closing up camp for winter and sitting up

This past weekend was the final fall weekend at Cheerio and it was a perfect way to finish up at camp for the year. The weather was just beautiful and the groups were pretty laid back. Above are a few pictures Shane took around sunset.


Adaline hanging out on the carpet ...and the dining hall table.



Although Shane was up at camp to work, Adaline and I were able to spend the weekend playing a bit more. We walked up to the climbing towers where Aaron was working with his dog, Gus. Adaline enjoys Trixie (mom and Jeff's dog) and Nugget and Tallulah (our cats), so I knew she would want to pet Gus. Gus was really good about letting her, too. We also couldn't stay in our apartment at camp because that building was already shut down for winter; so we stayed in Michaux and Michelle's place. It was kind of them to let us use their camp home, and so we made sure to keep everything as we found it. Adaline helped me do a load of laundry and we got in a lot of cuddle time.



I have managed to capture Adaline sitting in photos. These are two different days, and every day she is sitting longer! Yay!

In other news...Shane and I are now an aunt and uncle. My brother Josh, and his wife Michelle, just welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Tallison, into the world over in Colorado. I am so excited for them and wish them the best in this wonderful new experience!

East to West

So, the Brown family has had a busy several weeks. We have not had a weekend at home for some time, but have had lots of fun.


AW, Craig and Shane enjoying a beer at the brewery / tummy time with Kay and Adaline

A few weekends ago, we traveled to Clayton to visit my college roommates and friends (why do I not have a picture of all of us???), Anna, AW, Emily, Craig, and baby Kay, for the weekend. Anna and AW were kind to have two babies staying at their lovely home, and Adaline and Kay had a nice time meeting each other, finally. Mostly we hung around the house, caught up, and played. However, we did get out for awhile on Saturday for a yummy lunch and a brewery trip. I think people thought it was crazy to bring babies to a brewery, but Adaline enjoyed watching the people, and Kay just slept through it all. It was a fantastic weekend and perhaps another visit will not be too far off.


Guster!!! / our crowd Zach, Lauren, Shane, me, Jennifer, and Ryan

Last week, one of our favorite bands was coming through NC on a brief tour that we could not miss. Guster did a weeknight show in Charlotte that was a double set, and to date their longest performance. It was in a small venue (Neighborhood Theater) with great acoustics, and I think the best show of theirs we have seen. Although it was a late night, and tough getting up for work, it was worth it.



Adaline has been practicing her sitting skills lately, and although she can sit for a few seconds at a time without help, I haven't captured a still photo where one of us is not grabing hold of her as she tips over. I believe she is being a little lazy about it too, because when I try to sit her up she stiffens up so that I can't bend her at the waist. Soon though. Adaline has also been through her first ear infection, but according to the doctor it was not a bad one. She did have a few slight fevers, but she went through her antibiotics and is all better and feeling well now. In her trip to the doctor we did find out that she is just over 16 pounds now! She has her 9 month check up and shots in less than 2 weeks and that is very difficult to believe.


Lauren, Jennifer and me on the saddle stools / the night Martyn stopped in to play

Last weekend we traveled to Boone/Blowing Rock to visit more college friends and family. It was Shane's turn to have a weekend with old roommates. Zach and his wife Lauren flew in from Texas for a NC visit and Lauren kindly opened up her family's mountain home for us, along with Shane's brother Ryan and our sister-in-law Jennifer. We packed the weekend complete with games (from poker to hide and seek, yes at our age!), food (including Mellow Mushroom and Kilwins) and people watching in Boone and Blowing Rock on Halloween. No trick-or-treaters mangaged to tackle the mountain we sat atop either, so we had no interruptions to our visit.


Zach, Lauren, Jennifer, Ryan, Adaline, Cheri, and Shane / giddy-up Brown's

We have enjoyed all the time with friends and family and miss those of you we haven't seen in awhile! We hope to get in some more travel time in the not so distant future.