Chick-fil-a and a wedding

We've been busy the last couple of weeks and I can't even remember what all we've done!  I seriously think having babies does something to your memory?!  I used to remember all kinds of details and things that happened months ago on a certain date, but now, I can barely remember what I wore yesterday.  It's crazy, hopefully I'm not the only one that feels this way :)!!
On the 20th my baby girls turned 18 months old! HOW did that happen?!  Just in the last month they have changed so much not only in looks, but in development.  I love watching them grow and change and learn new things, but it is a little sad at how fast it goes.  I love them more each day.  They bring so much joy to my life and my heart is so full.  Thank you Jesus for allowing me to be their momma! 
Also on the 20th our sweet and talented friend Rachel Blackwell took some family photos for us.  I was so nervous going into it b/c it's hard to get one toddler to pose and smile at the camera, let alone 2!  I was hoping to have my mom come with us to help get their attention but she was out of town that week.  I think Rachel managed to get some good shots though and I can't wait to see them!
The next day we met up with some friends to eat at Chick-fil-a (our fav!) and let the kids play! 

Parker, Ava and Hunter are on top, and Payton and Micah all enjoying the playground!

Payton and Micah could not get enough of this slide!

Sweet friends!

We ended our week down in Booneville for one of Davin's cousin's wedding.  We made a weekend out of it so Gran and Pa (Davin's parents) could see the girls and Davin could visit with his family that he doesn't see often enough.  And some of our friends that live there just had their second baby so we got to cuddle with sweet little Nate Glover!  Of course the only pictures we have from the weekend are a few that Davin took at the wedding.

Jessica and Davin's cousin Levi!  Jessica looked gorgeous! 

One thing I want to remember...my girls are pretty easy going and will go to anyone.  Well Payton is into this phase where she will hold out her arms with her little hands spread wide to just about anyone that walks by her. It's the cutest thing, and so hard to resist (in my opinion).  While we were at chick-fil-a she kept doing this to all the people that walked by!  Then while we were at the wedding she kept doing it to all these strangers and most of them would hold her (with me close by, it's a little weird handing my baby over to a stranger).  Davin's mom and I went to a cute little store in town and of course once the lady was showing us around and helping us, Payton would not stop reaching for her, so I just let the total stranger (although sweet lady) hold my baby, HA!  I love that she is so outgoing, as long as she saves some of those sweet outstretched arm reaches for me :)!

I spent my day yesterday cleaning from being gone all weekend.  I love starting my week off with a clean house!  A few weeks ago we started 'Family Night' on Monday's with Davin's cousin Mandy and her family.  Neither of us have family in town so this is a good excuse to get together for dinner each week and hang out.  It's also nice that they are some of our best friends!  This week it was at my house so I had a little motivation to get my house clean. 

We are getting ready for a garage sale this weekend, and today I priced up all my items and got them organized. Whew, what a week and it's only just begun!

Party Time

 We have had several birthday parties over the last few months and it has been a lot of fun.  The girls love being able to play with all their friends and playing with 'new' toys!

This weekend we celebrated our friend Colson's first birthday!  I just can't believe he is already a year old.  He is the cutest little chunky monkey!  Katie did a wonderful job on the party.  All the details were so cute.

Parker was on a riding toy pretty much the entire party!  Guess we need to get some of those :)!

Payton was all about the balloons that Katie had throughout the house.

Sweet birthday boy taking his time enjoying his cake!

Sunday afternoon we took the girls swimming at Mandy's.  Payton isn't so sure about the pool this year, but they both enjoyed sitting on the layout bench in the pool (whatever that thing is called!) splashing and playing with toys.

4th of July Weekend

Friday morning the girls and I met up with Katie and her boys to go to a local nursing home to pass out American Flags.  Katie had come up with this idea and what a great idea it was!  I know those sweet folks loved seeing the kids.  Zach was so cute handing out the flags to everyone and even giving a lady a kiss. 

The last couple of years we have gone to Branson with my side of the family for the 4th, but this year my parents weren't able to go b/c my Aunt and Uncle were coming through and staying with them for a couple of days.  So, my mom offered to keep the girls while Davin and I went.  My brother and his wife still wanted to go as well so Friday after lunch we left for my parents to drop the girls off and meet up with my bro and sis-in-law.  On our way up hwy 7 to Branson we stopped at a little country place to eat dinner.  It's called the Cliff House and it over looks what is called the Arkansas Grand Canyon.  It was a cute little place with a great view. 

Then we were on our way again to stay at my grandparents house in Branson. We visited with them for a little bit and then went and played some putt-putt.  We finished the night off with some DQ!  The next morning we woke up early to grab some breakfast at Billy Gails.  It is another cute little country place. 
We wanted to be at SDC by the time it opened in hopes of avoiding some long lines and the heat.  It wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be.  We didn't have to stand in line for very long at all on any of the rides and it wasn't too hot.  We did do a few water rides to cool us off.  We left the park around 2 to get showers and do a little shopping and dinner.  Again we finished the night off with some putt-putt and go-carts!  It was a fun day.

Look how big the pancakes are!!

End of the Day at SDC, wet, tired, messy hair and all :), fun day!



Pirates Cove Putt-putt



Sunday we did a little more shopping at the Outlets and then made it back to my parents for dinner.  Davin's parents had come up to see the girls since it's a short drive for them to my parents house. 

The next morning Davin and I did a Sprint Triathlon.  Some friends we know have put this one on for the last 4 yrs.  Since I decided less than a week before that I'd do it, I knew there was no way I could do the swim so I just did the bike (13 mile) and run (2mile).  Poor Amberley, she convinced me to do it and shortly into the bike she blew out her tire on a pothole.  Thankfully she didn't wreck, and she still did the run with me!

We had a great weekend with family and friends!

Girls in their 4th of July outfits Grandma got them!



Last part of 2011 Recap

***I left out a very important part of April!  The first week in April we got to meet Miss Elsy Kate Futterer!  Her parents are some of our great friends, Joe and Amberley.  She is the sweetest little chunky monkey!  I hope our girls will be friends growing up.  We love you Elsy Kate!

I stole this pic from Ams facebook.  Isn't she so sweet?!

May
I had a great Mother's day again this year.  We didn't do a lot, but it was nice to be home with my girls and be pampered by Davin. 
The next week I celebrated my birthday.  I honestly don't remember what we did, HA! Davin and the girls spoiled me with some nice bday gifts though! 
That weekend we went to my parents for my grandmother's birthday party.  A lot of family was there so it was good to see them.  I'm not so good at taking pictures and so I don't have a single one from the party.  I'm hoping blogging will help me do better at taking pictures.
On the 20th we celebrated our 6 year wedding Anniversary.  Thankfully it fell on a Friday and our church was having FNO (friday night out) so we were able to drop the girls off and go on a date!  We went to a new little local place to eat and it was SO good.  I'm so thankful for a wonderful, Godly husband who always wants the best for me and takes good care of me!  Again, no picture to document our 6th anniversary. 
The next day we went to Hunter's 2nd bday!  Davin and Mandy are cousins, so it's great having family so close and being such good friends!  Mandy did a great job with his party and God allowed it to be a beautiful day after so much rain!

All the kiddos!

Birthday boy lovin some cupcake!



Mandy's mom (Aunt Trish) got married over Memorial Day weekend.  The Hicks' have started an annual get together over Memorial day weekend and this year it was held up on a mountain close to my parents which was great so I didn't have to camp out :)!  I like camping (1-2 day max) but Davin was actually gone on a fishing/work trip to Canada and so he missed out on the reunion/wedding, and I did not want to chase both girls around by myself.  So, thankfully my parents watched them while I headed up the mountain to hang out with family.  Sunday was the wedding and it was small, but beautiful!  I pray they have many years of happiness! 



Mrs. Trish, beautiful inside and out!

June
We celebrated our sweet friend Ava's 2nd bday!  Her parents are some of our great friends and it was good to celebrate with her friends and family.  Abby did a great job on the party!


Parker and Adeline



Payton having fun outside

Davin pushing the birthday girl with Zach running beside them.



Sweet friends.  Love these girls.  Jill, me, Abby, and Katie



Payton wasn't so sure about the water



The girls LOVED this slide.  Kellen on the barbie jeep :)

That night we had a fellowship at the park with our small group.  We all brought our own picnic dinners and visited while the kids played.  We love our small group and the friendships we have through it.


sweet little friendships
(Kellen, Zach, Adeline, Westin, and on the ground is Colson, Payton, and Parker)



We had a good Father's day weekend.  Since it was one of our only free weekends this month we decided to see if both of our parents wanted to come up on Saturday to celebrate Father's day.  My parents actually came up on Friday to watch the girls so Davin and I could go on a date.  We are so thankful for parents that are willing to come up to babysit :)!  Then Saturday Davin and I ran in a little 5k trail run.  Jason and Katie were there also so we ran with them.  It felt good to get up and get some exercise before we indulged in food the rest of the day.  After we got cleaned up, we all met Davin's parents at the Farmer's Market.  Then we cooked out and the dad's opened their gifts.  Once the girls went down for their nap, my mom and I did a little shopping.  On Father's day we went to church and had fun the rest of the day celebrating what a great daddy Davin is to our girls, they love him! 

The next weekend was RnR Marathon #3 in Seattle!  I didn't go with Davin this time, but he was able to meet up with Mark, Jill, and Kellen and spend the weekend with them.  The guys ran about a 1:43 half, great job!  Lucky for Davin, Jill is like a travel agent and she had all kinds of fun stuff planned for them to do in their short visit there.  (Davin didn't get a picture of the race, but thankfully Jill did so I'm going to have to get one of her pics!) 

Just for me to remember!  I had been wanting to try out toddler time at our local library and I decided to be brave and take the girls.  Thankfully Abby and Ava met us there.  It was fun and cute, but my girls don't want to sit on the little mat or in my lap, they just wanted to run around.  And it's hard to chase 2 toddlers around when they are running in 2 different directions!  I was a little stressed, but Abby helped me since Ava is old enough to understand not to run away (most of the time!).  My girls are not shy and will go to anyone (right now) and at one point Payton just went up front with the big kids and even sat on her bottom when the teacher asked them to so she could read a story.  Of course 2 minutes later she was up and running ha! We probably won't be doing toddler time again for a little while :)!

Yay!  Now I am caught up.  Hopefully I will be able to stick with this so I can have a scrapbook of this sweet time in our life.