when do you officially declare something "annual"?

In the fall of 2011, I made a trip to Nashville to meet my niece, Ellie.
In the fall of 2012, I found cheap flights after softball, so Blythe and I flew out on Halloween.
In the fall of 2013, after pushing my flight back a couple weeks due to winning a state championship, I finally made it out to meet my nephew, Wesley. And it was Halloween.
This year  in JUNE when I saw Southwest was having a sale on their fall tickets I took a peek. I thought for sure it would be cheaper to drive, since we now had to pay for Blythe. But I scored A DEAL! And we were in Nashville again for Halloween.

Only picture we got with all 5 together. We always had one napping or crying or pouting or too occupied to stop and take a picture :) 

So I think it's safe to say, after four years, that a fall/Halloween trip to Nashville is an annual thing for our family. And I don't mind that one bit.

Every year I have gone, we have added another baby too.

Mom, Dad: I'm not sure THAT will be an annual thing, so don't get your hopes up.

It was a little chilly crazy cold on Halloween night, which was a bummer. Last year we walked with the three older girls for probably an hour and a half and they loved it. This year Wes and Blythe made it to about 3 houses, and the older girls braved it for about 10. Oh well. They came back and we had hot chocolate and a dance party. #stillfun

We had a tea party with the older girls for lunch one day. Caroline said she needed to teach Blythe how to have a "proper" tea party. I asked her what that meant and she said, "You just have to be polite." At one point during the party Ellie laughed at Blythe and said, "You're funny." And Blythe said, "I'm not funny! I'm a princess!"

Brent sprained his ankle. Of course. Last time he had a bad bike wreck and had neck issues for months. Dan and Brent love each other. Dan and Brent are both athletes. Dan and Brent are both a little more brittle than they used to be/ think they are.

We stayed up to late.
The kids got up too early.
We laughed.
We re-organized the play room!
We wished we had more time.
And as always, we had a fantastic time. Kali and Dan are the best hosts. Their kids are awesome.

Sisters make the best best friends.

And now, here are some pictures for my family.

Dan met up with a friend this night so we headed to the Pumpkin Patch without him. He was missed. Mainly in the kid-wrangling department. 

Oh, hey, look a picture of all four of us [Blythe's crazy face and all!]. And I got a haircut! 

They preferred tea over hot chocolate

she was in heaven. 

an 80's workout girl, a fairy princess, a mermaid, and Clark Kent 

I also took some family pictures for them while I was there. They haven't seen them yet [I've taken a ton of pictures lately and will do one post soon with all of them], but here is a sneak peak. And is it just me, or does my sister get more gorgeous with every child she has?

Kali and Dan,
and Caroline, Ellie, and Wesley,

We love you. We thank you. We can't wait for our next ANNUAL fall trip!