Everly's 2nd Birthday

The week of birthdays in this house!! Today is Everly's 2nd birthday! We celebrated with a birthday donut date in the morning, she spent the day playing with her friends at the sitter and then we ended with an ice cream sundae and some presents.  She thought her birthday was amazing!  Oh this girl, she truly completed our family.  I know I've said that before, but I mean it to my core.  We didn't know we needed her, but we so did.  She brings us joy and laughter everyday and she brings out the very best sides of her brothers.  I KNOW she is making them better versions of themselves.  Don't get me wrong, they were great before, but she makes them sweeter and makes them slow down and appreciate the little things.  They LOVE seeing her do all the new things, say all the new words, explore all the new places.  She is our princess and we just love her so.  Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Nolan's 11th Birthday

11! How is that even possible? It seems like just yesterday I was leaning over his bassinet making sure he was still breathing (don't act like you didn't do that to your kids).  I have so many things I could say about this kid.  He's got a big heart, he's got a soft spot in that heart for his little sister (who can talk him in to just about anything), he's super smart (but doesn't ALWAYS want to apply himself), he's a fine little athlete, he's sensitive and kind, inclusive and a leader.  He makes us proud every single day...and he also makes us lose our patience every now and again too because...he's 11.  We struck gold with this one, Happy Birthday Nolan Bug!

And because it was a boring day where he still had to go to school, I grabbed a selfie with him on the front porch to celebrate.  This was after his breakfast donut and his breakfast jig (performed by his father)...

 

Then came the big party.  Parties are getting tougher and tougher these days with sports and all of the things!  But we managed to squeeze in a little shindig because we were lucky enough to have a random day off of school conveniently located around his birthday!  So here are the big hot shots, with the one picture I was allowed to take.  Don't ask me why the birthday boy isn't wearing a shirt, I do not have an answer.

 

Museum of Transportation

This girly was about to turn 2 so we decided we would take her on a little birthday play date. I think you all realize by now that birthdays last about a week in this house (at least mine does). My Mom and I decided to take the princess to the Museum of Transportation. They have a great little playroom for the little ones and I realized I hadn't taken her yet.  So we took the miniature train ride, played all the pretend things (including a wonderful puppet show Everly and Grandma put on), played around on the old trains and then we went and met Grandpa for lunch.  Perfect date to start off the birthday celebrations for the princess if you ask me.

New Customer

Everly LOOOOOOOVES to play pretend. She particulary loves this little food truck which was a gift from my parents, it has gotten a lot of miles (get it). But she really loves to play pretend with a person, mainly...me. On this particular day though I needed to unload the groceries so I told her I would be in in a few minutes. Well I walked in to find out I had been replaced!  Here I thought I was special, but nope some big bunny came right in and filled my shoes like it was nothing.

Labor Day (Farm)

Where else do you spend Labor Day, but at the farm?? We had a great little weekend getting dirty, catching fish, swinging, building...you name it, we did it.  There are quite a few pictures of Everly fishing with Daddy because 1. They are adorable and 2. I THINK this is the first time she really participated...and caught a fish.  You'll note she was not all that excited to actually touch/hold that fish but she caught it nonetheless!  The Barbagallos joined us for the day as well which was fun and gave us another person to bury in the sand!  If you come to the farm these are the things that will happen.  And you'll get dirty, all your stuff will get dirty and you'll probably get eaten by some sort of bug.  But you will also have some gold old fashion fun, you'll always find a cool breeze by the house, someone will always swing with you and at night you'll get the best firefly display you will ever see.



Park Fun

This is just a normal Friday (while the boys are still in school). Just me and the girl hittin' the town, finding a good park here or there. When the boys were little I ALWAYS had my camera with me it seemed, these days...I rarely do, or I have to consciously remind myself to bring it anyway.  But I want to try and remember to capture some of the normal things for Everly too.  Even though our life is way crazier now than when the boys were little it doesn't mean we still don't take time for the small stuff.  Like looking adorable while getting our playground on!



What if you fly...

"What if I fall?"

 

 "Oh, but my darling,

What if you fly?"

 

I mean, is that not the best quote?  I immediately thought of that quote when I picked out this little dress for Everly (which I have had waiting for quite some time now).  I have a weakness for hot air balloons, always have.  Maybe it is because Chad took me on a hot air balloon ride the day he proposed?  That would be a good story so we will go with that!  Anyway, I guess I will call these her 2 year pictures even though she isn't quite 2 in them yet but something tells me there will not be any formal pictures taken before she turns 2 so we will go with these!!  She sure makes us smile.

 

 

And because sometimes emotion just comes out better in black and white...