Chapel Hill, NC - visit with Natalie!

Stella had the chance to tag along with her daddy while he headed to Charolette NC for one of his classic car auctions - and stay the week in Chapel Hill NC with her friend Natalie.  Justin stayed two nights and we had a great time with Sarah & Z and then Stella and I stayed through the rest of the week.  Natalie & Stella are so cute together - they had alot of fun jumping up and down on the couch like it was a trampoline (screaming at each other in delight just like they did when in Las Vegas).  Stella also adored Daffeny & Clementine (the family pooches).  Thank you you guys for welcoming us into your home....and for such a long time!  It was wonderful, relaxing and FUN!  And a Special Thank You to Sarah for driving Stella & I all the way to Charolette down the most random roads - that was really really nice of you Sarah and it was really appreciated.  Hopefully we can do this again in April when Justin has his spring auction down there.

BONUS #1:  We had a bonus during this stay in NC - Stella and I invited cousin Jodi, recently transplanted from Denver to Wilmington NC, to Chapel Hill where we spent the day catching up at the house and then went off play at the pumpkin patch.  Jodi and I, thanks to Sarah & Z (they watched Stella for the evening), went and had dinner in Chapel Hill at a brewery where the Octoberfest Brew was pretty darn good....and then we headed over to a charming Italian restaurant for both of ours favorite dessert - Creme Brulée!  Cousin Jodi - it was SOOOO good to see you!  I really wish we could spend more time together....and i'm thinking just maybe it will be easier to do now that you are living closer to us!  Looking so forward to seeing you guys at Christmas this year!

BONUS #2:  We were able to see our good family friend of the Clark's, Mary Pat!  Although a short visit with her...it was sweet :)




Video of our drive through the tunnel.  Stella loved driving through the mountains like this.







Fall Color was peaking during our drive out there - West Virginia Scenic Pit Stop

Natalie & Stella in their matching pumpkin bibs.  They also enjoyed pumpkin pancakes during their visit.  Lately i've been on a baking and cooking kick (isn't Justin happy about that!) and i prepared all the dried ingredients and bagged it for both the pumpkin pancakes and my apple crisp - add some milk, maybe butter and wahlah - i felt like i contributed to our stay....at least a little bit!

The dinners that Sarah & Z made were so yummy.  And our girls night out for Indian was deeelish!  I can't believe i didn't get a pic of us Sarah - duh!

Natalie's Daddy, Z, comes home and hands her yummy hazlenut chocolates i gave him.  This girl knows a good thing when she see it!

Story Time

Elmo Time

Helping Stella pick up her mess. Stella is notorious for throwing her snacks up in the air - if there is not a lid on them.  But she eventually picks up her mess...with some mandating ;)

Loving on Daffeny

Coloring with Cousin Jodi

MaryPat visits

The pumkpin patch and fun fall activities galore outing

Jodi making goofy faces at Stella!

 Stella really liked the hay ride....just not taking this photo!

Look you guys - Horses!

Aside for Stella transforming herself into HOUDINI and learning how to escape out of her pack-n-play, it was a Great Trip & we look forward to hopefully doing it again in April!  Oh and bonus, their new baby girl will be 3 months old by then - yay!

SIDE NOTE:  Ever since we got back home Stella has been sleeping like a gem.  NOT escaping her crib (thank god - i really thought that was the road we were going to be traveling down) - i think she realizes the crib is much higher than the floor level travel crib.  She also has started her "fall hours" and goes to bed, happily (yay!) at 9:30 and wakes up around 9.  It's been nice.