Alright! Let's do this! Blog catch up with lots of pictures and minimal journaling! Ready, go!
4th of July- we went to Tom and Jenni's. That's about all you need to know. Here is our little fam.
Again!
My boys!
Little Winston was all tuckered out from all of the running around at night, so he just plopped right down to look at the stars.
A super over-flashed picture of my brother Tom, a very sunburned Megan and Shane and E. Megan and Shane had gone boating and ended up spending another 4 hours helping out a stranded boat, so what was supposed to be a 2 hour jaunt turned into a horrible day without enough sunscreen.
Clayton's brother Tyler, his wife Rachel and their Audrey were in town and got to play with us that night. Here are Ty and E.
Rachel and Audrey.
Eleanor helping "teach Audrey to walk". Ha ha, she loves to think she is helping littler kids learn new skills and words. She cracks us up.
We had a chance to hang out with Clayton's brother Tyler and his wife Rachel and their sweet little Audrey. They reside in San Diego so we love when they get to come play!
We tried and tried for a shot of the two cousins together without much luck. Uncle Adam stepped in to help out.
Eh, close enough.
Tyler and Clayton with the kiddos.
Winston DID NOT LIKE Grandpa Tom holding someone else.
Allie and Eleanor enjoying Otter Pops.
On the actual 4th of July we had a visit from Allison, Ayla and Roman. Eleanor and Ayla enjoyed their time in the sprinklers and posed with our flag.
Winston did too.
Ayla, Grandma Judy and Eleanor.
Sprinkler!
Cutie.
Later we went to Tom & Jenni's house to play. Megan and Shane (Shagan) were making shirts out of tape and spray paint. Look how cute they turned out!
While inside, the big kids, er, adults constructed a giant erector-set roller coaster that Jenni found brand new at DI for $5! It had a little purple car that ran the track crazy fast. You can actually see it in this picture- it's the vague purple blur at the top of the track right between Tom and Shane.
Watching fireworks outside, Eleanor giving Clayton some love.
The adorable couple! Just weeks from their big day!
And about a week later I got the chance to see some best friends I barely get to see anymore. 3 out of 4 of my bridesmaids! Betsy lives down in Arizona and Linda up in Idaho and Julie and I are just too dang busy! It's never long enough when we get to hang out.
Quick refresher, we live in a duplex on a Greencrest street, a street full of duplexes. The one right next to us is owned by the same landlord and all four units are being rented by people from our ward. And all four, well, at least the other three families are freaking awesome. We love them to bits. They are hugely responsible for why our experience has been so amazing here in Michigan. (When we first moved to Michigan we randomly moved into the duplex right next door to these two, so there were 5 families for a year. We moved into the spot where the Overson's were after they moved. They were also responsible for our feeling so welcome.) Anyhow, our four families have two gigantic fenced in yards between us, which are perfect for shin-digs. Last year we had a wonderful 4th potluck and so we did it again this year. The Greencrest neighbors host and provide the main dish while everyone else brings sides and desserts. It pretty much rules. This year we went super easy with pulled pork sandwiches and sloppy joes. Sadly there were too many desserts for me to try them all, though I did make a valiant effort.
A welcome sign for the kids to draw on.
Just a few of the desserts.
Some of the sides, the ugly, but super tasty cake I made is in there, sitting on the world's cutest cake stand.
Here's a slightly better picture. It's a coconut cake with coconut, cream cheese frosting and fresh raspberry and strawberry and cream filling. Do you know how good raspberries and coconut taste together? Very good! I got carried away with the filling (more is not always better) and had a heckuvatime trying to frost it. Durr. I even dyed the top layer blue so it would be red white and blue. It ended up being served more like a trifle. Oh well. P.S. You all remember that I looked for this very cake stand for over 4 years, right? Do you see how pretty the ribbon is? Sorry, it was a long four years. Darling children were everywhere. I won't name them in case parents don't approve, and since I never ask for permission. However, the little boy in blue is our very own Win. He he, it looks like he's picking his nose. Gross.
It was the first time a lot of our friends got to meet him, like sweet Laurie.
These two cuties were killing me with their adorable hair, and the fact that they were sharing the tiniest chair. (That aunt Jennifer gave to Eleanor- thanks Jen, we use it all the time!)
Eleanor had to get in a sweet snuggle with her brother. P.S. He is only 2 weeks and 1 day in all these pictures, which is why he is mainly (and blessedly) asleep the whole time.
Cute neighbors! I love her headband.
Family portrait!
Teaching her the patriotic essentials.
Little fireworks for little people.
If you click on the picture you can better see Eleanor saying "Ohhh!" or, "Oh no!"
We moved the fireworks to the back of the lawn and we had a really nice show! Thanks to the Allees and Hansens and others for bringing so many! I didn't even buy a single sparkler this year. (But I had the world's best excuse.)
Could these two be any cuter?
P.S. ( I know I write P.S. a lot, so sue me.) Our wall neighbors, the Johnsons, inherited this sweet play set from the lovely Bailey family, who sadly moved to Ohio. It is sooo great. The kids love it, our backyard has just gotten, like, a thousand times cooler. Wait til you see what else the Johnsons recently got. It will have to wait for another post.
Eleanor and Clayton enjoying the show.
A small sampling of her commentary. She would also say "Happy Birthday" to a lot of the fireworks. Why yes, we are celebrating our country's birth, Eleanor! Thank you for helping us remember the true meaning.
A shot of some of the group.
And a few more.
I had to include this one so you could properly see her darling red, white and blue skirt (from cousin Allie). With her sparkly silver sandals and white polo, I was seriously wanting her whole outfit in my size.
Look who's awake!
So Winston, what did you think of your first holiday? "Oh, I don't know, a little loud."
No one said awesome-partying would be easy. We had a great evening! We have the best neighbors and friends in the world. Did I mention the desserts were awesome? (Why can't I have fruit pizza every day?) And I think I can safely say, over two weeks later, that everyone is finally out of fireworks. Thank heavens. I have been feeling like a super crotchety old lady each night when I hear someone letting off their stash of bottle rockets or whatever at 2 AM. It's one night people, move on!
This 4th, or well, 3rd, we had a get together with friends and neighbors who didn't have family around. It was a great BBQ/pot-luck and man was the food good. I didn't even eat a hamburger or hot dog so I could have more sides, specifically the jello and fruit salad. Who brought that, by the way? I must have had four helpings. Anyhow, here are a few shots from the day. If I put up a picture of your kid that you would rather not have on the web, let me know and I will take it right down.
Hey mom, this is a great party!
Oh no, is she wearing the same dress? Mom!
And she's cute too! Mother!
What? It makes us twice as cute? Alright.Not wanting to be outdone, Ruth and I dressed alike too. Guess which one just had a baby? Hint, it's not the blond in the gingham tent. Go Ruth!
Freakishly adorable blondies playing together.
Me trying to make the neighbor babies love me. (And no, I didn't change E because of the fashion scandal. She swam in the first dress so we put on a dry one.)
Our family! Behind us you can see the tie-dye shirts that everyone did. Lexie is awesome with the crafts. E's shirt is the one right over my right shoulder.
