mid june happenings

We are getting closer and closer to our guests coming! It'll be our first guests to our new house! We can't wait.

We have a lot of FREE outdoor events in our area and we attended a concert with the fam. James' brother Ben was driving through town (he's a truck driver) so we arranged for him to stay with us for a couple hours, so he joined in too. 

here's our big group selfie the kids loved dancing to the music (hadley especially)

We took mom to Fishtales, a favorite restaurant of ours, which is on an inlet of a lake. It's the best because there's two HUGE sandpits for the kids to play in so we sit outside right next to it and just sip on a cocktail and watch them play (it usually only lasts 15 minutes, but that's worth it!)

It was mom's mother's day gift to bring her here so we finally took her to cash in

Cousins Karen and her daughter christie came too! (she had a mocktail as she gave birth a few days after this picture was taken!)

gigi and coco

myself and james, Yes i know I have a large drink in a bucket.... you're just jealous

bad lighting but family selfie

sun was behind us so their family pic came out good

We also celebrated colette's first birthday for what seems like several days :) but she had lots of fun eating cake! Have I mentioned we love living by family finally?!

happy birthday Uncle Chris

Happy birthday to the kid playing, wagon pulling, phone shotting, brother of mine (aka Uncle Chris)

think I got a pic of him holding each of the kiddos either in a current or past photo

this is from two years ago hadley wishing him a happy bday

Little buddo Max

probably a year ago

We hope you have a great birthday, see you all soon!

June already

My sweet princess did so good at swim lessons she FINALLY got her special treat of ice-cream we've been promising her each lesson. 

 Max and Hadley catching a lounge in a hammock.

 I guess my cat, Bella, decided she wanted to be toilet trained? I am not sure why she was on there, nobody was chasing her

Yeah guys, this is really her hair, she literally woke up like this

Has anyone ever seen the movie Box Trolls, it's great and Max wanted to be one so his dad made him a box (just like the boy in the movie) and of course Hadley had to try it on for size, too. I found it very funny.

Some days nap time is a real struggle (most days not) but occasionally it calls for a good snuggle :)

Life Lately

I was posting from our trip that was so long ago now! Life with a toddler is busy sorry guys. But truth really is, most days I'd just prefer to take a break while she naps her 1.5 hours and watch the Real Housewives, sue me. My side kick and I have been having full conversations and she's a great little buddy. I really feel like she finally GETS IT. Overall, in life. Things clicked. She had a couple great days at swim with NO CRYING and was really taking in what the teacher was saying. I won't jinx the potty training, but my sweet girl FINALLY tells me she has to go! I think being 2.5 is the golden number. 

Here coco bean (ny niece) and Hadley boo are in matching swimsuits (swimzips.com)

let's add Max

We've been hitting pools up and practicing what we learn at swim!

She loves the water and especially loves swimming with her daddy 

Survival water swim lessons, teaching her how to relax on her back and not panic

We've had a sister pedicure date

We even went to see Disney on Ice!

Coco didn't quite enjoy herself but the rest of us did

Hadley loved it and STILL talks about it. Gigi getting in on a selfie with us

My mom even made me an awesome wreath exactly like a picture I showed her.

Now do you see why I haven't blogged :) We've also been setting up the house (slowly but surely) I promise to post pics but James' schedule isn't awesome right now so it's not done yet. I have close to only ONE weekend left until August 1st that isn't accounted for! Have I mentioned that living in a bigger town with things to do and family everywhere is AWESOME? Probably not, but I'll have to elaborate more when I have time haha 

Last day in Rochester

Before we headed to the airport we stopped at my dad and grandma's house for a quick play date. Hadley of course remembered they had a couple baby dolls in a bedroom and headed straight for it. When I tell you she is OBSESSED with baby dolls, it's no joke. She will have full on catastrophic melt-downs in stores or anywhere really if we don't bring it back with us (which we hardly ever do). 

Hadley with grandpa john and baby doll 

Selfie time!

Max (and coco) decided to sleep in the car on the way to the airport and he continued sleeping when David took the car seat out and throughout the check in process.

Hadley decided on the plane, through the baggage, & shuttle to car to take her nap..... it ended in a DISASTROUS ride home (which I should mention was after midnight). I woke her up to kinda get her ready for the drive home trying to avoid the tantrum but it didn't work. She was SCREAMING for me to hold her and sit with her. So Jen ended up having to drive my car home while I sat next to hadley in the back seat where she proceeded to fall asleep five minutes after we got in. Oh but that's not all.... Let's back up a bit

If you look closely you can see on my nose brim a black and blue area.... We had a VERY QUICK layover in Philly and we were running to the gate. We stopped quickly for the bathroom and I needed to take Hadley. My sister said "take her to the family restroom it'll be easier" ok jen. So the toilet paper wasn't coming out but one square at a time so I bent down and the METAL toilet paper dispenser apparently wasn't locked in and it FELL down right on top of my nose..... you guys the pain... it instantly turned black and blue. and the best part was hadley was SCREAMING straightening her legs refusing to even sit on the toilet (because she's scared of auto flushers) so the whole family bathroom trip was a waste of time and pain! I mean you can't make this stuff up. So yeah, I was the girl on the plane with a bag of ice on my nose.... awesome

At least Bella was happy to see me the next day :) (maddie dog was with James in Little Rock). We are glad we went on the trip up to NY to see family and friends but man, traveling with all the kiddos,  luggage, and us is no easy task. Now you see why we only go every couple years. So that being said, EVERYONE COME VISIT US. Between my sister/mom, me, and our cousins that all live within a 1-10 mile radius, we have over like 7 FREE bedrooms for guests..... what are you waiting for :)