As June comes to an end...

It's been a play play play all day for these three this month:

We love our playdates with the Balls.  Below is one- strawberry picking!

Ansley, Anna, Jesse, Tyler, Carter

 

The girls.

They just wanted to be dragons one morning?  Yes, that's Annamarie on the bench with Tyler :)

Happy Father's Day!

We love our wonderful daddy and husband.  The best role model for the boys they could have in a man.  Honest, kind, hardworking, genuine, respectful, and just so loving to all of us.

Travis' Father's Day present.  Kind of like a little massage?  The kids decided what to put on "The Mack Track"... so there is a frog swamp, car wash, snakes, and of course a road leading to dragons.

Popi was in Croatia for Father's Day... so this is all he got :)

Uncle Bill and Aunt Devon's Garden.

Travis' aunt and uncle have made this great garden area for the family to come and plant vegetables for the summer.  Excited to see how it turns out!

Uncle Bill, Annamarie, Carter, Tyler

 







Just cracks me up.  Carter LOVES salsa.  But before he started eating it he asked me for a cup of water.  He had it down.  Dip, eat, drink.  Definitley my son loading up his chip.

 Zoo Day with the Van Pelts - Thank you Jenise for taking the picture.  She felt so bad that the kids weren't looking... she needs to look at this blog a little more:)

 Pool Day with Kelly!! 

The boys were so excited to go to Kelly's pool.  She was our nanny last year when I worked a couple days a week, still watches them when we need her and we all adore her... as you can tell. 

Tyler, Kelly, Carter

with Annamarie

Wings and Waves

The happiest of days.  The kids were beaming ear to ear- we had the best time. Pure fun!

We were one of the first people there and had the park all to ourselves for that first hour.

Happy Carter

Me and Tyler

Creative Carter. 

The things he comes up with.  I took them to the fountains and he said "Look Momma!  I'm making Skeletons" ... as he got wet, laid flat on the ground and stood up to see his body print.  Tyler and Annamarie quickly joined.

attempting to make one

after- so proud.

 Funny kids

Carter/Tyler

May - Birthdays Galore!

With 4 of us having birthdays in May (the kids and myself)... it was quite the month.  Too many pictures to show, things to say, but lots of joy and family and love and craziness shared!

Mother's Day brunch at boys' preschool.

Annamarie would wear this skirt everyday if I let her...  in fact, now that she climbs out of her crib she snuck out to find it one night and we found her sleeping in it- over her pajamas.

What she picked out to wear one morning.  wow. nowhere to go- thank goodness!

Mother's Day at the fountains.  Fun fun day.

We had dinner with Gigi and Popi after fountains.  Gigi enjoyed her grandkid time on her special day too.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLER and CARTER

When did my boys get so big?  How funny, imaginative, full of life and energy they are.  Tyler so determined, thoughtful, creative, sincere... Carter so "tricky" (he calls it), charming, hands-on, fearless, and the best snuggler I know - Always asks to get cozy with me - I love.  Their one wish.  A snake cake.   The night of their birthday we met our friends Mary and Jim and their kids Jesse and Ansley at the park for dinner. 

The boys helped me decorate this one :)

Mary and Ansley

Annamarie loves this little girl.  Her first friend.

Gigi with some girl time.

The boys got dragon kites from Gigi and Popi- and although I complained about the wind during dinner and our napkins flying away, I realized after how God had blessed us with the perfect evening.  It's not everyday you can fly a kite in Portland.

Popi flying

Gigi keeping up the family tradition of spankings on your birthday.

 So... this is a LONG awaited, promised, anticipated ride in Gigi's car the boys have been begging for forever!  They got a ride home from the park and oh my... a sight to see.  Truly a spectacle and by far, their favorite part of the day.

Carter

This was them... the whole way.

And Gigi earned herself a picture after.  (Popi has Tyler, Gigi with Carter)

We got the boys bikes.  And they're off!

Tyler

Auntie Rhonda arrived for the big party for all three and Anna's birthday.  She brought gifts and the kids were crazed!

Rhonda giving Annamarie getting her new favorite thing- JEWELRY!

These SHARK goggles.  huge hit! Only Auntie Rhonda!

Time for a big bash (for all three)- Safari Style!    We had so much fun with a snake/lizard/frog hunt for the kids and jungle juice for the adults :)

Auntie Rhonda brought my "safari mason jars" to life.  Quite the project I gave her but it was my one wish for the adults to have for their jungle juice.

Me & Gigi

Kids and their AMAZING snake cakes by Gigi.  Put my cupcake cobra to shame.  Thank goodness for Gigi who never disappoints.

Time for the hunt:

boys with friend Pieter

Tyler- too funny.

Popi and his girls.  It's hard not to adore Popi.  Or should I say Papa- Anna's name for him.

Post party pictures:

Tyler, Anna, Carter

Anna, Carter, Tyler with Auntie Rhonda

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNAMARIE!

To say this little girl is just the best- isn't enough.  She is truly funny... amazing how a tiny thing with such few words can be such a big comedian who loves to make people laugh.  From her dramatic lipsincing and dancing in the car to her sweet little giggles and silly reactions... so incredibly strong and tough but what also such a girl.   I just love her.  Can't get enough - except for when she fights me getting into her carseat :)

Birthday morning- day after the party, exhausted, but still all smiles.

We went to Uncle Bill's and Aunt Devon's for her birthday dinner.  Always special.

Uncle Bill handed over the keys :)  Quite the birthday ride!

MORE JEWELRY?!!  She was in heaven!

Everyone wanted their moment with the newly 2-year-old:

with Aunt Joanne.

with Aunt Mary

with Uncle Bill

love.