Fall is here!

On Sunday we went to the zoo to check out Teton Trek, the new Grizzly Bear exhibit. It is really, really cool! I am sure we will return many times. That afternoon we put Gray and Charlotte to work sweeping up leaves...apparently Charlotte thinks this is a super fun activity. We can't wait until they can actually do some yardwork!

These lions were a definite highlight!

Updates! Updates!

It's been a while...I am renewing my vow to be better about updating the blog...someone hold me to it! The past few months have been filled with lots of travelling and we have been very fortunate to see lots of family and friends! We headed down to Dallas for Labor Day weekend and got to spend time with great friends and Uncle Chris! Tim and Chris went to the OU season opener and had fun despite the loss.

Later in September I got to go on a fun girls trip to Las Vegas (yes, we were celebrating my gasp 30th birthday!). The weekend was so much fun and filled with lots of laughs...and a little bit of gambling. Early October brought the JDRF walk that Adah's Rhodesters did in honor of Laura Coultas, our beloved friend. In the end we raised over $9000!!!!

Just this past weekend we were up in Baltimore visiting Mimi and Grandpop and lots of other family and friends. We had a wonderful time and are just starting to get back into the groove of things here in Memphis. We are finished with the whirlwind of travel and guests, and are excited to spend some time relaxing and enjoying the fall weather here!

Gray turned 1!

It is definitely hard to believe...Thomas Gray Stakem has already hit the 1 year mark!! We celebrated with lots of friends and family in Memphis on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. Gray was especially pleased with his double chocolate cake, and Charlotte managed to subsist on sugar products alone for the entire day. On Sunday we all went to the zoo where Charlotte showed Grammy, Papa, Mimi, Grandpop, and Uncle Chris how brave she was when she held the birdies all by herself! Impressive. We missed Uncle John, who was busy packing for his semester abroad in Chile...maybe the whole clan will plan a suprise visit to the Southern hemisphere...brace yourself John.

Papa brought some beautiful window boxes that he made for our house and Grammy painted them for us! Mimi took the kids for lots of walks and Grandpop taught Charlotte to say "WTF". Nice.

Overall, it was a wonderful and busy weekend!

Looking back...Moving forward

I was going through pictures from this summer today (yes, I know I should haven been working) and I couldn't beleive that I hadn't posted these two that were taken in Hartford of Charlotte with Nana. I think the one of both of them sporting their shades is especially fantastic.

The last few weeks have been a little bit hectic, but overall I'd say we can't complain. Charlotte and Gray started in their new classrooms this week. Charlotte is a proud new member of the Tiger Den and Gray is now chillin' in the Dolphin Room. Their new teachers seem to be wonderful!

This weekend we will be headed to Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs...SO excited! Lots of pictures and a fun update to come!

MAINE

Well, I feel like I brought it on myself...I prayed and prayed that it would be cold in Maine because is was so darn hot here in Memphis. And cold it was. Really cold. And rainy. Taking a 2 year-old on vacation anywhere is a a challenge, but this may have taken the cake. We did have a lot of fun and it was great to spend time with Mimi, Grandpop, Grammy, Uncle Chris, Uncle John, and Leah. We managed to have lobster 3 times and we dug a slew of clams. Charlotte is now fascinated that you can find crabs under rocks and she even held a few of the little bitty ones that we found. Now that we are home I can look back on the vacation fondly, but....next year you may find Tim and I somewhere in the Caribbean...

The beginning of summer...it was HOT

Early June in Memphis was a scorcher. I'm pretty sure that doesn't even begin to describe just how hot is was, but we were desperately looking forward to our trip up to Maine! We had a really fun trip to the water park in Cooper-Young and Charlotte and Gray had a blast! Charlotte's teacher, Ms. LaQuinta, is so great about planning these fun family outings. Afterwards we all hit Chick-fil-a where Charlotte climbed to the top of the GIGANTIC twisty slide and slid down. No fear whatsoever. No wonder I am getting gray hair...

Houston bound....

I'm back! I know it's been a while but it was seriously the busiest Spring ever...

May was a great month for us especially with BBQ Fest and Shelley's wedding in Houston. Team Hogweiser did not necessarily dominate this year, but our beef came in 16th and the chicken came in 23rd (or something like that). These places are out of over 100 competitors so we were proud of ourselves. My sauce pretty much came in fifth to last, which was kind of depressing. I figure if it was that bad it would have been way cooler to come in dead last. Suffice it to say, I think I will be throwing in the towel in the sauce category...

Our trip to Houston was so much fun and Shelley's wedding was beautiful. The best part of the reception was the addition of boas and Elvis glasses on the dance floor!

Charlotte and Gray didn't make the trip with us, but they had a wonderful time hanging with Grammy and Uncle Chris in Memphis.