Birthdays, Cookouts, Swimming & Backyard Fun

I can't say enough wonderful words about the end of summer 2014. It was chalk full of friends, family, babies, fun, sun, swimming and birthdays. Lots and lots and LOTS of birthdays! Here's a rundown of our end of the summer shenanigans.....

The Mills, Starbucks, Hymans, Logans, Fords and Fannings had a ball celebrating Erica and Riley's birthdays. Linsday made a cake fitting for both of them....

 

Kristen welcomed our crazy crew out to her house and the women snuggled babies and talked....

....while the guys took off with a truck full of guns and ammo for some shooting practice....

Hal and the girls took a big bubble bath, sang karaoke and watched movies over the course of the evening. I felt like a teenager staying out late that night considering my bedtime was fairly early around that time since Bella wasn't yet sleeping through the night. I might mention that my wimpy version of being a teenager was around 10:30. Ha! 

We spent a fun evening at our house with the Barbys, Vaps and Rogers for an end of the summer cookout. Jai was about to pop with baby Blair and these babies were just patiently awaiting the arrival of their soon-to-be friend.....

The big kiddos ate out on the back porch....

The dads somehow managed to snag spots at the table inside where it wasn't 100 degrees while us moms kept watch on the wild hooligans running around the backyard. The men played that one well, I must hand it to them. We had a relaxing evening with some wonderful friends. It's fun doing life with people who get you and love you!

Hallie Grace got in more than her fair share of time in the sun wearing out her swimsuits and splashing with friends in the backyard and at the waterpark.....

One particularly fun afternoon we subjected Bella to her first cold water experience.....

She cringed at first....

And then screamed....

And then loved it and passed out in the duck....

Hal thinks she's too cool for school when Lily is around....

Oh wait. Nevermind. That's all the time....

She was thrilled to run into Miss Josie....

God Bless Lauren! She took Hallie off my hands one afternoon so the girls could have some fun at the waterpark...

 

Nanny made a habit of also taking Hal to swim toward the end of season. This picture sums up how she felt about this summer....

 

Our Sunday school class offspring posed for a sweet picture at Hallie Vap's birthday party in August. I have a feeling we will be digging this one out years down the road to show them....

 

More summer fun continued........