Happy 2nd Birthday Hank - 6/29

Hanks birthday party was a blast! It was a mud construction party!! It was so fun because my sister came from STL with her two cute boys. So it added to the fun and made his birthday even that much more special!

A tradition - donuts in bed!! Lucy and Lola woke up early to help!! Lucy is holding a gift we made Hank - clicks, locks, zippers and more. 

Gannon had his signs ready and we were headed to wake Hank up...but Hank is an early riser and already snuck down and was snuggled in bed with Adam. 

Adam kept him in our bed and we surprised him - I love this picture of them

He gets embarrassed so easily which makes him so lovable...he loved the signing but hid behind dad. 

Kilian joined the fun with his hat too!

Lucy singing and singing and singing to Hank

Cute Lola always makes me smile!

Our sweet 2 year old boy

Playing in Mom & Dad's bed with the cool trucks the Marshal's got Hank, donuts and more. I think I am still finding sprinkles in our bed. 

Someone stole another donut!

Helping get ready for the party!

I loved our favors - candy rocks, perfect for this party!

As we were getting ready Hank was tasting everything...it was all for him so that was okay by us!

Pudding in the dump truck...my favorite. The sand was vanilla wafers and oreos crushed...it looked like perfect sand

My little helper!

Our sweet friends and Hanks best buddy - Sara & Brynn

Lola sharing the last chocolate covered pretzel. She is so sweet!

All our friends!

Happy Birthday Hank!

Look at these cute faces covered in "dirt"

Looks like someone else liked the dirt!!!!

Best buddies!

Amanda and sweet Scarlett (she was 5 weeks old in this picture)

Our awesome neighbors!! I love them!

Nathan & Adam - yes those are Adams shoes...he is so cool!

This was the biggest hit of the party!

Someone loved the real dirt....IN HIS MOUTH!

But seriously how cute!

All the kids eating Popsicles

Me with all my friends. Blessed, oh so blessed! I am so thankful for a group full of fun, amazing Godly women to share my life with!!

We waited to open gifts until after everyone left. I love doing that because we can play and appreciate each gift one at a time. Hank LOVED this part!!! He got amazing trucks, tractors, soccer toys and total boy stuff!

reading a card to Hank - surprisingly he loved this every time he would say "who this from" so we would read the card. 

Sweet Hank - on your second birthday

Everyone told me when I was pregnant with Hank that boys were so different. Honestly I didn't buy into it. I thought well that is great for you but my girls are my everything and there is no way I will feel differently about a boy. Well 2 years later I can say having a boy is SO different and so lovely in its own special way. There is no way to measure the love we have for our children and I love each of my children in their own little special way. All three of my kids have my entire heart but there is a Ucy (what he calls Lucy) watch me" "I want to come with you" - they love him too so they gladly include him. Lola and Hank have a feisty relationship they love to pester each other and I am happy to report rarely involves tears. They chase each other around the house, the play together, love to wrestle with each other. Lucy is Hanks other mommy. She is his helper, his support and lets him and helps him to anything. Hank laughs at Lucy constantly and when Lucy finds something that makes him giggle she will do it for hours. Adam and I feel so blessed that the dynamic of our children is evolving this way and we pray that they continue to love, entertain and be the best of friends.

difference in the way the girls love me and the way Hank loves me. In turn it brings a different bond between him and I. No matter how you slice it Hank is a Mommas Boy and I am so grateful. He wants to be next to me all the time, he wants to have his hand on me, he wants to snuggle, he wants to hug, he wants to play with me, help me and talk to me. I couldn't love it more. At this point with the girls they were much more independent wanting to do tasks on their own, Hank says "Mom help me". He is the happiest little boy in the world. He laughs at everything and his spirit is so much like Adam's. Nothing bothers him, he sees the good in everyone even at the young age of 2. He loves his sisters more than anything and he calls their name most of the day. "Lola,

Hank is talking so much and is speaking in full sentences, sometimes it is hard for others to understand but to all of us we know exactly what he is saying. He loves being busy, swimming, running, being sweating & jumping (on our furniture which I have been fighting all my kids on). He is obsessed with cars, trucks, tractors, boats, airplanes - you name it if it is a moving big machine he is all about it. He loves when sports are on tv and typically claps no matter what is going on. He loves bath time and giggles almost the entire time. He has started to use the big boy potty - he has dissevered this on his own and I have not encouraged it too much thinking he is young. However he hates his diaper and most of the time when we are home he is without it - so it makes potty training a whole lot easier.

Hank you are such a joy and I feel blessed to be your mom. I pray that you grow up always seeing and seeking the good in people and always interested in discovering more about life. I pray most importantly that you discover a deep relationship with God at a young age and walk closely with him. That you make decisions that are wise and God centered, and when you don't that you learn to make things right. I pray that you are a picky person when it comes to friends and girls - your friends will help build who you are when Dad and I are not around. Pick the best of friends, the ones who make you happy, that build you up, that believe in you, that stand up for you, that have fun with you and that make you the best person you can be. Girls, girls, girls, I know there will come a day when you start liking girls and thats a good thing but remember to be smart and very picky on the girls you allow into your heart. Dad and I have already began praying for your future wife so that your life will be blessed with much love. Also, be good to your sisters - they were your first best friends, stand up for them, love them, give them bear hugs and make them feel so special.

Hank you are destined for greatness and each day we get to parent you is a blessing. Thank you for being the sweetest greatest little two year old. My heart bursts with joy being your mom. I love you to pieces!

A trip to Minnesota & Iowa

We have one of our most awesome Tippi Toes owners in Rochester, MN and it just so happened that Adam's best friend was getting married about 2 hours south of Tara. Adam and I thought it would be a perfect work/play trip...and it was!

Tara & 2 of her sweet girls on staff

 After a great day with Tara Adam were suppose to go to Iowa but there was a street event that we really wanted to be apart of. It is called Thursdays on First. It is held right downtown by the Mayo Clinic. There were all sorts of people there - it was awesome people watching. We grabbed dinner and drinks and enjoyed the beautiful weather and time together!

 Then we made our way to this tiny town in Iowa - 300 people live here. Procalio and Alexa were getting married and Adam was honored to be the best man. It was so awesome...a family/friends BBQ for the rehearsal dinner, buses shuttling people to the party from surrounding towns, lots of old friends and meeting lots of new ones. The weekend was planned to perfection!!

 Here were are with the groom and precious bride!

 Lucy, Lola and Hank have an obsession with Procailo - can you see why? He is so fun! The funny thing is they don't really know him. We talk about him, we have called on the phone and he has visited but it was when they were little. They know him best from the silly pictures he sends to them. Our kids play "wedding Adam and Alexa" - they are special sweet friends!!!

 Unforgettable enjoyable time with Adam. It was a 4 day trip, no cell phone coverage, no Internet access and total togetherness - just the way it should be. Adam and I knew Buzz & Daisy were having a blast with the kids so we kicked back and enjoyed our time. It is 

 Coming home and spending time with our babies was awesome! Nothing better than family time!

 My little shopping buddy! Powered Donut cutie!

Beach Day

We had a blast this past Sunday hanging out in Port A at the beach. There is nothing like it - you are close to home but feel miles away. The kids play in the sand, "surf", swim, and chase birds. It was relaxing and complete quality time. 

Surf buddies!

 Family Time!

 Surf Queen!

 This is about how deep Lola likes to be in the water - NOT VERY!

 I love this picture of Adam and Lucy! Lucy is a dare devil and would love to go out as far as possible! Adam took her pretty far until they ran into a huge swarm of jellyfish...then they headed back to shore. 

 Hank working on his handstand

 Adam showing Hank how its done

 Hank was getting a little tired so found a night sand hole to rest his head! He still has sand in his ears!

 Digging and Digging

 We spotted a little monkey from the road that was posing for pictures...we had to stop. Lucy thought it was so fun, Hank and Lola...not so much!