Summer

We have had such a busy summer that I haven't really had much time to update the blog. We're on the go during the summer months, because they are so short here that we like to take full advantage of the weather :) We've been doing a lot of grilling with our friends and family, roasting smores in the back yard, going to the beach, taking walks around the neighborhood, playing outside in the pool. I can't believe it's already mid-August and the pictures I'm getting around to posting on the blog are from JUNE! I'm waaaayyyy backed up on updating the blog but am hoping to do better now that summer is coming to an end.

We always have fun with our "Fairfax Friends" - it's hard to believe they weren't in our lives 2 years ago! They have become some of our closest, dearest friends. We absolutely love them. The only people missing from this evening were the Duvals and the Alexander family :) Besides that, the evening was perfect! Yummy food, the kids got along so well and a beautiful view! Plus a rainbow at the end of the night- how can you beat that?!

Just noticed when I was posting this that every guy is looking to his left - SO funny!

Start spreading the news!

I have been on a mommy board for the last 3 years. There are about 100 of us and we chat daily - sometimes I have time at the end of the night to chat for 20 minutes and sometimes I only have time to chat for 5, but either way we all log on daily to chat. Because there are only 100 of us and because it's an exclusive chat room, we all know each other. Many have met each other (I met a few a couple years back in Chicago) and have become "real" friends.

We e-mail, text, FB each other. We read each other's blogs. We've been there for each other during divorce, miscarriages, pregnancies, potty training, moves, starting new businesses - it is one of the best support systems I've been a privilege of being part of.

The last couple months our board has been planning a girl's only NYC get away. I have been so super envious of the women who will be able to make it but never even brought it up to Matt, because there is NO way we could afford it, especially close to Christmas. Last night, my friend Cindy sent me an e-mail that said, You in for the GTG? And I responded sadly that I wouldn't be able to go. She told me she was going because she and her husband are cashing in some points for the flight. I turned to Matt and said, My friend Cindy is going to this GTG in NYC for our mommy board. I explained what the trip was about - that it would be 2 nights away, there are different activities you can sign up for - a pub crawl, a SATC tour, visit to the Cake Boss bakery, a fancy dinner Saturday night. He instantly said that I should go and that we'd just cash in some air mileage points to go. There are 4 to a room, so that expense is practically nothing. And I won't do any shopping, so this trip will be pretty inexpensive.

I am BEYOND excited!!!!! My roommates ROCK and I seriously couldn't stop crying last night that I was going!! I was literally sitting in my bed with my hand over my mouth and tears coming down my face when Matt kept telling me to go, then right then and there searched and bought plane tickets. I still can't believe that this is really happening!! These women are such an important part of my life and I have gone to them with questions, frustrations and to just talk about the daily struggles of being a mom. This is a dream come true for me (and many other girls on the board) that we finally get to meet!! I think there will probably end up being 25ish women going and I have already warned them that there will be many tears on my end when I get to meet everyone!!

NYC here I come!

Nick and Kelly

One of my sister's best friends got married recently. Miche was in the wedding and gave an amazing speech and we had a blast at the wedding! I still can't believe Kelly is married!! It was such a beautiful day :)

The beach

We have been to the beach so much this summer! Next year I'm definitely buying a pass to a couple local beaches - I'll definitely get my money's worth! Summer is so short here that you have to take advantage of the good weather while you can!

The other day we went with Miche, Jimmy and Cass - so relaxing!! I could spend every day at the beach :)

A few Quotes by Acadia

"Mommy - you worry about you, and I'll worry about me."
(Because recently I've told her when she tattles on Emma - Cadi - you worry about you and I'll worry about Emma)

When I say, Oh baby - I love you sooooo much! Acadia says, I'm not a baby!! I'm a big girl! (And in doing so, breaks my heart into a million pieces! I tell her that she'll always be my baby!)

When I call her silly goose (or anything else for that matter) she says, I'm not Silly Goose! I'm Acadia June Paradee!

Good friends

We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends in our lives. Most of my best friends are friends that I didn't have 3 years ago, before I had Acadia. Jenn and Jo are two of those friends who I absolutely adore! Their husbands are awesome, our kids all get along and we just have a blast every time we're together. Jo had us over to her house recently for a dinner party and we had SO much fun!! Little Eden and Acadia were naked half the time - why, we're not sure, but it was pretty darn cute!

Best roasted chicken I've ever had!


Who looks cuter with the flower?



LOVE these girls!


Dessert time! For the kids - Jenn's famous flourless chocolate cake with raspberries! (notice Eden and Acadia??)


And a little dessert for the adults


The Fosters

Ollie

Jo and Adam - the host and hostess :)

I'm back!!

OMG - I have had no time lately to update my blog and then our darn laptop broke! Luckily my handy husband fixed it tonight (he rocks) so lots and lots of updates to come!!

More?

Emma has been signing "more" for a couple months now, but lately she's stopped signing all together and pointing at what she wants. Then when we get whatever it is she's requested, she laughs and nods her head over and over, like Yes!! Finally! You understood me!

Yesterday she forgot about niceties all together - she finished her sippy of milk, walked up to me and threw it at my feet, pointed at the sippy, nodded once and walked away...

But with a face like this, how can I refuse to give her exactly what she wants??

Seriously?

I've always thought Jacob could be my son - seriously - I think he looks so much like our children to me! Those big brown eyes and brown hair - could he be any cuter?! And I love how the babies are both dressed in red and white polka dots! :)

We love the Bronners and had such a great time with them the other night when they came over for dinner!

Camping

We went camping with the Jacobs family this past weekend at Lake Elmore :) So much fun! What a beautiful campground and beach! I would say it's my favorite place to camp so far. The kids were awesome - they got along really well, we didn't have as many meltdowns as I thought we would have with 4 kids and they were so happy to be outdoors and with each other playing at the beach and at our site! We've decided that this will have to be a yearly event! This is the first time we went tent camping with both kids - last year we used our camper. I actually liked tent camping more - we brought Emma's pack and play and Matt, Cadi and I slept on the air mattress. We're going to have to invest in a bigger tent than the one we have - we borrowed Miche and Jimmy's tent for the trip and fell in LOVE!

ps. A HUGE congrats to the Jacobs for the purchase of their new beautiful home!!!

Surprise!

Matt and Miche planned a surprise birthday party for me a few weeks ago! O.M.G. I think it was the best party ever. 80s theme, so they had to tell me 2 days before the party and our friend Lindsey was in town for the party too!! We hadn't seen her since she moved to Arkansas several months ago. I haven't laughed as much as I did that night in a LONG time. Between the outfits, the hair, the "bet" to see who would be able to fit into Acadia and Emma's car (in our defense, there had been quite a bit of alcohol consumed at that point) and the karaoke - it felt like we laughed the moment we started getting ready until we fell asleep. Don't worry - the kids were at Grandma's house - lucky they didn't see mom and dad like this with their crazy friends!

Class of 1980 prom picture


4 square next to a bucket o' beers? Don't mind if I do!


Lindsey was the only one that actually fit in the car! And yes, it took a little while to get her out...

80's karaoke is always a good idea!

Love them!

Look at Miche and Melissa's face! I wouldn't want to mess with those bad asses!

Don't hate on us, just because you're jealous of our leggings!

The boys

Crimped hair! Sweet....

The girls

Members Only jackets!

Class of 1980 couple most likely to get married

The Pledge of Allegiance

Watching the US play in the World Cup last week...