Our girl is SIX!!

Today is our Sophie girl's birthday. It's been a crazy, fun and wonderful six years with her in our life. We wouldn't change a thing about her. We simply ADORE her. And we are so proud of the sweet and caring little girl she has become. Happy Birthday Sophie!

Visiting Naunie & Grampa

We've spent the week at my mom and John's - we came on Monday and have had lots of fun! The kids did great on the flight here, Miles just climbed all over our three seats, opened and shut the window shade multiple times, ate snacks and watched CARS until he finally fell asleep on my lap. Sophie was a great helper and Nora sat and colored her ColorWonder book the entire way - she loves those books and they entertain her for hours!

So here's what we've been doing:

Here we are at the airport happy to be done!

We got picked up at the airport by my uncle in this awesome old school limo!

We had fun swimming, playing and roasting hot dogs in the backyard

Going on walks

My uncle Terry - who lives close to my mom- took the girls on a ride in his fancy Rolls Royce convertible! They thougth they were pretty hot stuff.

Miles got to ride this one - he was excited to get in it but once we started driving he DID NOT like the sun and wind blowing on him and he cried the entire drive.

My kids with my Uncle Terry.

To celebrate the girl's birthdays while we were here we went to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. It was a hot day but we had a lot of fun seeing the animals!

The kids loved feeding this chipmunk!

The zoo was up high on a mountain in Colorado Springs. Gorgeous view!

We saw an albino wallabee. This happens in about 1 out of 250,000 births. And they told us it wouldn't have lasted long before being killed.

Grampa and Miles taking a rest.

The girls got to ride this antique carousel. It was really cool!

Miles enjoyed clapping for them while they rode!

My mom had to get a picture with the sunflowers of course!

Grampa and Nora in the big chair.

The kids thought it was fun pretending to be baby chicks hatching out of this egg.

Miles finally fell asleep about 1/2 way through. The sunscreen made his hair extra spikey.

Naunie and Sophie

We saw this adorable baby orangutan. It was SO SO cute! It was with it's parents and the mom was grooming it and the dad kept kissing it and touching it. It is crazy how human like they are!

Here is the dad:

As part of their birthday present they girls' got to pick something out at the gift shop. They both LOVE stuffed animals and they both picked out a cute stuffed peacock.

We also got to go listen to Grampa John sing at a local restaurant. It was fun! Everyone thought Miles was pretty darn cute - and I have to agree.

Grampa John singing

We even got to see my sister and her kids ,who we haven't seen in over 2 years! Olive and Miles met for the first time. So cute.

Some of the kids catching ladybugs

Indie and Sophie reallly hit it off!

My sis and her youngest - Olive

Sophie, Indie and Nora

We had such a fun time. Thanks Naunie and Grampa! We'll be back!

Obsession...

After two girls who love all things girly - it is oh so fun to have a little boy who has a Cars obsession. First thing in the morning he goes downstairs, points to the tv and gives us a big "Uhhh!" Which to him means "Turn on my show - now!" It's dangerously cute because now Brian and I want to go buy him all the fun boy stuff we don't have!

Happy 4th!

We had a wonderful Fourth of July this year. I claim it as my most favorite Holiday - but Brian claims I say that on every holiday! What can I say - I love to celebrate! :) That morning we went to the parade downtown Lansing, which is so different than the parades I grew up going to- (think belly dancers, lots of politicians, tons of cars and hardly any candy vs. dairy princesses, marching bands, cheer squads, local restaurants and more candy than we can consume in a month...) But it was still a parade so we had a good time!

Brian and Miles enjoying the parade!

Nora, Shay, Laynee and Sophie getting one of their four pieces of candy

Sophie was thrilled with this piece of chocolate money and started licking her lips right away!

Some fun dancers - the girls thought their dresses were so beautiful!

A crazy rock band - I almost covered the girls' eyes when this fellow started jumping down and doing some pretty questionable dance moves...

Cute Nora loved waving her flag - (even though I missed the flag in the picture!)

Shay and Miles

Mile had fun but was a little overwhelmed by all the craziness

This is the look he had watching all the motorcyles go by from the Biker's Church.

Just ONE of the MANY MANY cars like this that went through the parade!

Brian and Miles and Andy and Shay

Miles liked waving his little flags

After the parade we came home and got ready for our 4th of July barbecue in our backyard. It was so much fun. We are so lucky to have such great friends here! We had some delicious food and lots of fun! Thanks for coming everyone! Plan on coming back next year - those of you who are still here anyway :(

Here is cute Ellie devouring her ice cream cone. She was all business.

Laynee and Alexis watching the "fireworks"

Brian preparing for the "grand finale"

Some of the crowd in the backyard... Sadly I didn't get a lot of pictures of everyone!

Some of the tie-dying creations. It was so fun! And who says the tie-dyed look isn't in style?

My cute neighbor Zac!

A few of the girls hanging out on the hammock!

We had such a fun time and ended the night by catching fireflies and watching some neighbors put on a HUGE fireworks show! They were awesome and I'm sure very expensive (and quite possibly illegal!) Sophie and Nora stayed up until 12:30!! But every now and then it's worth it.