Alabama Loves Summer 2016

Every other summer we make a very special 12 plus hour trip to Alabama to see our sweet nieces, nephew, and brother and sister-in-law. I wouldn't have it any other way. I absolutely adore this family and while they may be many miles away, we are so thankful for the memories we make and the time we share when we are together. As every trip is so very exciting, this trip was made even more special as it was the first time for our Alabama family to meet our Liam love. So get ready for a huge picture post, some details, and lots of beautiful time spent together.

On Friday evening with rental car packed to the brim, pup at doggy daycare, snacks purchased, and both children buckled with toys, we made the first leg of our journey. While we had a few hiccups along the way with road closures and crying kiddos, the husband drove all the way to Vicksburg, MS. 

While our hotel stay was a bit questionable and shady, the view surely made up for it. With only 6 more hours of travel and a nap time, the kids did great in the car and gave mommy and daddy a little couples time to chat. When we arrived, we were greeted with the best family welcome.

 {Cousin Olivia-9 with Aubrey-2 & Liam-4 mo}

  

{Cousin Kendall & Liam}

 

{My sister-in-law, Tassie and our little man}

 {Ryan & his lil side kicks}

{The two grandsons- cousin, Jake & Liam} 

It is always as if we catch right back up where we left off. Our first night together was filled with our wonderful welcome and family catch up. Plus this mama stayed up way past her bedtime. It was well worth it!

{These two cuties had a fun slumber party each night of our trip}

You can tell the two were just a little excited for the fun time together!

The next morning, we all got ready for some fun in the sun and enjoyed an afternoon at the pool. Our afternoon was surely wet and a bit wild. Aubrey enjoyed swimming with her family and playing with the pool animals while we too enjoyed water games with my niece, Olivia.

 {Family photo, Mommy & Liam, Aubrey & her pool toys, Pool friends, & swimming with Kendall and the babes}

 {Aubrey LOVED swimming with her cousins and aunt.}

 {Snack time with daddy on the swing}

{Daddy, Liam, Aubrey, & Mommy}

Our next day's adventure took us to a kid's play place in Bowdon, Georgia. As our family is only a mile away from the Georgia line, we enjoyed many adventures in both states during our visit. 

 {Uncle Ray, Aunt Alicia, Jake-14, Olivia-9}

 {Play Place Fun with Family}

 {Me and my girls}

 {Come on ride the train! Choo Choo}

 {Tassie and her boys}

 {Our Karaoke Queen!}

 

{Jake & Liam}

 {Jake & Aubrey are having a "ball!"}

{My beautiful niece, Olivia, schooled me in the bounce maze.}

On our final full day together, we made our way into Georgia for a delicious lunch and some fresh peach ice cream.

 {Uncle Ray, Jake, & Ryan}

 {me, Kendall, & Tassie}

 {Aubrey & Olivia}

 {Daddy, mommy, & Aubrey}

 {My lil Liam love}

Eating  ice cream from a peach farm in Georgia has become one of my favorite traditions while visiting our family. Hello Georgia peaches. There is nothing better than relaxing in swings/benches/rocking chairs while eating peach ice cream in a peach field with family.

 

 

 

 {Ryan & Tassie Love}

 

 

 

 {My love}

 

 {swinging beauties}

Over the course of our trip, we had a lot of laughs, enjoyed quite a few cuddles, caught up on great family conversation, watched a few Big Brothers (thank you for keeping us hooked), ate the most delicious food (Tassie you are the queen of the kitchen), watched little brother roll over for the first time, tried to catch so many moments on film, and most importantly made wonderful memories together.

 {Uncle Ray with his girls- running and dancing in the rain}

 {Aunt Tassie snuggles are magical}

 {Aubrey playing with "her" letters}

{delicious eats}

{Giggling with cousin, Kendall}

We are so thankful for these Alabama Loves and for the memories made this summer. Here's to many more and all those adventures to come!

Zellner Zoo Family Fun Memorial Day 2015

This weekend Ray, Auby, and I traveled south to Sugar Land to visit our families for the Memorial Day weekend. After dropping Mattie (our pup) off with my parents, we made our way to the in-law's house to visit with his my husband's parents, siblings, and our nieces and nephew. With our numbers ranging from 12-16 people at any given time including 5 dogs, it surely made for a Zellner zoo but a lot of family fun. We surely packed a lot of fun moments and memories in our 3 day weekend. Enjoy pictures of our time with my Zellner family.

 {Nephew Jacob- almost 13}

 {Niece Olivia- almost 8}

{Auby-almost 20 months}

 {Peek-a-boo Baby}

 {Auby & Olivia had a blast together reading stories and taking care of Penny the Penguin.}

{Reading with cousin, Jacob}

I was so surprised that the sun found its way out of the clouds to show up for our Zellner pool day. It was a fun day to spend with our Alabama family and in-laws. Thank you to our Alabama Zellner family who drove in for the weekend. From splashing in the pool, slides and pool floaties, diving board fun, baby splash cuddles, a yummy grilled cheese and chip lunch- thank you babe, and our first pool day experience, we had so much fun.

{Cousin Love: Walking to the pool}

 {Zellner Pool Fun}

I cannot get enough of these adorable girls and their bathing suits. Thank you Wal-Mart special. I mean it has a tutu!

 

Children under age were required to wear a life jacket and matching mommy bracelet. Auby was only impressed by the "bracelet."

{Auby's testing the cold waters.}

 {We loved to splish and splash in the water}

 {First family pool day photo}

 

 {Mother & Son Love: Jacob and Tassie, sis-in-law}

 {Aunt Rachel Love}

 {The ladies @ the pool: Me, Rachel, Kendall, Tassie, & Olivia}

 

 {Ray makes lunch for the family}

During lunch, thunder rocked the pool which forced us to head back home. After baby girl's nap, we put on her "comingo" romper and enjoyed more Zellner zoo family fun.

 {Olivia was such a little mama with her baby cousin. Loved these moments.}

 {game time with the niece and nephew}

 {Little girl loved her afternoon reads}

 {We enjoyed our visit from Joyce.}

 {Aunt Becky brought baby Presley over. The girls were so cute together. I love this picture of Auby's attempt at a side hug.} 

 {Loving on Walley}

 {Grammy plays airplane}

 {Auby loved putting on Aunt Becky's shoes.}

 

 {Uncle and Newphew hanging}

 {Papa Z, Daddy, & Auby}

 {Saturday's delicious dinner}

We surely loved our time with our Zellner Zoo. While it was fast and furious we definitely shared a lot of fun and memorable moments with our loves.