Trip to Oklahoma - Take 3

One of the last days we were in Oklahoma, we went to a park near Mom and Dad's house where they have some fun rides for kids. Parker loved flying in the airplanes....

....and riding in the cars.

He also had fun on the carousel.

Sadie, however, did not love the carousel. I thought she might like it, but after only a couple of turns she insisted that Poppy hold her. Here she is looking skeptical before it even got started .

Grandpa and Mary Lou were on hand to watch....

Parker with cousins, Cortnee and Brooke, getting ready to ride the train!

Kisses from Poppy....

Enjoying the ride.

Looking out over the water as we crossed the bridge.

Sweet Sadie girl!

Trip to Oklahoma - Take 2

The second day we were in Oklahoma, Parker started out the day by jumping on the trampoline. It was so hot outside he couldn't jump for long, but he had a blast.

Sadie watching....

Me and my little girl....

After jumping on the trampoline, Parker cooled off by running around in the sprinkler.

I put Sadie's super cute little swimsuit on only for her to HATE the idea of stepping in wet grass, getting wet at all, etc. I don't know if you can see, but she is not happy in this picture.

She's having none of it....

Later that evening, it cooled off enough to go to the park. Dad had to work, so it was just Mom, the kids, and I. Parker loves to play outside!

After playing at the park, Mom took us to get sno-cones and Parker had his first one ever....

Sadie was super sleepy, but still in a good mood....

Parker and Grandma having fun!

Trip to Oklahoma - Take 1

The first week of August, my cousin, Stephanie, and I along with our three kiddos traveled to Oklahoma to visit family and especially to see our Grandpa. Back in May, on the Friday before Memorial Day, Grandpa suffered a massive heart attack. He was really in bad shape, and we made a quick trip home that weekend. He underwent a quadruple bypass on his heart on Memorial Day and spent almost 50 days in the hospital. We had not yet been back to see him since the whole ordeal, and I am happy to report that he is recovering quite well. Here he is with our kids....

And one with Grandpa's wife MaryLou....

Later that evening, Andrew's mom came into town to visit the kids and I. It was so great to see her, and the kids love to spent time with their Nonni! She brought some special gifts for the kids. Here is Sadie sporting her new sunglasses (she didn't want to take them off) and holding her new bear.

Parker loved his new watch and top.

We also spent some time walking around the mall, as it was too everloving hot to do anything outside. Parker just had to ride the train.

After spending time at the mall, we grabbed some food at Applebees. It was so good to see Nonni!

See Sadie Walk!

On Sunday, July 11, my cousin, Stephanie, offered to watch the kiddos for Andrew and I so that we could go out to celebrate our 7th anniversary. We had such a great time going to see a movie and getting a yummy dinner. We didn't realize it, but it had been since before Sadie was born that we had last gone on a date. Sad, but true. Anyhow, we came home in time to put the kids down to bed only to be able to witness Sadie taking her first steps! It's always so crazy to see a baby take their first steps....thinking that not long ago they were totally helpless and unable to do anything for themselves. So I hope you enjoy this video of Sadie's big accomplishment.

Independence Day

This year we didn't have any special plans for the 4th of July. In the past, Parker has not been so fond of fireworks and we sorta figured that Sadie might be the same way. Also, we have made attempts to go to fireworks shows here in Colorado Springs in previous years only to end up driving for hours just trying to find a parking spot....in vain, I might add. I'm sure as the kids get older it will be easier and more fun to make this particular holiday a really special time, but this year we just decided to stay home. As it turned out, we were really glad that we hadn't made plans to away from home because that evening an Oklahoma-style hail storm came through and dumped ping pong sized hail on us followed by rain throughout the evening. Sometimes being a party pooper pays off!

Father's Day 2010!

In June, we also celebrated Father's Day! We had just finished painting the house and were to exhausted to celebrate too much, but I did get some cute pics of Andrew and the kids.

Home makeover - Phase 1

We were quite busy in the month of June. First, Andrew's cousin, Sage, along with Sage's friend, Jeremiah, were here in Colorado Springs with us for about a week. We really enjoyed having them here! Then, my parents and niece, Cortnee, came to visit. Mom and Dad are always helpful with our various "fix-it" projects, and this time we had a doozy. The outside of our house needed a new paint job, and Andrew was super pumped for us to do it ourselves. I will admit.....I was extremely apprehensive about the whole task, but it ended up not being so bad. Not that I will ever voluntarily do it again, but whatever.

Here is Dad working on the front of the house....

This made me SOOOOOOOO nervous!

Taking a break. Sonic, take us away.....

Dad doing....something. I think he smelled one too many paint fumes.

While Andrew, Dad, and I were outside painting for hours at a time, Mom was inside watching all the kids and even had time to make some homemade ice cream! YUM!

When we started, we had planned to paint the entire house ourselves. However, one side of the house was going to be quite the challenge. Not only did it have some of the highest parts of the house to reach, the ground below (where the ladder would sit) is all landscaping rock, and oh yeah, has an extreme downhill slope. Not exactly the safest scenario imaginable. After thinking it over, we I decided to have some professionals come out to do that one side, and I am SO glad that we I did.

Andrew and Dad even made new shutters for the front windows!

When all was said and done, our house went from this....(sorry about the old pic....R.I.P. Jeep)

To this!

Mother's Day

The day after Sadie's birthday party was Mother's Day, May 9. What I haven't mentioned until now is that the evening of Sadie's actual birthday, May 7, I came down with the worst case of the stomach flu I have ever had. So I went through Sadie's party, Mother's Day, and having company in town feeling pretty terrible. Fortunately, by the end of the weekend I was starting to feel better, and we had a fun time with Andrew's family. Here is a picture of the group minus me....

 ....and one of our family. I am one lucky wife and momma!

Party for our Princess

Since Sadie's birthday was on a Friday, we planned her birthday party for the next afternoon, Saturday, May 8th. We were super excited to welcome Andrew's dad and grandparents from out-of-state, as well as some great friends from here in Colorado Springs. Sadie, whose name actually means "Princess", was all dressed up in a special onesie and crown handmade just for her by my cousin, Stephanie.

  

The birthday girl with some of her guests.

 

I didn't really want to give the party a theme, but I did decide that I wanted to go p-i-n-k! So we had chocolate cupcakes with pink icing, pink lemonade, and strawberry fruit dip with strawberries and apples.

 

Daddy and his little girl....

Busy opening presents....

 Getting some help from brother...

What's in there?

After presents, it was time for the best part of any first birthday party. And, might I add, the only time I allow things to get so messy!

Checking it out....

And it was all downhill from there!

The all important "after" bath.

With her hand on her face proof that she was all tuckered out, the party was a huge success!