July 4th

We came home from the lake Sunday night and started getting ready for the week.  Patrick was off Monday, but I had to work.  That night Barrett and I read our 100th book of the summer!  We were so proud.

Tuesday, we headed to the Davis' house to swim with friends.  The weather was a little spotty but we had a really fun day!

My girl and me! 

The boys swam in the rain.  They thought it was so great!

Brittany gave AveryAnn piggy tails.  They were so cute!

I love this picture of Patrick and AveryAnn.

I didn't get many pictures of Barrett.  He was too busy doing flips off the diving board.  This was the second swimming trip he's gone off the diving board and he was doing flips.  He saw one of the dads do a back flip and he walked up and turned around and did a back flip.  We were all shocked.  Even the other moms because they remember last summer when he would barely get off the steps.  Well one of the boys got wind that I could do a back flip so I was peer pressured by a bunch of 4 year olds to do one.  I did it a few times and when I came up Barrett said, "I'm so proud of you mommy, you did so good!".  Hopefully I secured my spot as a cool mom.  We had the best time watching him.  He swam for probably 8 hours.  He wanted to do one more back flip and when he did he hit his back on the board.  He of course cried and I know it hurt, but then he was so sweet and asked if he could go just one more time. You know we let him because I didn't want him to be scared and he did a front flip.  We were so proud that he did it again and wasn't scared.

These boys were so sweet.  We missed a few of our friends but we had so much fun!

Independence Day

I love the fourth of July.  I love Summer time holidays. I love grilled burgers, watermelon and American flags.  I love spending the day by the water and watching the fireworks light up the night sky.  I love it all!

We snuck out of the office a little early Friday afternoon and went to the zoo.  We saw the monkeys and elephants before we called it a hot day and headed home.  Barrett wouldn't let AveryAnn ride in the stroller and she was too hot in the carrier so we threw in the towel and headed home.  (Thankful for a zoo membership so we can go, spend and hour and not feel guilty.  It's already paid for itself several times over and we're only half way through the year.)

I bought a used bumbo for AveryAnn and she's a fan for short periods of time. 

Saturday brought another coordinating outfit before heading to the Moore's house for a day by the pool!  We're going to be so sad when they move and don't have a pool anymore.  But we're excited they're moving closer to us!

Jeremy made the boys so me frozen strawberry lemonade, they pretty much thought it was the coolest thing ever.

This girl will sleep anywhere.  She was so good all day long.  She's just the best baby ever.

Sunday we put on another matching red, white and blue outfit and headed to the lake for the day.  Barrett  had a blast swimming and throwing rocks.  It was a fun day.  We headed back home in time to go to the fireworks at the high school.  This is the first year they've done this and it was so much fun!

This is a terrible picture but you get the idea!

This girl loved the fireworks, Barrett did not.

He was all smiles until they started.

His first shoulder ride.  We were walking by their high school and it made me all emotional.  I know the years will fly by and it'll be no time until we're making that same trek on Friday nights for football games!

We had no plans for Monday and it worked out perfectly.  We were able to get some things done and take naps and just relax.  The boys went to Patrick's parents house for the afternoon to visit.  AveryAnn and I stayed home and did laundry.

I had to get a picture of my little firecracker on her first fourth of July.  We love a good long weekend but Tuesday, man Tuesday was a doozie.  I've never been happier to see Patrick walk in the door from work. 

Fourth of July Weekend

We had a wonderful, laid back weekend.  Patrick had to work all weekend and that always stinks but Barrett and I tried to make the best of it.  

We went back and forth about what we were actually going to do for the 4th.  My parents were at the lake but I didn't really want to spend the night up there.  It's just so much work with Barrett now that he's walking and I didn't want to take him away from Patrick for the whole weekend.  (We decided we would go up for the day on Saturday since my sister and Clay were going to be up there then.)  Then we thought about going down to John and Hope's neighborhood since John had to work.  They have a little beach on one of the lakes where we could hang out but since I was going to go up to the lake on Saturday I wanted to hang out at home for most of the day Friday.  Barrett went down for a nap around 10:00 Friday morning I did some housework and made a list of things I needed to get when Barrett woke up.  While he was napping my friend Lauren texted me inviting us to her inlaws to hang out at their pool.  Her nephews were going to be there so Barrett would fit right in.  It was close enough to our house that it was no big deal if Barrett had a meltdown and we had to come right home.  So after I ran errands we put on our red, white and blue and headed over for the afternoon.   Barrett was so good.  He enjoyed the pool while I was holding him and then he floated on a raft for a while.  Everyone commented on how quiet and laid back he was.  When he wanted out he just played on the deck for a while.  Then he found the cookies I'd brought and he ate one (or four but who's counting).  They grilled a big spread and everything was wonderful.  Barrett made his self at home and played with some toys.  The boys shot fireworks and Barrett never even flinched.
I love this picture of him just chilling watching everyone in the pool.  It was a fun, last minute adventure for us and I was thankful they let us crash the party.   Barrett stayed up way past his bedtime but he did great! Saturday he was up bright and early.  We ate breakfast and instead of putting him down for a nap, I loaded up the car and we headed to the lake.  I thought he would sleep all the way up there.  I was wrong. He was awake the entire time.  So after a long night the night before and no nap I was worried how our day at the lake was going to go.   He wanted our cans.   

Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Clay took him for a ride in the canoe.  He loved it. 

Nana took him swimming, which he also loved. 

He got cranky in the water so his Granddaddy took him to the swing and got him to sleep.  He took a long nap.  So sweet.

Dad made a pitcher of margaritas and Barrett wanted some.  I gave him my empty glass to play with.  He was so happy.

My dad with my babies.  (Ignore my dad's hair, he had a mishap with some hair color this week.)

I loved this sweet shirt I made for Barrett.

My sweet babies in their red, white and blue.  Ally's been avoiding Barrett lately but I was happy she cooperated for the picture.  He loves her so much!

We came home and Barrett took a bath and went straight to bed.  Ally crashed too.  She was pooped. Today, we went to Mass and then grabbed some lunch on the way home.  We took long naps and then I cooked dinner.  After dinner we played outside.  I let Barrett push his toy up and down the street.  He was having so much fun.  He pitched a fit when it was time to come in and take a bath.   We had such a fun weekend.  I hated that Patrick had to work and it sucks that he was on second shift.  If he had been on day shift he could have at least enjoyed the afternoon with us each day.  But I'm so thankful for his job so I try not to complain to much.  We missed hanging out with our regular fourth of July crew but we still had a blast.

Barrett's First 4th of July

We usually go to the lake for the 4th but we didn't this year.  I'm kinda glad we didn't since the weather turned out to be less than favorable.  When we were younger we always went to my Mimi's house in Brookside.  The men grilled all day and the women made the sides.  My Mimi died 9 years ago, my uncle still lives in her house so we all headed down there for some ribs and hot dogs (and a bunch of other stuff my favorite being the watermelon and brownies).  This was Barrett's first trip to Brookside (that's what we always refer to my Mimi's house as.  Ex:  "If you're not doing anything tomorrow I'll be in Brookside if you want to come visit.")  I didn't really think about it being his first trip until we had already left or I would have made a bigger deal and taken more pictures.  My Mimi has a swing on the porch (which is really a sun room).  I can remember sitting with her out on that swing so many times.  We'd sit out there and watch the cars and listen for trains.  It was so surreal to sit out on that swing with my son.  So many kids have enjoyed that space and I was so special to share it with my own child. 

Uncle Donald gave Barrett some BBQ sauce.

He didn't hate it.

Love this picture!

After we left Brookside we met Patrick at my parents house.  My dad thankfully accepted our last minute request to watch Barrett so we could meet some of Patrick's friends from work to hear a band.  We had a fun time.  I got to meet a couple the guys that I'd heard so much about.  When I picked Barrett up they were sitting on the deck listening to the frogs and Barrett was mesmerized by the croaking.  It was funny to watch!

Here are some pictures of Barrett's red, white and blue outfits

Sweet smocked firecrackers for church on Sunday.

I made him this cute chevron flag shirt.

He's learned to blow bubbles in the last couple of weeks and he thinks it is hilarious.

Happy boy covered in spit.

I love this outfit.  It's one of my favorites! 

Love this one of my cousin Ryan and Barrett.  They were so happy to have their picture made!

Today we had Barrett's 6 month checkup.  He's growing great and had to get 4 shots.  Patrick had to work so I went by myself.  I hate having hold him down for the shots and it just gets worse the older he gets.

  

Happy 4th of July

From this little firecracker! Hope you enjoy the day and stay safe (and dry if you're in my neck of the woods)!

Yankee Doodle Dandy

I love fourth of July weekend.  It's always been one of my favorite times of year.  Maybe it's all the patriotism, maybe it's the fact that it kicks off my birthday month, either way I look forward to this weekend every year. 

We headed up to the lake for the long weekend.  Let me start by saying that I have a tendency to get so excited about things and build up expectations that no one can achieve.  I've been getting better about this especially when it comes to family events and the lake.  I get so excited about the possibilities of the weekend that I tend to forget the fact that the house doesn't have air and it's 90 degrees in July (at the coolest).  I forget that there are 25 people in the "family" that will be there on any given holiday and there are beds for approximately 16 people.  I forget that there is only one bathroom for the 25 people.  I can't recall the fact that Ally is never the only dog, in fact there were 8 dogs this weekend (three of which did not get along at all). 

So yeah it can get a little bit overwhelming at times.  But floating on a raft in the water and sitting on the deck in the shade somehow make you forget all those things.  I love that we can take the boat out and all cram on the tube like were are 10 years old and laugh till we cry. It's these things that make me giddy with excitement when summer rolls around.

Ally was snuggling with Patrick before we left Saturday morning.

Dad and Harper 

Ava, Me and Drew riding the new tube.  I didn't take my camera out on the next trip.  That trip my little brother John, his girlfriend Hope, my cousin Mark and me all rode it together.  We could barely hold on for laughing. I know we could have gotten some great shots.  Oh well you live and learn I guess.

John playing the part of "Beverage Boy"



John and Jeremy serenading us during the thunderstorm

Dad shining the spotlight for the concert.

All in all it was a pretty good trip.  Now at 3:30 Sunday morning when I couldn't get to sleep because it was 87 degrees in my "room" I was wishing i'd just stayed home, or at least driven my own car!  As I was getting ready for bed Saturday a dog peed on me.  Not a little dog that was scared but a big lab that walked right up to me lifted his leg and peed.  It's funny now but at the time I was shocked.  Not long after I cleaned up my leg from that incident my mom cam to make sure I didn't need anything and moved the box fan so that it would be blowing on me.  Well the fan was probably made in the 50's and when she moved it the plug arced and filled the room with smoke.  Needless to say, we retired that fan. 

I'm glad I can look back on these things and laugh because at the time I just wanted to cry.