Ballet Class

We started ballet class on Saturday September 10, 2011. Isabel was so excited and went in like a big girl. I think it helped that best friend Remi is in the class too.

First Day of Young Three

Little Red Schoolhouse of Metairie
Young Three Class
Teachers: Ms. Kathleen and Ms. Lauren

After several attempts and changing locations three times.....not one good shot in the bunch.

Vacation Part I (Maggie Valley, North Carolina)

August 26 - September 4, 2011

Family Summer Vacation

It is really impossible to sum up our last week. But I will attempt to go through some pictures of each day to show you just how wonderful our week has been. We set off Friday afternoon August 26 in the GMC Acadia fully loaded down for a 2 day driving adventure. We all had a blast and Isabel was in hog heaven to have BOTH mommy and daddy's undivided attention. We broke the trip up by stopping in Auburn (shout out to LBG!!!) at midnight and then finished the drive on Saturday to Maggie Valley, North Carolina.

Phillips' attending physician allowed us the opportunity to stay a week in his vacation home up in the mountains. The home looked like a wood cabin with 3 bedrooms/2 baths, a loft, a huge deck with hot-tub, and very spacious family/kitchen room. It was located almost to the top of the mountain and outside you could hear a waterfall....not too far away from us. It was perfect in everyway!

The rest of our trip in North Carolina was spent visiting surrounding areas of Maggie Valley, hiking, fishing, Santa's land, and of course some shopping!!

DAY ONE: Great Smokey Mountain National Park

Great Smokey National Park

Isabel ready to go hiking.

Mom and Isabel on hike

Twinkies!!

Daddy and his 35 pound pack.

Lookout point in Great Smokies

Cutest pic EVER!!!

Family of bears

Family shot at a lookout point after a 1 1/2 mile hike....and Isabel not participating in family picture time.

11 am to 8 pm we spent driving and hiking the National Park with picnic lunch on hike and dinner at BBQ place in Maggie Valley.

DAY TWO: Santa's Land Theme Park and Zoo

Candy shop

Feeding the fish

Brave racer!

Brave volunteer at magic show

Family shot paddle boating

We spent most of the day at Santa's land. Then we drove to the near city of Waynesville, NC to do some window shopping and dinner.

DAY THREE: Back to Great Smokey (Tennessee side of Park)

Jenkins Ridge Overlook

Creek on hike

Another Creek on Hike

8 am to 7 pm we spent driving and hiking in National Park with a lunch stop in Gattlinburg, TN.

DAY FOUR: Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC

The Biltmore....sorry no pics of us today!! We spent the day at the Biltmore Estate touring the estate, eating at the village, wine tasting, and enjoying the afternoon with ice cream. Then later that evening we watched the sun set at the Grove Park Inn.

DAY FIVE: fly fishing for Phillips and shopping for Laurel and Isabel

Daddy caught a fish in Cherokee, NC

Girl time in Highlands, NC

Vacation Part II (Greenville/Clemson, South Carolina)

For the second leg of our vacation we drove to Greenville, SC to meet up with some friends. Friday night (September 2) we stayed at The Foret's House (my Lake Charles friends: Jon, Shane, Emma 2 year 6 months and Raley 11 months). They were so wonderful for letting us take a glimpse of their lives all the way in SC. Their home is precious and their family even cuter. They will be moving back to Lake Charles this coming summer as Jonathan finishes up his Orthopedic residency. Isabel had an absolute ball hanging out with Emma, and Shane even provided them with matching princess gowns. The adults got to enjoy a night out in downtown Greenville eating at Pomogranite and then after dinner drinks at a local bar.

Saturday (September 3) we headed to Clemson to enjoy some quality time with Jon Hungerford. We also got to take a glimpse into how he spends most of his weekends during football season. His spacious and very comfortable condo is right across the street from the Clemson stadium. We tailgated most of the day and then gambled in taking Isabel to her first football game. Phillips was apprehensive and I was optimistic! She LOVED every second. Jon graciously gave us tickets right in front of the cheerleaders on the first row!!! So you can guess how the girls spent most of the game....thats right practicing cheer moves and imitating the cheerleaders, while the boys were behind us going back and forth in watching the game and picking out the cute cheerleaders. After the Clemson game, we watched the Ole Miss game and LSU game on the big screen at Jon's place. It was a perfect way to end our vacation! Sunday, we made to drive home.....the whole way to avoid weather on Monday from Tropical Storm Lee.

Go Clemson TIgers!!!

Isabel and Emma watching some Mickey and snacking on raisens

Jumping game on the air mattress!

Friday night dinner and drinks with Jon

The Jenkins and The Forets