Tuesday, May 24, 2016

End of School Celebration!

I'm having mixed feeling about the end of the school year this year.  On the one hand, Barrett had a really difficult time with all the changes in his world this year.  New house, new town, new school, new teacher, new friends.  Little Man does NOT do well with change, and the past several months threw him for a loop!  
But he had the most incredible teacher, who we loooooove.  Even when he couldn't quite find his place with the other kids, he always wanted to go to school.  She created an environment where he felt safe to be heard and knew he was loved, and I will always adore her for that.
Mommy, Am I Smiling Big Enough For My Cinammon Rolls You Promised Me?

Taking a step back, we spent the whole weekend celebrating another school year in the books.  It just so happened that Grapevine's Main Street Fest was the weekend leading up to Barrett's last day of school.  Although we didn't plan it this way, we ended up spending the whole weekend there!
First stop: The Shark Tunnel
In His Happy Place
He loooooooves this thing!  I love watching how excited he gets as we walk up to it.  As long as I let him play in the shark tunnel, he'll do anything I ask.  Including taking a sweet picture with Mommy.

Lego Alligator

Heeeeyyy Parks!  Sweet Girl

Bless Her Heart
She gets so overwhelmed when she's unsure of her surroundings, and I made her get out of the safety of her stroller to take a picture. 

Amusement Park/Festival Enthusiasts
He buys into the excitement of it all just like I do. 

Carousel Time!

Look Who is Out Of Her Stroller And Happy

Still Can't Believe He Went All The Way Up There 

I.  Adore.  This.  Picture.
We are so lucky to have this girl so close to us.  That means more playtime with Aunt Mary.

After a discovering all the coolest games, the Besancons came to play with us.  Again, although this was unplanned, we spent all day there!
Three Big Kids
Kelli and I started laughing once they all walked up there with their "use me to slide"burlap bags.  As soon as they were standing all the way on the top, we realized they probably didn't know what to do with those bags.

Life Long Friends
Really :)  These kiddos have all been friends since before they were born.

The Only Ride the Girls Could Actually Do With Me
Parker wants to be a big kid SO BADLY.  Every time I told her she wasn't big enough or tall enough to do something, she cried.  Finally I told her she could come on a ride with me.  Bless her heart; she was SO excited at the thought of it, but cried the whole time we were actually on the elephant.  Payton, however, loved every minute of it.  Just when I think I have these two figured out, they go and switch personalities on me!

We Don't Get to Hang Out Nearly as Often as We Would Like!

The Whole Crew aaaaaand Our Hip Pop Popsicles 
Everyone is actually looking in the direction(ish) of the camera. I'll take that as a WIN!  (Yes.  I know. Parker has one shoe on.  She wouldn't be my Parker girl if she looked totally put together.)

Barefoot Twincesses
They apparently had enough of their shoes by the end of the day.  I wish this picture wasn't so dark because it's soooo cute!  But hey, when you get the picture you want, you go for it!


Next on the agenda: End of School Haircuts for EVERYONE!  Ok not everyone.  Barrett got his hair cut, and Payton needed her mullet fixed since a big chunk of it came out in my hands.  Parker got a pretend haircut.  But hey, what she doesn't know won't hurt her.
Not Impressed

Loving Every Minute of It



Baaaaack on Main Street ..... 
Found Ourselves There Again (Kidless) One Night


And went back the next day with our twin friend family.  Their family dynamic is so much like ours, big brothers and twin girls.  And I love the friendship these two boys are forming!
Big Brothers

These Two Can't Get Enough Coloring!

Twinkies Times Two
We neeeeever get pictures of all these girls when they are together.  They move too fast!

Ew.  No

Her Last Day at Main Street Days ... She Finally Started Playing

Fun Slide Round 2


Why Is He Big Enough To Do This With No Adult???

Walking Through Twin Life Together
Amanda keeps me sane.  That's the truth  

Face Painting Buddies


And just like that, the last day of school arrived!  Barrett has mixed feelings about it (just like me!)  He loves his teacher, so he can't imagine being in a different class. And he can't wrap his mind around the thought of being in a different class at the same school.  But he could definitely feel the excitement in the air this morning when we walked in the building.
Smiling HAAAAARD for Those Cinnamon Rolls Mommy Promised
You can tell how badly he wants whatever sweet treat I've bribed him with by how hard he smiles in the picture.

Mrs. "Magoooooo-EN" (McEwan)

And these little ladies enjoyed their last day as "ladies of leisure" while brother is in school.
Watching Mickey Mouse Without Being Jumped On
It's the little things in life

Watch Out Preschool .....

..... These Two Are Coming for You Next Year!

We let Barrett pick our lunch place for an end of the year celebration.  I'm not saying I love him BECAUSE he chose Mexican food.  Let's just say he was my favorite kid during lunch today.
Everybody Smile!
Now if we could only master smiling AND looking at the camera at the same time. :)

"Summmmmeeerrrrrr"

I Love This

And This
Not sure why.  Nothing particularly exciting or overwhelmingly cute.  But something about it makes my heart swell.  Maybe I just love the way they are all soaking everything in and making connections about the world around them.   

My Little Monkeys
Barrett really wanted to take a picture.  Parker wanted to do silly faces.  And Payton isn't paying attention to any of us, and is just doing her own thing over there.

Last stop on our first day of summer tour was cupcakes!
Hey Look Mom!  I Want the Cupcake that Matches My New Glasses

He Loved It!


This Is Happiness
Twins were sharing a cupcake without yelling like their typical, 2 year old selves. Payton is focus on her frosting.  Parker is laughing at Barrett.  And Barrett is tickling his sisters while he's waiting for them to finish.  Maybe it doesn't translate in the picture, but it was a really cute moment.  

Gotta Get Every.  Single.  Crumb.
And NOBODY got chocolate on our brand new, crisp, white bows!

NapTime Stories
Everybody was so excited about our new Pete the Cat book (a gift from the preschool teachers) that we just couldn't wait another second to read it! 

Heeeeeeeey Summer!  We're ready for ya!




Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Aunt Kelley Got Married!



We have been WAITING for Aunt Kelley's wedding for a long time.  We were all Mommy was really excited about everyone being all dressed up!

The weekend started off  with the rehearsal. I knew the girls were wearing baby's breath halos for the actual ceremony, so I bought some fake ones to practice.  Luckily, they just watched Tangled, and they thought these looked like Rapunzel.  Loved them!

 So Excited to Show Everyone Their Pretty "Rapunzels"

When you are waiting around on a golf course, there's lots to do and see to keep you entertained.
 Sweet Boys .... Just Taking it All In

 Papa and His "Big" Boys

 Flower Girl and Her Doppelgänger Bride

 Who Else Thinks These Two Cousins Look More Like Siblings Than the Twins Do? 

Pay Was There Too!  As Always ... My Little Buddy
Let's just all ignore my scary face here.  She looks precious!

Most of The Sisters at Rehearsal Dinner

 And My In-Law Boys 
Minus Brandon. We got a picture with him at the actual wedding, but I thought this picture of Kaleb was too good not to post..

Wedding Day started with some SERIOUS prep!
 Or Did I Just Wake Up Like This?

 Me, Kelley, and Our Girl, Erin

All that was left was to change our clothes and get the party started!  I pretty much just documented the rest of the day with pictures. 
 "Look at My Pretty Dress!" "I Carry My Baks-Et"

 The Only Girls on This Side of the Family 

 They're Going to Stick Together.  I Can Tell


Carbo-Loading for the Big Walk Down the Aisle

 His Snack Looks Better :)

 Ring Bearers Waiting Patiently With Their Signs

Doesn't Get Much Cuter Than This

 Although, This Is Pretty Stiff Competition!

 Sweet Girls Did So Good!

 I Mean ... Nobody Told Me NOT to Take A Selfie During the Ceremony

So I Did It Again
But Come On. Look at those FACES!

 And This Little One.  So Cute!

 I Adore This Picture

Sealing it With A Kiss

While the photographer started rounding everyone up for pictures, I tried to capture as many pictures as I could before I lost all three kids to the dance floor.  We seriously might start crashing weddings as a family, these kids LOVE a good dance floor.





My Most Handsom-est Date Ever

 Melted Heart
Here's what I don't want to forget about this moment: I asked him for a kiss.  And he grabbed my chin to make sure he got me good.  And to make sure I got my picture.

As always ... the several attempts at a family picture. I had to edit them pretty heavily because we were in a dark spot apparently. 





 There's Always One In Every Group
Buy hey!  At least it's JUST one!

 Stinker Parks and Uncle Thomas

 My Real Wedding Date

 The In-Law Club
I love these boys!  One day I imagine there will be another girl here.
Until then ... I'm the prettiest! :)
Kidding.  Toooootally kidding.  But I am the one with the least facial hair.


During the Reception we basically just kept running after the kids and took pictures with everyone. 

Oh ... And Watched This Child Dance While Double Fisting Her Food!
Proud Mom Moment for sure.








Matt was there too.  He was just on kid duty at the table.  Payton stayed at the table most of the night while Parker and Barrett owned the dance floor.  We had to divide and conquer.

One of my favorite moments of he night was watching Barrett with his new little friend, Kylie.   She was crushing on him HARD.  They danced together almost the whole night.  
See That Lipgloss She's Grabbing? 
She told Barrett to hold on for a minute, reapplied her lip gloss, and then they started dancing again. True story!







And That's a Wrap!



Congrats Aunt Kelley and Uncle Kaleb!  Thank you for letting us all be a part of your special day.