Spray Park Playdate

Nothing beats the heat like having a playdate with some amazing friends at the spray park! So it only took us two months to get to this playdate ~ the wait was worth it, as we had more fun than I can put into words! But I will try...

First let me just show you a picture that shows you our joy: our friends Team L taking a quick photo with us during our date:



Why are we cheering? Because we get to spend the day with some of the greatest friends ever, and we get to do it while splashing in the water! Our morning was filled with water gun fights (where Mom's appeared to be the big targets hit), buckets of water being dumped on toes, a relay race and lots of laughs. Here are some fun pictures I attempted to take of everyone. It wasn't easy getting anyone to stop playing to pose for a picture, and I can't blame them for that. (Sweet AB, I hugged you, we played, and yet I didn't get you in a separate picture - watch out I will fix that the minute we play together again mister)!

Left: AJ was unstoppable - he ran around and around laughing and getting soaked. He was completely okay flying solo and just playing like a wild man. Right: KK and the boys dancing in and out of the water. They had some moves!



Left: KK and KJ - friends forever and not afraid to hug and show it. So sweet! Right: I asked KJ to pose for me, he immediately knew that I must have meant, show me your muscles!



Left: C-bug. Need I say more? He was sweet enough to stop drilling the other kids and smile for my picture. Sigh... he has a special place in my heart (so does the rest of Team L shush)! Right: ABL and Princess Lou. Ahh Lou, you made my morning! I loved getting to hold you and obey your whispered commands. Sure you could fill up your bucket, but we wouldn't want the princess getting wet :-) Sweet girl, thank you for letting me play with you!



Left: Oh KK, the joy in her heart was hard to contain this morning. Aside from silly dances, we also did some silly things with our buckets... you made us laugh sweetie! Right: I told you they weren't afraid to hug it out - KK and KJ hugging again :-)



Our relay race: This is complete ABL's idea and what a great one it was! Who knew how long this game would last, chasing the ever-moving water around and trying to tag team and fill up a big bucket of water. And what was the prize when we finished? Dumping it out and starting over of course! We had so much fun, a sweet little friend nearby joined us. That's what I call being the life of the party (or park I should say)!



More pictures to share: Baby B hanging out in his stroller. If anyone loves food more, I have yet to see it. The pizza and apples definitely made his day. Right: CB and KK having some girl time together. Such cute girls!



Now did you know that little AJ is a ladies man? Who knew right? Well these pictures speak volumes. AJ and Libby found themselves together on the rock wall and we asked for a picture. Little did we know that AJ's ladies man smile even existed... but one girl wasn't enough... he went on to get a picture with three girls. I think little man's smile tells you just how hot he thinks he is. I couldn't agree more. I did remind him that he is marrying his mommy, just so he wouldn't get any ideas :-) And I am laughing as I see Princess Lou was not very thrilled about the extra girls around... oh dear!



Thank you Team L for a wonderful morning!!! We feel so very blessed to have such amazing friends to be growing up with and sharing with ~ we cannot wait to do this again soon! Love you guys!

Summer Surprise Visit!

We had some wonderful last minute guests this week: Grandma, Aunt Liz and Aunt JuJu came to visit us!!!

When we got the news on Saturday, we told KK and AJ. KK immediately started jumping up and down, screaming with joy (literally screaming). She was so so so so so excited, she looked over to her little brother who wasn't moving and said "Grandma Liz and JUJU ARE COMING"... AJ took a moment to soak it all in then announced in a loud voice: "And STEEEEEVEEEE!" (sorry little man, Uncle Steve will come soon). It was so cute how he started screaming Steve's name and jumping like a wild man. Trust me, the girls coming was just as much fun for him, he had plenty to be jumping for! It seems just as JuJu and KK have an extra special relationship, so do Steve and AJ (we just didn't know about it until this moment).

Here is a picture of everyone (minus me, trust me I am in plenty others):



And just to show you how very happy and excited we were to share our home, toys, pool and fun with our family - here is a picture that pretty much sums up how we all felt about the visit:



So its 100+ degrees out - so after hugs and greetings, we got busy and headed to the pool to cool down and splash around. There were still many a hug as we couldn't believe they were actually here with us and getting to swim in our pools.





Above: Yes, Grandma and KK were going a little gangsta on us at the pool and making signs... Below, JuJu has a water gun and is on the move. This picture had us all laughing out loud when we saw it later. What is JuJu doing alone in the water with AJ's water gun?... watch out! I hear the theme music to Jaws when I look at this picture - I love it! And I am sure JuJu loves that I put this up for everyone to see - but its funny (to me anyway).



Grandma and AJ having some laughs and hugs:


We had pizza lunch and played until we were worn out. We went home to nap/watch a movie and rest up so we could come back and play again that night. Again, the kids (and the adults) had so much fun being together.

The next morning, Daddy headed to work and the girls (plus AJ) went to the museum to play and escape the heat.



We kept super busy... AJ played trains, Grandma and Liz built some towers - we danced, we played! We did crafts. It was greatness. I think pictures speak volumes:

KK wasn't going to let either of her aunts out of her sight:

The kids and I found some musical instruments and decided to start a band... a dancing band... This second picture speaks volumes. First - my calling as a lion tamer at the circus is apparent for all to see. Second - AJ looks concerned and who can blame him, his mom and sister are going crazy for all to see.


After playing in the Children's Museum, we went on to KK's favorite place: the Craft room. We decided to all make some party hats and then we had some fun with the camera to document the occasion.



Our final products: Party HATS! Brilliant JuJu came up with a string to hold the hats to our heads. Liz went for a Rapunzel look while KK made a big star with her name on it.



A cute picture of the girls in their final hats:


AJ was so excited about his hat (he is a big boy, he did it all by himself with some help from Mommy):


All of us with our hats - note the kids aren't cheesing it up. AJ was mad he was told to stop playing blocks for the picture, and KK was confused if the pictures were done. Oh well, at least our Aunts are smiling it up!



Grandma decided to be more creative and made super sweet flags for KK and AJ to keep that said Grandma Loves them.. so cute and very creative - bonus points to Grandma for thinking outside the box!



While the kids had a quick picnic lunch, our Aunts entertained us with a hula hoop contest. It was all fun and games until a couple small children were taken out (just kidding, the kids were scratch free).



We ended the visit with some time in the "wind" room as I call it. AJ and Grandma worked together to make paper cups fly in the wind tunnel, while KK and the Aunts built paper airplanes and launched them. All around a great day together with lots of fun and laughs!

The next day, Mommy and Daddy went to work and everyone else stayed home to have some fun. Its hard to document the fun the kids had that day and every day Grandma and Liz and JuJu were here. Basically, they had three people doting on them, loving them, and playing with them nonstop.... while I can't really expand on it, it warms my heart that for a few days, their little hearts were full and they were spending time with very special people. Getting to show them how big they have grown since the last time they were together and sharing in some special fun that they will remember until we can get together again. As KK and AJ get bigger, we see just how hard it is for all of us to be so far apart from one another. To have family closer, to share more of our day to day lives would be such a blessing - but for now, we try to cherish the time we do have together and do our best to see one another as much as possible. Here are some pictures that we can have until the next time we get to be together. Note that some of these are from what I call the "liz cam":





Saying goodbye was very hard. KK's little chin wobbled as their car turned the corner to head home (AJ was a little more relaxed about the send off, running inside to the train table to finish organizing his trains just so and a little oblivious about what was going down). KK was so sweet as she hugged me and said how much she loved Grandma, Aunt Liz and Aunt JuJu. I must have looked a little sad, as she told me in her brave little voice "It's okay Mommy, we will see them very soon, right?".... Of course baby girl! Until next time...



We love you Grandma, Aunt Liz and Aunt JuJu! Thank you so much for driving that drive to spend a few special days with us! We loved every minute and cannot wait to see you all again (KK said during TCU football in the fall and as she appears to be the authority on these things, we will hold you to that)! HUGS!!!