Fort Caroline

We took the girls to Fort Caroline State Park this weekend. The weather was awesome; windy, in the 80's and low humidity! Fort Caroline is part of Jacksonville that the Spanish and the French battled over several times. It's beautiful and a great place to explore. Since we told the girls we were going to a park they kept asking, "Where are all the swings and slides?" Ha! Here are a few pictures of the nice morning we had together. 

Looking at the view

Brian and Emma

Brian and Addison

Nature walk

Going into the Timicuan hut display

Emma left, Addison right looking up

Addison

Walking down to the dock. This bridge was steeper than it looks in the photo. It made me a little nervous.

Emma in back, Addison closest to camera

Emma, me, Addison

Emma running down the hills of the fort. They both did this for while.

Follow the leader, Brian, Addison, Emma

"Daddy, run with us down the hill!"

Climbing on the cannon

Sliding down the rock hill, Emma ended up on her bottom, Addison still standing

Beautiful trees

Separate Spaces

Recently we decided to give the girls their own bedrooms. Brian and I have struggled with this decision for a while because Emma and Addison are so close. We know they provide each other comfort at night. The problem was they were also providing each other with a playmate for hours when they should be sleeping. So far the switch has gone well. They both still ask for the other. Emma calls her room “the forest”. I have no idea where she got this from. But she tells me and Brian, “I don’t want to go into the forest. I want to stay with Addi.” I know we made the right decision because the first day we switched their rooms they took a 3 hour nap! That has not happened since they were newborns! 

The girls also started back at their Mother’s Day Out Preschool. They go Monday and Tuesday from 9-1. I don’t like the schedule of days they offered this year, but I am really keeping them there so they will get into the VPK at this school. Below are their pictures from the first day back this week. I included their first day picture from last year too. Gosh they have changed so much in one year! Sometimes I really long for those days when they were tiny babies!

Daddy, Emma, Addison (in Addison's new bed)

Emma's bed (She laid her dolls out to go to sleep with her)

When they wake up they go back to being inseparable. Addison left, Emma right

Addison on first day of school 8-20-2012

Emma First day of school 8-20-2012

Here comes trouble!

Cheese!

Cheese!

Last year on their first day of school. Addison left, Emma right

Around the same time last year. I cannot believe how grown up they are now!  Addison left, Emma right

Fun at the Farm

We had another great visit at the farm! The girls are about 3 weeks into wearing big girl underpants so it made for an interesting drive! Addison did pretty well on the trip with potty training; just a couple of accidents. Emma gets so involved in what she is doing she has little concern for stopping and going to the bathroom. She does much better when we are home though. Both have had several days with no accidents! 

Addison trying on the boots Nanny bought for the girls. Going to be a few years before they fit!

Addison

Brian and his girls: Emma in blue, Addison in purple

Feeding the goats with Nanny

This is Emma playing on Big Daddy and Nanny's bed

Hiding

Emma left, Addison right

Emma and Uncle Justin

Nanny and Emma

Grandma (my mother) and Addison

Playing with cousin Layla (Shortly after this all the kids were naked in the pool. And Emma pooped on the ground. Nice, right?!)

Chasing butterflies. Addison has the boots on.

Addison

Cousin Grady, Addison, Emma, cousin Layla

Self portrait! Addison closest, me , Emma in middle, Layla on right

Feeding the geese with Nanny

Self portrait with Emma and Mommy (Mommy might want to consider some eye wrinkle cream! Wow, didn't even know it looked like that!)

Uncle Justin with girlfriend Joleene

Emma, Layla, Addi

Grady had to try those boots out too.

Big Daddy showing them the fish he caught

Aunt MG reeling one in! Grady was pumped!

Time to touch the fish!

Big Daddy and Nanny with the grandkids

Emma mid-afternoon (no nap in 4 days!)