Happy 4th!

We had an eventful, ridiculously fun 4th of July!

We started out playing in the new swimming pool.  I love these little pools that have a hose attachment. They keep the water so cool!

This pool came with 2 blow up pirate swords.  Ruston had a sword fight with the water, and showed off his best pirate face!

After nap we met Amy and the kids and headed up to the hospital.  My cousins Justin and Kristen had twins on the 3rd!!! Don't want to post any pics of sweet Taylor and Kase until I get permission from their mommy and daddy, but oh, they are cute!  Seriously, Kristen doesn't look like she just had twins!!

Justin hung out in the hallway with the kids so Amy and I could go in together for a picture.  Ruston has a lovie that he has been so attached to over the last year.  So he got Taylor and Kase their own lovies too.  He wasn't too sure about the babies...he just laid their lovies next to them and was ready to get out of the room!

They had a cookie cake in the room serving as the twins' birthday cake.  The kids scarfed their slices down in like 30 seconds!

After the hospital, we picked up Danny and then went to his parent's house for dinner.  Gigi had some flags in one of her centerpieces that she let us use!

Southside Market in Elgin puts on a really big fireworks display each year.  We went to the feed store and met back up with Amy for the show.  The store parking lot was the perfect place to go... We had plenty of space and the kids could play on the swingset until it started.

They're all ready with their flags!!

My dad, Melinda, and Andrew came to watch with us, too.

Once the show started, I don't think Ruston moved.  He loved it!  

Twinkies on the Way!

Justin and Kristen have some little twinkies on the way!! A little boy and a little girl...how perfect did that work out?! :)

We had a shower for them in April.  It turned out great! Look at those sweet cakes. I know it's hard to tell, but they have little babies on top.  And when you lifted up the blankets, they had little booties (like butts, not shoes).  They were so cute!

Our girls night group... Momma Kristen, Kristen, me, Bekah, and Amy

All the lovely hostesses! Kristen has so many wonderful friends that were thrilled about throwing her the shower.  Amy, Kali, me, Amy, Tiffany, Kristen, Tabitha, Kristen, Bekah, and Natalie

The weather cooperated perfectly, so we got to spend most of the time outside.

Playing some games.... On this one, we had to pull off a piece of tissue paper with our guess of what their combined girth (weird word) would be.  I may or may not have pulled off about 3 times too much. :/

Jim was the winner!

Next up, the boys had a beer from a bottle race.  I heard lots of complaining and lots of sorry feelings for their kids that had to do this every day! ;)

Finally, the presents! They got so many cute and useful things.

Kristen and I.  Can't wait to meet those babies!! :)

Reasons to Celebrate

Life is full of blessings right now! I have so many friends and family getting married and welcoming new babies into their worlds.  I'm so thankful to be a part of all these wonderful happenings!

Last Friday, my good friend Bethany had her second baby boy.  Little Holland Paul will have lots of fun with big brother, Brock. :)

This Saturday, my cousin Clay got married.  It was pretty neat, they actually got married at the same place, exact same room, as his brother.  But it looked totally different! It's crazy how switching up the colors and layout can make a place look completely new.

My dad was there, so naturally, my son wanted nothing to do with me. :)

McKenzie was tearing up the dance floor! She was so cute. 

Ruston joined her on the floor for a bit before the toasts....he ran in circles around her. ha! After the first dance, I went to grab him from my Dad so he could dance again. And this is what I found....

Poor guy was pooped! We headed home shortly after. Beautiful wedding, beautiful couple!

And today, Megan had little Braelynn Fay! I went by after school to meet the little gal. She's so small! I came straight from work and didn't want to give her my kids' germs, so I didn't hold her.  But I had to snap a pic of her sweet little face!

It's that time of year...

...the time for weddings and babies galore! With those special occasions come showers, parties, and lots of booked up weekends. :) 

The Saturday before last, I helped throw a shower for my cousin's fiance.  Clay and Ally are getting married mid-April.  The shower was at Chad and Kristen's house and it was honestly the easiest shower.  It was small, simple, and absolutely perfect.

Ally got some really useful gifts.  Can't wait for the wedding!

The next day we threw a shower for Rebekah.  Baby Blythe will be here before we know it! It was a pretty large baby shower, but everything worked out well.  

The cake was delicious and Stacey's diaper cake was too cute.

Bek and Baby Blythe got so many cute things! Lots of ooohing and aahhing from the guests. :)

Last Saturday, I went to a baby shower for my good friend, Megan and little baby Braelynn.  Megan and I have gotten pretty close the past couple years.  She was actually in the room with Danny and I when Ruston was born.

Miss Kenzie helped Mama open baby sister's gifts.  I'm really excited to see if Braelynn is just like Kenzie or if she'll have a totally different personality. :)

Poor Ruston is so completely outnumbered.  Everywhere he goes, he is surrounded by girls! haha

All you friends of mine, get to making some boy babies!! He decided he wanted to get up on stage and have some of the attention too. :)

March is just the beginning of this crazy shower/wedding/baby season.  I'm so thankful to have so many great friends to experience these events with!!