Plenty of Playdates

To say we have some pretty amazing friends just wouldn't do them justice. What's better than amazing? Genuine. Real. Dependable. Down to earth. Always there. To name a few. Maternity leave was good for the soul for numerous reasons. One of the top reasons was our weekly playdates. We switched off houses, fed eachother donuts and helped gain a little bit more sanity by giving our children something (and someone) to keep them occupied. ;) And speaking of children, they don't yet realize how lucky they are. Here are just a few pictures I snapped over the summer during our mornings together......

The big girls chatting over their donuts and coffee. Okay, maybe just donuts.....

The highlight of our summer gatherings was making memories with the newest additions to our growing families. These three munchkins were born to be besties. Literally. We really haven't given them an option but to love eachother. ;) 

Audrey at three months - Tripp and Bella at one month

Audrey at four months - Tripp and Bella at two months

Hallie Grace and Marleigh Gail are like two peas in one crazy pod. MG and her sweet momma graciously invited us over for a morning of catching up. The girls had been missing eachother like crazy over the summer.....

The girls and I met Kadence and Lauren for a very entertaining lunch at Ramiro's one afternoon.....

These two!!!

My firstborn is quite fond of the Mills girls. I'd say all three of them know how to have a wild time when they are together.....

No doubt about it, we LOVE us some friend time!!!!

 

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........

 

Swimming at Deedee's

Aunt Deedee and Uncle Lonnie invited us girls over for some pool fun one summer evening. It'd been way too long since Hallie and Aaron had been together so the kiddos were excited. We'd missed this cool cat.....

  

I stayed out of the pool to spare everyone the sight of me in a bathing suit but Hal didn't seem to miss my presence one bit. She loves Aunt Deedee.....

The kiddos tossed the ball around with plenty of help from the grownups but Hal was pleased as punch to realize that she was able to touch the floor....

Little Miss Content laid on the table in the shade taking in the splashing and laughing sounds....

It wasn't long before she resorted to doing what she does best....

After our swim date we picked up dinner for Meme and played at her house for a bit.....

She was overjoyed to see her newest lil one. Bella was so interactive with her. She made plenty of eye contact and was obvious she felt happy to be in her Meme's arms....

Family time is the best time. :)