Summer Play Dates and TTT

These past few weeks we have had a few fun play dates with friends.

2 weeks ago we met up with the Scottsdale Moms Group for a play date at our church.  They had tons of activities set up for the kids. It seriously was mad chaos but the kids LOVED it.  We had a handful of friends there so luckily I had some help wrangling my kids.  Hudson and Harper wanted to get out of their stroller and be a part of the action, but there wasn't a safe area for babies.  We tried to keep them on the carper playing with blocks... but they were off in an instant. Thank goodness for sweet friends who lent a hand in holding these wild ones.  Reagan had a BLAST running around like a crazy man and playing with everything!

Can you see the craziness!?!

I love this picture. You can totally see my sister Meg trying to get Hudson before he escapes!

Wednesday we met up with our friends Sarah, Chase, and Kennedy at one of our favorite museums.

Normally I don't think I would try a children's museum with all 3 kids by myself, but this particular one has a baby area that keeps the little ones from being trampled on.  Luckily I have awesome babies and they were very well behaved.  Reagan had a BALL running around and playing with everything.

 The twins in the baby area.

 Kennedy, Harper, and Sarah

Chase and Reagan

Love this picture of the boys 2 years ago at the museum and this week at the museum. So fun to see how they have grown, but how they still look so much alike! 

Thursday we had a play date with our friends Megan, Noah, and Owen.

We went over to play at their house and have some lunch. The boys always play so well and its always a treat to gab with my old friend! 

 They are "babysitting" a friend's bearded dragon for a few weeks so it was very cool to watch it- especially when it was eating crickets for lunch!  (The boys were highly impressed!)

It was so cute to watch Hudson so badly want to be one of the "big boys".  

 One of the few moments all 5 kids were playing together.

It was pretty darn cute!

Hudson

Shirt and shorts from Carter's 

Harper

Dress from Gymboree

Bow was a gift 

Reagan aka Rockstar

Outfit from Macy's

Don't forget to link up your kids' outfits over with Megan and the girls for Trendy Tot!

Family Trip Up North Part 2

Hi!

If you missed yesterday's part 1 of our family's trip up north for the 4th, click here!

Saturday, July 6th

Saturday morning we started off by taking some pictures before Mimi, Papa, and the grandkids headed down for the parade. For the last 7 (?!) years we've participated in the club's golf cart parade.  The kids really love this tradition with their grandparents.

 The grands!

 Our fam

 We dressed the kids like little grillers for our cart's theme.

How cute does Reagan look?!

 The front of the cart.

 The back of the cart.

 My parents with Charlotte and Rea.

 Here is an action shot of during the parade.

My niece and nephew rode their scooters along side this year while Charlotte and Reagan rode in the cart.

Harper and Hudson just watched from the side this year!

After the parade we headed back home to feed kids, rest, and get ready for the pool.

The pool is always so fun this day every year. They hire a balloon artist/face painter, have a great band, and have cotton candy, snow cones, and popcorn.  It is so much fun! We left the babies at home with Mimi and Papa and just took the other 4 kids.

 Super Rea Rea!

 Yum!

 Enjoying the day!

The clouds rolled in and the rain started, so we left the pool and headed back to the house for afternoon/evening fun.

Sunday, July 7

Sunday morning we headed to the golf course to take some family pics. I loved some but was frustrated with others! It's going to be tricky to get all 3 kids smiling and looking cute at the same - plus throw in me looking icky - blah!

 I do LOVE this one of my family.

 Oh. And here is the classic.

I'm going to try to do a re-do pic soon.

 My older sister and her family.

 My younger sister and her family.

I love this one of my parents and the grandkids!

After photos we went inside the clubhouse for the pancake breakfast. 

It is always so delicious! 

 Reagan said this year was "pan-tastic". Love him.

 My beautiful baby girl.

 One side of the table.

 The other.

After breakfast the boys all went golfing and the girls went home with the kids.  We did a lot of wrangling little ones. And I laid down and napped with the babies.

Cousins playing through the door.

That evening after dinner some of us hit up the park.

 Rea had a blast as usual.

 Watching his big cousins play.

 Doing the zip line with Uncle Ryan.

 Cousins

We had a WONDERFUL time as usual. Huge thanks to my amazing parents who host us all and create a wonderful little vacation for us all every year.

 I just love that my kids are growing up so close with their cousins, aunts, uncles, and grand parents.  Growing up, I didn't live near any of our family.  All of my dads family lives in Wisconsin and I've seen my cousins maybe 5 times. My grandma on that side flew out a couple times a year to stay with us growing up but that was it. My mom's family lives all over and we rarely saw them when we were little. My grandparents on her side lived here but they weren't what you would call typical grandparents. 

Anyway. It just fills my heart with joy that my son calls his cousins his best friends, thinks his aunts/uncles hang the moon, and love his Mimi and Papa (probably) more than Nick and I. Ha. 

Family Trip Up North Part 1

Every summer over the 4th of July my family gathers at my parents' summer house up north.  It is always a fun little get away from the heat and time to enjoy one another's company.

Here is a little recap of days 1 and 2!

Thursday, July 4

We drove up north on Thursday morning and met my parents and sister Meg and her family. (They got up on Sunday). Thursday was pretty laid back.  We mainly just hung out!

I did get some pics of the kids in their patriotic garb!

 Love these two!

 My sister Meg and Charlie.

 Mimi and Harper

 Playing Wii in the basement.

Brothers

 My little firecrackers!

After lunch we decided to go to the pool.

 The twins and Papa before getting in the water.

 Rea Rea

 The twins and I

My baby girl.

 My handsome boy.

 Charlotte and Reagan in their Mike and Sully towels!

After the pool we came home and took baths, ate dinner, and went for a little golf cart ride.

 Reagan was so tired and snuggled up to watch a movie.

The babies were so good!

We didn't do fireworks or anything ... maybe in a year or two!

When the kids went to bed we watched "Identify Theft" and laughed so hard.

Friday, July 5

Friday morning we got up and got ready for the day. My older sister and her family were arriving that day and Reagan couldn't wait! He loves his big cousins.

More pics of the kiddos!

Yay! All of the cousins!

 We spent a lot of time on the deck playing that day.

My big boy!

 Everyone played so hard! Harper fell asleep in the sitting position in her pack and play!

Cousin Sadie loved reading to the little ones.

One of our favorite things to do up north is play games as a family.  

Nick cooked up an awesome dinner for us all Friday night.

I love this pic of my mom escaping from the noise and chaos inside.  With 6 grandkids, 1 dog, the tv, adults playing games she needed a little alone time with her drink! Ha Ha. The gin and tonics were certainly flowing this weekend! :)

After dinner we headed out front to decorate the golf cart for the club's parade the next morning. We decided to do the theme "Grilling up some fun!" Everyone really worked together and I think it turned out pretty cute! 

That night it was more games and gabbing before bed!