Find Joy In Your Journey

I'm so behind! So let me just intro these pictures by saying they're from Katie's bridal shower 2 weeks ago. Let's hope it doesn't take me this long to get the pictures up from her second shower that I attended 2 days ago...

Smile party girls!
Lovely flowers
Getting kisses her man Ian (who just happened to be celebrating hist first birthday that very day!)
left-to-right
Angie, Aunt Jean, Grandma Marilyn, Mother-Of-the-Bride Kathy, Lindsay, Bride Katie
Getting love from Mommy
I got this, Ian!
Mm! Ebil skeevers! Yummy!
Making Aunt Katie a special bouquet for her rehearsal...
...meanwhile Nana works on one, too
Aw! Precious!
I'm pretending I can't hear Mommy telling me not to tear this apart...
...so I'll hide in this bag...
...she'll be none the wiser...
...if she can't see me...
...then she'll never know what I'm doing.
So true!
Lovely
Such cute siblings
Proud Mama
"I sit and swing with you Mommy"
translation: Mommy sit down here and swing with me
Up...
...up...
...and away!
No reason to end the celebration early - let's take our party and hit the town!
Smiley!
PS I'd like to hope my arm doesn't look that huge in real life...
Party girl!
left-to-right
Jenny, Jessie, Debbie, Jamie, Kathy, Wendy, Riane, Jean, Marilyn, Katie
Grandma Marilyn smiling with Bride Katie
Good friends Jenny and Jessie
Angie was there, too!

Father's day fun

We had such a relaxing Father's Day. It started out with yummy breakfast at Kathy and Danny's and finished with yummy BBQ at our house. Have you ever noticed what's at the center of most of our family get-togethers? Yep that's right. FOOD!

Yummy breakfast! Thanks Grandma!
Thanks for the cream puffs Aunt Katie
A little cream puff cream to enjoy later on
Guess who partied too hard?

36 years...

...of wedded bliss!
Happy anniversary Mom and Dad!

My bocks!

Usually Ashley loves building tall, tall towers with her bocks (Ashley for blocks), but lately she's taken to building other sorts of things with them. I'm not sure what this is, or what her intentions were, but her precision is impressive that's for sure. You can't tell, but the wooden looking blocks (they're actually all foam) are all grouped/set together by size and shape. Talk about attention to detail!

Look Mommy, I did it!
Perhaps she built a road for her kingdom?

We love Dada

Our Dada is...
Respected because he teaches us leadership.
Appreciated because he gives us care.
Valued because he gives us his time.
Loved because he gives us the one thing we treasure most; himself.

To our fathers, grandfathers and uncles,
Happy Father's Day! Each of you brings a special light and joy to our world. We love you so very much! Thank you for being in our lives.
All our love,
Jake & Riane
Ashley & Natalie

Thump update

Such a lovely little mark, don't you think?

Thump!

This is what happens when Natalie rolls into the coffee table (the mark above her right eyebrow).

Ouch! 10 seconds worth of crying and tears and then I was as good as new!

Green Goo Monster

The bad news is that Natalie has a sinus infection.
The good news is that we caught it before it got into her ears.
The bad news is that her eyes make so many green goobers that they cement themselves shut.
The good news is that the eye drops for her clogged duct will help keep the goobers at bay.
The bad news is that Natty has to be quarantined from other children for a few days.
The good news is that the amoxicillin will kill any infection in her ears, sinus cavity, nose and/or lungs.
The bad news is that she's a snot, booger and goober machine.
The good news is that I got to take a picture of her at the doctors office and compare it to one that I took of Ashely when she was a month older then Natalie is right now.
And who says there isn't a silver lining?!
PS She weight 17 pounds 12.5 ounces if you're wondering.

When the nurse saw this picture (still saved in my phone 2 years later!) she said "Wait? Who's that? Her hair is different?" She didn't believe that it was Ashley 2 years ago.
Me, sick? Totally. Doesn't my smile and happy demeanor give it away?
I'd better work on my 'sad and pathetic' face if I expect to get any of those good infection-killing drugs

Eat cake!

As far as Ashley is concerned, every time she hears mention of the word 'birthday' it means one thing: CAKE!

Happy birthday, Nana. Now hand over the cake!
I'm here for the party
You like my hat?
Seems to me I fit better in this bucket last year?
Sassy-pants
Yep, I'm still under here
Thanks for the balloons Auntie A! What's that? They're for Nana? Are you sure?
Letting Nana play with her balloons. But only for 5 seconds and then they're mine.
Ha ha Mommy! You may not be allowed to sit on the table, but Two Nana says I can!
Present and cake time - Ashley's favorite!
Lemme help you with this, Nana
"Is this what I think it is? A pass to DISNEYLAND?"
Nice shirt, Nana. Think I'll keep it for myself.
Lookie here, it's Papa's bird
No party is complete without the swing - thanks for setting it up Papa
Birthday girl!
Stop that Theresa!
Natalie: This is me pirate face. Argh matey!
Loving on Hooters (Mommy and Aunt Shawna named him)
Here kitty kitty!
Sluuuuuuuuuuuuuurp! Thanks for sharing, Carol
Watching Cars on the drive home. What's that? I'll go blind if I sit this close to the TV? Are you sure?