August Happenings

We like to give Daddy a hard time when he's going to work...  Daddy will never be able to leave with this big girl blocking the door ;)

and then sometimes we wait on the porch when he's on his way home.  On this day i was cooking dinner and couldn't wait, but Nora held down the fort steps, waiting for Daddy. 

 They sure do love him

 and these brothers really love each other

 The twins started soccer a few weeks ago.  They were very excited for all their new soccer gear.  They seem to be having fun so far.  My honest opinion is the base soccer program is pretty unorganized...but they are having fun so that's good enough for now. 

 

 we also celebrated this little one's 2nd birthday.  Emma is just 2 weeks older than D....so that means we're next!  Where are our babies? 

a fun group of kiddos!

  and i hit the halfway mark.... toes still visible!

First Family 5K

The kids did their first 5K this weekend for Daddy.  That's 3.1 miles for you non-runners. Mike has started taking them on small runs around the house/neighborhood lately and he thought he'd give this race a try.  It was very family friendly, there were kids and adults of all ages, kids on bikes trying to keep up with parents, moms impressively running with four kids in tow, parents jogging slowly encouraging their kiddos and even 4-legged runners on leashes. 

We knew they'd walk a lot, but i really didn't expect Nora to do the whole thing.  She's never proven to have much stamina (like giving out at the zoo and other long outings).  Still, she was walking when they showed back up at the track for the final lap and i was so impressed! 

They finished around 49 mins.  Mike said both had a few tears at some point, but they worked through it, didn't give up and finished with smiles on their faces and ready for some pancakes!  This race is done monthly, and as the weather starts to cool hopefully we'll make it to a few more this fall :)

Start

 Finish

j.u.l.y ~ SUMMER ~ j.u.l.y

here's your dose of monthly randoms. 

Davis wanted to be like the twins, so he got a floaty too.  He's still technically too small for it to be safe, but try explaining that to a 1.5 yr old. 

  Mr. found my makeup.  At least he got the mascara on the right body part!

 Holden built me a flower garden on the rainy/tropical storm day at the beach. 

Our sweet neighbors took care of our animals while we were away at the beach.  The twins made cards to say thank you.  I had to take pictures of their artwork.  

Linus (our turtle) and LuLu (love how LuLu looks like a mouse)

 Lotsa CFA visits this summer. D hearts the cow!

 mowing the pool.  pretty serious business

 Play date with the Luchetta's.  Gavin is missing because he fell off the play set in the first ten minutes and had to go get staples.  Ava, Brayden and Emma stayed with us and had a fun morning. 

 these two are about 2 weeks apart in age and were really funny together. 

 full-a-hands on this morning 

Davis is always stealing my breakfast, but how can i say 'no' to this face?

 playing can be exhausting

Smiles at Breakfast...they get this from their Daddy :)

We meet Daddy for lunch about once a week.  Elizabeth's Pizza is one of our faves.  D likes to wear parts of Mike's uniform when he can get his hands on it :)

Our Sweet Mini Paratrooper

sweet moment of stillness from my littlest  

 this baby loves pickles just like mommy!

Mommy, Daddy and Davis had Sat. lunch at Blue Moon while the twins went to watch Fire and Rescue with Nana and Poppy.  We had a fun afternoon watching the trains, motorcycles and doggies go by. 

 after lunch (which took an incredibly LONG TIME) we treated Davis to cupcakes at the bakery downtown. 

Later that day mom and I took Nora to her first pedicure...topped off with a Starbucks lemonade.  She thought she was hot stuff! 

  

caption says it all

Christmas at Home

We did our family "christmas" on Saturday the 21st while we were still in our home and things weren't so hectic.  It was a sweet morning.  We set up the computer and skyped Daddy for most of the morning and the kids opened all the presents that Mike and I had been conspiring to get for the past few months. 

this was also the first time that Davis ever said "cheese" to the camera.  May i also say it was the easiest group picture yet. Just look how cute they are!

  

 The "befores"

 and then it began...

 Davis opening his first present of the season...and he's a pro!

a train from sister!

CARS

 ooo...these are for me?

a Sleeping Beauty Christmas

robes and slippers from Baby Brother

oh how we love skype!

Daddy's Birthday

Mike had a birthday in September too-- it seems Little D's first birthday overshadowed Daddy's 33rd on the blog, but we did celebrate, and it was quite the funny evening. 

along with the rest of the country, Mike likes Duck Dynasty.  We picked up one of Phil's books for Mike for Christmas and Holden very clearly remembers this.  Now whenever he sees men with super long beards and lots of camo he associates that with daddy...which makes me laugh.  All of this to say, while birthday supply shopping, we chose a camo motif for Daddy.  (should the words camo and motif even be used in the same sentence?  I can see Phil shaking his head now...."yuppies".)

i realize it looks a bit like a memorial--that was of course, not my intention--the 2 green candles are there just to help hold up the sign and daddy doll, and the cupcake with the candle was Daddy's cake (which we all "helped" him eat!)

our party hats...birthday hats with "deer" antlers..obviously D thinks this is hilarious. 

 this kid loves his "brown" aka chocolate

 this kid loves his cake...like he hadn't already had enough cake earlier that morning at his cake smash session. 

 "what cupcake?"

 and because we had to take our redneck party one step farther...we got tattoos of our favorite hunting game--deer for Nora (which the twins still call reindeer, even though i correct them every.single.time...turkey for Holden and some kind of bird for me...goose? duck? eh.  i just thought it was pretty.  (there it goes again.... "yuppy")

*note: Daddy was supposed to attend his party via skype, but he was stuck in an airfield on his birthday with no internet or phone access-- hence the Daddy Doll stand in.  When a party is promised to 2 three year-olds....a party must be given, even when the guest of honor is missing.  We still skyped with him the next day and relived all of our redneck fun :)