Family Fun Weekend at TEDs (aka Fourth of July, Round Two)

Every year our awesome friends host a party out at their property in the country.  We go swimming in the lake, fish a little, ride the four wheelers around the property and on the well worn paths through the woods, and spend the night catching up around the campfire, drinks in hand, surrounded by music, good friends, and a spectacular fireworks display!  Well spectacular for a DIY, non-professional display ~ nontheless very impressive!  The kids stay up as late as they possibly can, which is usually midnight due to all the swimming and running around and then crash in the RV while hubby and I head back to the campfire for drinks and music.  Happy Fourth of July Round 2!

Happy Independence Day!!!

freedom (noun)

1. The state of being free, of not being imprisoned or enslaved.

2. The lack of a specific constraint, or of constraints in general; a state of being free, unconstrained.

We had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend with the requisite parade, carnival, barbecue, swimming, and of course fireworks and family. The boys got to go to the parade with their cousins and they were all absolute troopers in the stifling heat. The candy and bubbles were main attractions for them (never mind that there were clydesdale horses and marching bands!)

That's Maddie-O catching bubbles at the WG parade. >>>

Freedom is a slippery slope for me as a mom.  Of course I want my kids to have freedom... freedom to express themselves, freedom to be creative, freedom from fear and all the injustices and bad things in this world.  Is it bad that I just don't want them to be independent quite yet?  Maybe when they're 30 I'll be able to let go.

Oh and for the time being that whole freedom thing we're celebrating does not extend to their rights to the candy jar.  I've definately put constraints on that ~ sorry boys!  I think half the fun was checking out their candy stash anyway... that's them below checking out the candy loot for about the 100th time. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend!

Another beautiful baby boy

Just over a week old and all the best newborn qualities:  sweet, fresh, and completely kissable.  I really have to restrain myself to NOT kiss these little babies.  But they are so sweet when they sleep and look at this guys lips, totally kissable!  For the record, I did not kiss him, I left that to his mama.  I didn't even sniff him, well maybe I smelled the top of his head once. or twice.  Thanks to mama C for letting me photograph your precious little one.  I hope he's letting you get lots of sleep and give him a kiss for me ;)
 

Summer is here!

Its hot and humid; the itchy bites are rampant, but its summer time!  We've had nights of catching fireflies, days of playing in the sprinkler, and the ice cream and slip n slides have come out!  We spent a day of fun in the sun with my gorgeous neices and I just had to share some pictures. Emerson is the best slip n slider I've seen in a long time...

Then there's Taylor, carefree and so sweet, she makes me laugh every time I see her.  No matter how goofy she is she still manages to look beautiful doing it!

Happy Father's Day!

I was lucky enough to find the most patient and generous man (and smart enough to marry him!)  Somehow he has managed to retain these two wonderful qualities despite over 5 years of marriage to me and the addition of two very spirited boys.  :)  He is an amazing father and I am thankful for having him in my life everyday.  I hope and pray our boys inherit, absorb, learn to be just like him.  Happy Daddy's day sweetie... we love and adore you!

Sometimes...

Sometimes I wish I had a girl... sometimes I invite my niece over so I can get some sweet shots.  I don't know what it is about girls ~ maybe its the cute clothes or the pretty hair, maybe its just that they are so much easier than boys to catch on film doing something sweet.  If this was my boy amongst the day lillies these photos would be more along the lines of the flowers being attacked with a stick.  Maybe that's just my boys though.  ;)
 

Welcome beautiful baby boy!

He is just 5 days old and what a bundle of joy! He is wide awake and charming me with his tiny expressions. This is baby number three for mom and I can't wait to get back and get pictures of him with his siblings and to take more photos of this precious little guy.