Wednesday night, we got a late start headed to Aiken. Matt had to work later than expected, but I was able to get to cat packed, and kids fed and bathed. Our trip down went SO smoothly. There are HUGE pluses to traveling at night.
Thanksgiving morning we went to the Blessing of the Hounds in Hitchcock Woods. Every year at the first formal hunt, an Episcopal Priest comes and blesses the Aiken Hounds and the horses. We walked about 1/2 mile into the woods, and got to watch the ceremony. Alden rode in the backpack and Hudson fell asleep in the Bjorn. 
There were so many more people there than we had thought! Alden wanted to walk back, so although we started at the front of the pack, by the time we reached the road, there were only a couple people behind us. At least it wore her out some.
There were so many more people there than we had thought! Alden wanted to walk back, so although we started at the front of the pack, by the time we reached the road, there were only a couple people behind us. At least it wore her out some.The whippers-in and the hounds.
This cute little girl and her pony made me hope that Alden will like horses!
After our walk back. Alden made it!
We had Thanksgiving dinner with Matt's parents at Woodside Country Club, which was delicious. They had one of the best turkeys I have ever tasted, which says a lot, because I don't typically care for turkey. Alden was not in the greatest mood, and probably ate 3 bites of food. She and I spent most of the meal in one of the lounges watching cartoons, so that they other diners could eat in peace.An attempt at a family picture. Alden was NOT interested in photo ops.
We went to the park that night to burn off some energy. Good thing, too, because it rained the next few days.
Leigh and Eric arrived late Friday night, and Alden just went right to their room Saturday morning needing her poop diaper changed. And we didn't even tell her where they were staying, and honestly, did not even put her up to it! Bless Leigh's heart, because she got up with her, washed her off in the tub, and entertained her downstairs, all after only sleeping 4 hours.
Three generations of Wyatt men.
He can sometimes even get his passy in his mouth the right way. That is HUGE!
Nap time.
We went to downtown on Saturday. Alden got her face painted for the first time.
Snuggle time with Grandma.
Matt and I still managed to fit in some runs despite the rain, and Hudson and Alden enjoyed the grandparent attention. We iced Christmas cookies on Sunday, a Wyatt family tradition. Alden helped cut out the shapes and iced a few. She even had her own special apron.
Snuggle time with Grandma.Matt and I still managed to fit in some runs despite the rain, and Hudson and Alden enjoyed the grandparent attention. We iced Christmas cookies on Sunday, a Wyatt family tradition. Alden helped cut out the shapes and iced a few. She even had her own special apron.Enjoying the fruit of her work! Yum!
Hudson wanted to try some, too.
Alden had a great time playing with Eric and Leigh. They were "conducting" with the blocks to the songs from the Baby Einstein book. One of her favorite things this past weekend was when she and I took the Owl and Yak from the alphabet train and looked for the "S" animal. I thought it was a snake, but turns out, it was a skunk. Alden kept saying, "Mommy, mommy, play owl and yak...find snake!"
*Alden told Ashley today on the phone that she had a "hard day". What?? Like she had to play at the Y, go to the library for storytime, and take a nap. Tough life.
The main event of our weekend was our friends Colleen and Chad's daughter Abby's first birthday (that was a mouthful, wow). All of my library/playgroup friends were there, minus Megan who just had a 10 lb 5 oz baby Michael on Thursday! All the kids have changed so much in just 4 months and I miss them so much. Alden had a great time playing and running around outside with the bubble machine.
After the party, we went to Bill and Ashley's to get together with our Shea friends. Again, we miss them so much, and really enjoyed the fellowship. Alden and Ella played a lot, and didn't crash like we had feared after NO nap that day for either one of them.
We played hide-and-seek outside. I counted, and found the two of them in this little cave of bushes. This was really the only time Alden stayed hidden. The other times, she would pop out before the seeker got to her.
Alden getting ready for school. She has been answering the phone a lot lately. Sometimes this is a little awkward when it is someone that isn't family. She hears it ring and says, "I get it! I get it!" 
Pop-pop made another batch of party mix this past week. Alden supervised.
Making those expanding-from-a-capsule-sponge-animals with Amber and Ashley.
"Hiking" on the Tobacco Trail with Ashley and the dogs.
Hudson has been grabbing everything in reach and trying to put it in his mouth. He really likes to go for his feet while he is sitting in the Bumbo seat. He is also rolling over a lot. Mostly from front to back, with a little back to front thrown in there. The flipside to his flipping is that he is not sleeping through the night anymore. He starts out on his side now, and won't let us lay him down on his tummy. He sleeps fine like that, but eventually turns onto his back and wakes himself up. This is especially frustrating, because I was really used to getting a solid 6-7 hours. Too bad we can't tape him down or something.
This has been one of the most beautiful autumns. The weather has been perfect, and the leaves are gorgeous. We feel so spoiled living here. Fall is definitely my favorite season, especially when my dad starts making his famous Chex mix. He made a batch on Monday, and it was completely gone by Friday.
Alden didn't have school this past Monday, but we kept busy running some errands. We went to the park quite a few days this week, and have loved being outside. We spent about 20 minutes one day throwing pinecones in the creek, and another day, Alden found a plastic octopus in the sandbox that she put on the swings and down the slide. 
We have all been fighting a bit of a cold the past few days, so we laid low Sunday after church. Of course, if that is our plan, Alden only slept 20 minutes. We put her to work though, and while we raked some more leaves, Alden helped Matt shovel acorns into the wheelbarrow.
Saturday morning, we went to the Cary Band Day parade. Alden had a great time, and kept looking down the street and saying, "More parade!" She danced to all the bands, and collected more candy for her stash. 
We spent a lot of time outside, took a walk to the park at the pool, and enjoyed dinner with everyone.
Hudson has been busy making raspberry sounds, blowing spit bubbles, and squawking. His personality is developing everyday. 
Alden has found a little album that has some of her baby pictures in it. She likes to go through and point out the people in the pictures, and refers to herself as "Baby You." Also, everything this week has been "right now". Like at church, "I go find Daddy right now" or "I eat goldfish and juice right now."