December - Part 2

If you missed all the fun we had in the first part of December you can check back on that here in December - Part 1. For Christmas Part 2 we're gonna recap all of our celebrations! 

First up was the sleepover at Sissy's house!

Then we headed to Cincinnati and had a day before Christmas Eve celebration and read the Night before Christmas with the family:

We woke up to SANTA!!!

 Then we got cleaned up and headed to Brunch at Sissy's

Followed by Christmas dinner at PaPaw and GoGo's

And then wrapped all of the Christmas shenanigans with Grandpa on the 26th!

What a truly wonderful time of the year! Happy Birthday Jesus!!!

Welp, it's Wednesday

It's been a busy end to summer round here. Lots of here and there shenanigans. Lots of waiting on this person to come help us with this project for the house. Lots of driving from here and there to get that one piece that we seem to be missing. Lots of plans. This week I have some sort of school orientation just about every day before the kiddos officially start next Tuesday ... and it's got me all crazy. I'm thinking back on summer and just thinking of all the things! So many things. Lots of a lot of things! So, instead of talking about every 'thing' to wrap up the end of the season, I'll condense it into five little things. I think a nice tidy list makes everything seem better.  And here are five little things. 

{ ONE :: WEDDING }

For starters, we headed to Henderson, KY to watch one of my college besties get hitched at a beautiful little winery tucked away in the countryside. .

 Bennett was there too ... but he found some pals and we never saw him the entire night.

 Megan sure looked pretty :)

And two of my favorite people rocked the dance floor.

And just to squeeze it in ... because it was (sort of) on the route ... we also made a pit stop to check out the new brewery, Tin Man Brewing, in Evansville, IN. We got the special behind the scenes tour with our new business partner and master brewer.  Bennett was mostly impressed with the real life Tin Man robot that sits inside the tap room (Not that this picture would let you know it) .

{ TWO :: BENNETT + BASEBALL }

Our sweet Bennett ... he had a BIG Sunday when his Tee-ball team was honored at the Minor League Baseball - Bats - game during the opening ceremonies. Their team was able to walk out onto the field and sing the National Anthem with the players, watch the first pitch be thrown, and had their names announced on the big speaker.

 Little sister watched in amazement and was so jealous she didn't get to go out on the field.

 Fame suits him well. Not phased even a bit!

That's Bennett near the pitcher's mound -- he saluted the flag holding the third basemen's hand -- what a little stud.

 On his way back in he had a little swag to his walk and happily high-fived the umpire.

 And couldn't wait to tell daddy ALLL about it!

And while we're on the B topic ... just like that it was time again for Bennett's annual kidney scan! I remember like it was yesterday when we had Bennett's 20 week anatomy scan while he was in utero. They told us our baby may not be healthy. He had several markers for many things, and most of all hydronephrosis, and a lot of fluid on his kidney! Man was I a hot mess in the weeks to come. But, as He always does, God saw us through, and we came out on the other end stronger and perfectly fine. Bennett continues to have to have scans once a year to check on the fluid levels ... but to date they have remained the same since they were first diagnosed nearly 4.5 years ago! WAHOOOO

 And little man is so good and brave during his appointments! Way to go buddy!

{ THREE :: LAINEY }

Lainey is making herself and her toys right at home here at the new house. Eating dirt and burying things in the yard. What a gal. I really don't know what to say about her right now other than she is truly a sour patch kid ... although she's usually more sweet than sour. But MAN, does this girl have some sass.

Moreover, the terrible twos are hitting a smidge bit early in this house and whheeeeewweeee are they coming on hard and fast. She is the sweetest little munch, tough as nails with the biggest appetite and softest heart around ... but goly ... she's giving me a run for my money!

{ FOUR :: HOUSEGUESTS }

We had our first and very MOST favorite house guests. When MaKenzie, Ross and 'THE GRILLS' arrive you know you're in for a good weekend. We had an absolute BLAST and cannot wait for them to come back down - ASAP!

We swam in the pool for the very first time. We played on the slip and slide and had all the giggles.

We ate a yummy dinner together and had some down time.

 We headed out to see our favorite boys in purple, Louisville City FC.

Fam Bam!

 And we had some yummy morning snacks, complete with snuggles ...

 And a took a big walk before it was time for them to head home :(

{ FIVE :: FAMILY }

And finally, when we catch a minute to breathe. We snack and catch up on some cartoons. The days are long, but the years are short my friends. Cherishing all the days. Every last one of them.

Star Spangled Summer

Whew! Anyone else out there still feeling post Holiday weekend blues even though it's already Friday?! July 4th weekend felt like FOREVER long (and let's be honest ... it was) but seriously I cannot get back in the swing of things. The whole, what day is it, I slept until when, and we went out with who last night phase of summer is in full effect and I'm reminiscing hard on such a great holiday weekend with my peoples.

I think the holiday felt so long because our holiday weekend actually kicked off last Wednesday with little Bennett's Birthday and his fun Pizza Party. He picked out cupcakes for all of his school pals ... but hilariously the only photos I received from summer camp that day were of his little sister :)

 We picked up the littles, headed to the party and had the best night. Thursday we were all feeling the post birthday blues and spent a low key morning watching a movie and reading books.

Once we got our act in gear we headed to  Bennett's four year old well check at the Pediatrician. He had to get the rest of his boosters (OUCH!) and some blood work and once the scariness of getting the actual shots wore off ... he was great when he actually got them. And best news, he's done with shots until he's 11! Yippie! And he got a baby Yoda doll for being such an excellent patient!

Friday we headed to see our cousins play softball and hang. We were supposed to head to the lake, but changed our minds at the last minute and decided to skip out on the lake this year and just have a fun weekend at home.

 Friday night mommy and daddy had a MUCH needed date night with a yummy dinner at Varanese and made the impromptu decision to hit up a friend's party and stay out way passed our bed time :)

Saturday morning we were as productive as possible, wrapping up house stuff, hanging with the kids, etc. Saturday night we headed to cheer on our boys in purple and pulled out the W over Canada and once again stayed out way passed our bed times!

 Look at that sky!!

 Sunday morning we were up and at em' with a fun church service and some cousin action. After church we had some more pizza and some more birthday cake (it was really for Aunt Rebecca, but don't tell Bennett) ...

 And then we hit up the playground and splash park! Full heart!

Look at these sweet littles!

We came home and kicked off the fireworks and played in the yard all night long.

Monday hubs headed into the office for a few hours, so the kiddos and I killed some time by meeting up with friends at the pool. Hubs joined us later and we had a blast! After the pool (tired, sticky, and sweaty) we attended a cookout ... I'm sure everyone was grateful we didn't shower (insert sarcasm font) before coming. And once again, stayed out way passed our bed time.

 Tuesday we had big plans to make it another pool day, but it was overcast and yucky here in Louisville .. so instead we hit up Jeffersonville, IN and their fun 4th of July Parade and had a yummy lunch at the Red Yeti. Followed by some ice cream and walking the Big Four Bridge

After our legs were tired we headed home to rest before a big Independence Day cookout at PaPaw and GoGo's complete with fireworks, dirt pudding and all the family love.