What's Not to Love About This?

The Lazy Days of (the End of) Summer

Picture Time!

We've had a great September so far...it's hard to believe school is back in full swing and it's going to start getting cooler. We're enjoying as much outdoor time as we can. And Bailey is enjoying wearing dresses, skirts and flip-flops. The dreaded days of jeans and tennis shoes are around the corner!


This is how the kids eat ice cream treats....wedged into a chair they both claim as their own and with Nolan eyeing Bailey's. He's scheming about how he can distract her and get a second cone!

We took a trip to Clinton where Bailey got to show grandma and pa pa her improved swim skills and relax with grandma and a good book. That's Conner trying to take a nap beside them. Good luck!

Also in Clinton....Nolan thought this was both fun and funny. He spent probably 20 minutes letting the air blow his hair, face and belly. He's naked because, while Bailey was in the pool, he proceeded to muddy up every bit of ground he could find with the water hose. Thus, he got a quick bath.

This is how I found the kids one day when I got to Jeanne and Phil's after work. They jumped up and down and were excited to see me. It was so nice!

I think I've mentioned Nolan's obsession with his toy mower. When Jason mows, Nolan will trace every line that Jason does. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?!

Nolan's first movie! He did pretty well while the popcorn flowed. He got bored toward the end. It wasn't even a cartoon, as we saw the 2nd Night at the Museum movie.

We went to the tea room with Jason's cousin Lisa's kids from D.C. and Jason's cousin Michael's daughter, Anna.

L to R: Anna, Skyler, Bailey and Stefan

Nolan thoroughly enjoys making cupcakes.

And, finally, I just think this picture is cute. They are definitely the dynamic duo these days...and I love it!

No Time for a Siesta, We're Having a Fiesta!

In addition to the craziness of starting Kindergarten, we have also been eagerly awaiting Bailey's 5th birthday. I don't know about you, but turning 5 seems like such a significant milestone. Now that she IS 5, she pretty much adds "because I'm 5" to the end of any sentence, whether it makes sense or not. It's sort of like the fun and juvenile game you play with fortune cookies by adding "in bed" at the end of any fortune. Errrrr, maybe it's not so much like that, but it's the correlation that came to my head. LOL!

As you can tell, we chose to have a fiesta this year. We were excited to dress the part, serve great Mexican food, have a pinata and drink Corona and margaritas. Of course, those last couple of things were just for the adults - because nothing says 5th birthday like alcoholic beverages! :-)

I wish I could scan and include the invitation, but I'm not that skilled. The invitation really sets the tone for my signature birthday parties. I had Bailey choose from several invitations, and she chose the only one that "sort of has girl colors." She's very anti boy colors these days. Sometimes I wonder how she determines which colors go in which category.....but I digress.

Here we have the dress-up part of the big show:

This theme made it hard for Jason to dress up, but I'm sure he wasn't too torn up about that. My parents, however, are really getting the hang of it, as you can see below.

The kids had fun with the pinata.....I keep telling people that I'm sure they didn't appreciate the fact that I stuffed it with authentic Mexican candy, but this was very important to me at the time.

I didn't get a picture of the food or the table before everyone came. I don't feel like I did a great job as a photographer this year, as it was just too crazy! If I were rich, I'd hire someone to take great pics at birthday parties! Anyway, my friend Liz's family has a taqueria so I asked her to provide the food...it was yummy and felt very authentic! I do know that anyone who was congested needed only to take a bite of the salsa to be cured!!!

Here's the cake/singing portion of the big show.

And, a few pics of Bailey opening presents.

The kids had fun at the end of the party "skating" on the ice Jason dumped out of the cooler. Simple pleasures, I suppose. Don't ask me why, but Bailey had changed into another dress at this point.

Who had more fun with the Hannah Montana wig?

Bailey making a cupcake with her brand new cupcake maker.


I realize Nolan isn't represented in these pictures. Truth be told, I think he was outside mowing the yard with his play lawnmower for 3/4 of the party. And, when he wasn't mowing, he was trying to wrestle the mower away from the other little guys, Owen and Joseph. The kid loves his mower!

We had a good party. I always feel a sense of letdown afterward, but the good news is that Nolan's birthday is quickly approaching. Anyone have any good 2nd birthday ideas for me?

K