.
i need to see this beard ryan is growing.
So glad you are back - your blog lights up my day! Hope you are doing something special for Chloe’s birthday in amongst the busyness. Sky Valley looks beautiful, makes me want to go to the mountains for a day (except that I hate the cold). It seems you have extra special Boggle in America - ours is 4×4 squares, not 5×5 - harder! And women the world over understand your sense of fashion loss at wearing maternity clothes. Unless you are ultra rich and can afford designer maternity - yeah right, in my case!
i am in fact glad you are back and i did miss your posts!
Kelly! I have missed you! Your blog is on my list and I would daily stalk you!!
I’m glad that ya’ll had such a great time! I look forward to seeing you soon!
I am jealous of your vacation! I need one desperately!
Also, I absolutely love that last picture of your best friend’s kids. Awesome!
Your shot with the elastic waisted pants made me laugh out loud! You slay me!
And the fanny pack? I have a shameful fanny pack confession of my own: I sleep with a fanny pack wearer. I know, I know. He has to wear it for work (so he SAYS) but I make fun of him for it every day, like a good wife would.
I love your posts and I am glad you’re back! Great pics, and I love the elastic waist pic!
I wish my pants were elastic and thats not because I am preggo! 
you were gone?
huh. who knew?
great pics as always!
WELCOME BACK! OMG…You were missed! I checked every…single…day. NOTHING! I was dying…I need to laugh oh so bad and you were not there for me girl!
Glad your trip went good! You look great in your pictures, and that is because you look HAPPY…
Great Pictures as usual.
and don’t worry about the wardrobe malfunction… i still sometimes wish elastic waists weren’t so taboo, they were kinda comfy;)
My dear friend, Your vacation seems wonderful to me. The whole thing was an ideal “family” vacation….note that my parents drove away just hours before you arrived..ha ha! It was wonderful to see adorable you and too cute, Chloe and finally get to spend a little time with Ryan! We enjoyed you so much. I hope your parents will give Highlands a try! Love you!