State Fair of Texas!

We went to the Fair today! We had a great time - the weather was surprisingly chilly and we went early enough that it was not crowded at all. We enjoyed good fair food and looked at all of the fun things the fair has to offer. Brayden had a blast this year too - its amazing what a year can do. He was so much more observant and just soaked everything up. It's great to start traditions that we can share together. Enjoy the photos below of our day!


First stop: The Automobile Buildings. We found a great booth selling miniature cars so Brayden picked out two and was quite happy the rest of the day. He got two different kinds of firetrucks. "Firecars" as he calls them.


Looking at Big Tex


BIG TEX!

Corn Dog! Yummy!

The Midway. We weren't quite ready for rides this year - next year for sure!

Strolling along on the way to the petting zoo.

He liked Nanny's funnel cake.

Playing with mommy by the water.

Brayden and Nanny

He enjoyed walking along this wall.

Nutty bar! Ryan wanted me to note that he didn't eat any of this because it is not part of his P90x diet. :)

Playing with Daddy.

Choo-choos! He loved seeing the big train engines. He kept saying "All Aboard!" (He watches a show at Nanny and Papa's where a conductor always says this - so cute!)

You can see how excited he was by the trains! :)

See ya next year State Fair!

More Pics from the Beach....

The photographs below were taken by a professional photographer Valary Dreyer. I was looking forward to having our pictures taken all week and the day of the shoot a storm rolled in right before our appointment. The photographer was so nice and came out to the resort anyway and got a few shots until we had to quit. She did not charge us for her time and sent me what she was able to capture in the limited time she had with us. She got a few great shots! We will definitely call her again next year and maybe schedule her for sunrise photos rather than sunset photos - since most nights in South Carolina that week we had storms roll in. She got some precious pics of Brayden with a starshell. He loved it so she let him keep it.

South Carolina Vacation

BEACH PHOTOS!

I am finally getting around to posting pics of our amazing trip to Wild Dunes, South Carolina this summer. We had the best time. We went with our great friends Andrea and Caleb that live in Akron, Ohio. They have a little boy named Colin who is just over a year old so it was nice to have two boys running around about the same age.

It was unbelievable to have a week together as a family away from Dallas - no work, no soccer, no distractions, just family time. Ryan had been in Boston the week before for Nationals so Brayden followed him around like a puppy dog so happy to see his daddy after a week away.

The trip was relaxing, we never really had any set schedule -- just spent time on the beach, napped, cooked, ate out, played with the boys, went to the playground, just hung out. Brayden loved the beach especially the sand. He loved playing in it and collecting shells. He was awestruck by the ocean and the waves. He did so good on his first plane ride. I was a bit nervous about it but he came through as usual!

Below are the pics from the great week. We had so much fun with Andrea, Caleb and Colin. It was so nice to spend time with friends we never get to see but sure wish we did. They mean to world to us and I hope it becomes a tradition every year! Hope you enjoy looking at all of the great memories I captured!

On the boardwalk heading to see the ocean for the first time!

You can't tell from a photograph - but they have the same exact walk.

He's bursting at the seams with excitement!

He doesn't quite know what to think of the waves and all of the water!

Colin running around. Isn't he the cutest?

Daddy and Brayden listening to music.

Brayden loved playing in the beach!

His favorite activity was putting shells into his yellow truck.

Colin and Brayden playing. As you can see on Brayden's face - he wasn't so sure about Colin touching his cars. We are learning the concept of sharing. You can kinda see the house we stayed rented in the background. It was the coolest beachhouse - decorated so cute. We loved it.

Sweet Colin playing in sand.

Went to Charleston one day... Cute Porter family pic.

Ryan and Brayden in front of the historic slave trade building in downtown Charleston.

Scenic picture of the intercoastal waterway.

The USS Yorktown is behind them in the distance.

I never get tired of this image. So cute. He loves his daddy.

The main area of the resort had this giant chair to take pictures on and it swallowed Brayden.

It was so beautiful. I wish I saw this view everyday!

View of pool and beachfront condos.

We got a sitter one night and were able to have an adults night out to dinner!

The boys playing on the last day at the beach.

Off to find another shell...

He had been playing in his room and suddenly gotten quiet. I came into find him sitting in his dresser drawer watching TV.

Such a mess! He looks like a 4 year old in this picture! He is growing up too fast.

ICE CREAM! YUM!

Wanting more....his facial expressions are getting really dramatic the closer he gets to 2 years old.

Final view of the beach before heading back home...

Daddy and Brayden saying Bye Bye Wa Wa - see ya next year.