Family

I am having blog deja vu because I am certain I just said this but its true again: I have sooooo much to update my millions of readers on! :)

But seriously - I just did a photo dump off the ol' camera so will get some new posts done soon. I'm fighting the urge to stay up way past my bedtime to crank them out...

I had to put these photos up, though. Kyle and I recently went through a bunch of old "keepsake" boxes that our respective mothers each were glad to get out of their attics once we got settled. The stuff had been sitting quietly in our mostly unused study - but we needed the space for a guest so we cleaned house. We laughted, we cried, we asked "what in the world is this???." Mostly we laughed and remarked and how good we both have it. 

So, a little blast from the past - there were lots more blog-worthy things but these were the only ones I happened to snap a quick cell phone pic of. 

My mom, me and little brother Alex. (This makes me rethink my bangs all over again.)

 If you can zoom in on this one its worth it - its an uber formal type-written letter to me from my dad while I was at summer camp. I had lots from mom too - perhaps a slightly different style.

 Had the opportunity to do a little rearranging and decorating at my brother's house. Worked on a couple of photos he had and through in a couple I had taken to create a little ocean-themed photo collage for him to look at from his bed. I think it turned out nice.

His two are by far the impressive pics - this is he and my dad at an oil rig (?) turned reef (taken by a fellow diver).

This is Alex (visible) and yes, a shark!!! (taken by a fellow diver)

Alex invited Owen over next week to catch some "Shark Week" on TV. So glad they're spending uncle/nephew time together. So nervous where this might lead...

So that's it. Just super thankful for my family. Love you guys. :)

A fit of blog activity

You've heard this before - Kyle was working tonight and the kids went to Dahdo/Pam's so I am home catching up on things. And by things I mean indulging in some blogo-relaxation-therapy. :) So, you below you'll see the not-so-organized fruits of my labor of love:

-Maggie's birthday party post

-general kid update post

-end of school year post

-first splash pad of the summer post

-neighborhood party post

-house guest + smoker = great! post (you'll have to read to see)

-kid trip to hunt post

-unorganized random iphone photos post

and from yesterday

-2 videos post

-welcome home signs post

That's enough reading to keep you busy for a while, and me out of trouble. :)

Tow Tow

 I thought Maggie's birthday party would be our first party in the new house. It actually wasn't - two nights before we had the privilege of hosting a little adults-only (I know!) soiree as a send-off to some new and wonderful friends moving abroad. It was just the fire under our hinies to get a few details in the house done (a rug, a couple of things hung, broken wine glasses replaced) - pics of the house to come at some point. 

Anyways, our first party was very fun - and makes us realize how great it is to make time for adult-only mingling and conversation!!! And the second party - Maggie's birthday - was real life - in all our multi-kid glory - and was a total blast in another way. 

So, glad we got to celebrate this wonderful little girl. Goes without saying - I can't believe she's two. I keep realizing over and over again that I don't have a baby anymore! So, strange! 

Okay, backing up a little bit to explain the theme. Cause you know how I like me some themed birthdays. I was at my moms a few weeks ago and I confessed to her that I had NO ideas for Maggie's party. Zero, I was (thanks to the house) creatively drained. I said - I can't even think of anything she likes!!! Mom calmly replied - she likes balls. BALLS! Yes, Maggie does like balls. She loves them in fact! So, a balls party it would be!

"maggie is two, so let's have a ball"

(a candid shot from back at Easter)

The decor - ball garlands, lanterns...

 and lots of BALLS!

The front door sign that in no way prevented people from coning in the front door. :)

So I remember - I made Shelley's meat BALLS, caprece BALL salad, grapes, cherries...

THE BIRTHDAY GIRL!

If anyone questions where I get my over-eager-themeyness....Look no further than my MOTHER'S SHIRT. BALLS.

Just chillaxin and enjoying her party!

CHEESE!

Just checking herself out in the big mirror.

The cake. Gracias a pinterest - again. 

But I wasn't sure what the little ball candies in the original/source photo were, so I used Trix. Whatever those candies were I think this has to be an improvement. Who doesn't love Trix???

This two-year-old is quite pleased with her cereal-covered-confection.

SURRISE! MORE BALLS!

Birthday girl and a row of SWEATY boys.

The festivities.

Trampoline.

Plus a dad

Pop-up soccer goal = tent

 Buddies.

 Sweet friends from way-back

 New friends from up the street

Gave a quick tour at one point and couldn't resist snapping the view from the girls' window

And through the big door

Did I mention it was really hot? We hadn't quite counted on the heat. (And we figured out the following day that our porch fans were spinning clockwise driving air up instead of down so that wasn't helping). So.....where there is a bucket of ice (for drinks), there are children playing in the bucket of ice!

Sweaty brother

Heat doesn't seem to be affecting R's fun.

 Or her smile.

And no crying from this one - Its' my birthday!!!

Once things died down and friends left for their air conditioned homes, we went inside (where the grandparents had been hiding out for a while...as if we wouldn't notice!) for some gifties.

Now Maggie can REALLY join the big kids on their riding adventures on our long driveway.

Our bounce around the living room.

Hey!

My dad snapped this of me during clean-up. I'm holding my spatula with such goofy pride. I need therapy, ya'll.

When you ask Maggie how old she is she (sometimes) says "tow tow" - and she holds up 2 fingers - but using 2 hands. Love it.