Little, Big Man Turns 3

We celebrate birthday's for at least a full week around our house.  Grayson - being the sweet, charismatic boy he is - managed to celebrate for a full seven days and to have all three themes he loves the most. 
My little, big man is growing up fast. He is sweet as ever, but the sweetness fades ever so slightly as he is starting to stand up for himself against his older brother and taking a firm stance of resistance when we ask him to do something he is opposed to. He is passionate about his family, friends, tractors, animals, the color orange. He brings immeasurable joy to us every day.  

We kicked his celebration off the Saturday before the big day with a zoo themed birthday at our local zoo. He chose doughnuts with orange frosting in lieu of a cake.  He invited a couple of friends from his preschool class and his neighbor friends to join him for a special zoo class where we got to hold and learn about an exotic chicken, chinchilla, rare turtle, a tarantula (only Daddy held him), a hedge hog-looking-thing and a couple of other animals.  The kids loved it and Grayson absolutely ate it up.  He adores animals.  After the class, we fed the koi and visited the petting zoo and other animals before riding the train and playing on the playground. 

It was great hot, sticky fun.  The joy and excitement that Grayson showed was priceless. 

Monday we celebrated by seeing Cars 2.  Tuesday we went to a new pool with splash buckets, zero entry and corn dogs.  Wednesday he took special Mick*y Mouse treats for snack to his PDO class and we celebrated in the evening with a family party complete with a pizza party, strawberries and homemade ice cream.  We decked the place out with orange balloons and streamers in honor of Grayson's fav color. 

July Fourth Fun

We have a long standing family tradition of togetherness when July 4th rolls around and this year was a blast...so to speak.  We filled the days with splashing around in the lake to stay cool, playing in the yard in the evening, visiting with lake neighbors and going for long walks.

The kids are becoming fish.  Little Kennon and Matney are learning to tolerate their life jackets and loved the boat. 

Kennon broke free of the life jacket while Matney stayed snuggled up in hers.  

Brian and I found 5 seconds to take a picture as a couple, relaxed and having fun. 

Sisterly self-portrait.  She's pretty cool and we got to actually talk this time rather than running around like crazed mothers.  Well, I may have still been a crazed mom, but I did manage to chat.  It was fun. 

Brian and Brayden rescued my stranded dad from the dock.  Dad always comments on Brian's driving and said Brian's water driving fares no better than his land driving.  I agree.  Brian still insists he is great at both. 

Kennon had so much fun splashing around and playing on the boat he completely wiped himself out. 

Uncle Brandon hauled the Ranger to the lake for our parade entry.  The boys helped me decorate and Aunt Jackie won their favor when she presented them with candy to toss to the parade spectators.  The bowl was pretty much full when they returned.  What was gone I was told Grayson had gorged on and then opted to hoard the rest for later.  Doesn't anyone feed these kids?

Brayden's cute little ears were getting fried.  Ever the planner, he had packed his cowboy hat right next to the kitchen sink in the car so those ears were protected.  One cute cowboy, I'll say.

We posed for an official family 4th of July photo.  And, yes, the boa was smoking hot....figuratively and literally. 

The Crawford's coordinated beautifully. 

And we owe our fun to mom and dad without whom we wouldn't be around to enjoy such fun. 

Happy Father's Day

Father's Day was relaxed and fun this year with an impromptu pool party, cook out and an old fashioned game of tag.  Ashley and I surprised Brandon and Dad with shiny red stainless steel Coleman coolers.  They were strangely excited to have the "it" carrier for their "blue pops".  Brian falls asleep after a sip of said "blue pop" so he got some BBQ equipment and a super cool Captain America t-shirt.  He wears it proudly. 
We had so much fun swimming I failed to get pictures of the gift giving fun, but we did have a nice little daddy photo shoot. 
First up...Matney with her main man.  She made his t-shirt as a gift.  He wore it proudly.

Then we had a hot dad's contest....the competition was fierce, but Brandon took the grand prize for best pecs (as you can see).  Dad won the best hat award and Brian won most-likely-to-dull-a-razor. 

Then we had a no-girls-allowed photo op.

Followed by Dad with adoring daughters.

We were so glad Brian's dad joined us as a poolside spectator and tag judge. 

It was a quintessential summer fun family day.  Just what life is all about.