It's my party and I'll cry if I want to

OK, so it wasn't my party, but I did shed a little internal tear. It was Mark's birthday last Tuesday and he was out of town so we had our family celebration on Thursday. I made chicken enchiladas (using a recipe I got from Rhonda because hers are so stinking good you would never want to eat out again). I also made a cheesecake and we had an actual family dinner! All of us eating together is truly a special treat given Mark's work and travel schedule. (I always sit to eat with the boys because I think starting those important family values now can only strengthen our relationships. But all of us together-I LOVE IT!) I was so excited about dinner and the gift. We got Mark some golf balls and a gift certificate to play some golf. I feel like he never gets anything from me that is just about him. The boys and I worked all afternoon on our dinner and dessert.

Ok so I burnt the top just a little, but I thought they were great...not near as good as Rhonda's of course, but pretty good for my first time. Mark ate a couple of bites and said "these are good" and it was followed up by "different, but good".

And ego deflated!!!!

I heard-thanks for waisting your afternoon and I hope you like them because you will be eating the leftovers. Which I did, all though he did eat a couple too. I know he did not mean it in a negative way. He's just not that into food, unlike me who can savor flavors and crave a great meal.

My cheesecake, however, did suck. At the last minute the boys and I ran to Kroger and grabbed a cupcake, just big enough for the 4 of us. It wasn't that great either.

Good thing everybody loves icing

This weekend it was our nephew Carson's 1st birthday party. August has been a busy month for us with party's and we have 2 more this weekend.

Carson is so cute and chunky-you could just cuddle him up. He weighs more that Colton who is 9 months older.

Carson and daddy Jon, Mark's little brother

Connor and Pappa Lou enjoying some cake

Sunday Surprise

All dressed up with no where to go! Actually we went to church. The boys were watching Mickey Mouse while we waited for daddy to get home from the gym so we could leave.

Then we took the boys to Chuck-E-Cheese for lunch a bit of playtime afterwards

How sad is it that I really enjoy this place? For $20 all 4 of us can eat, drink, and play for a good hour and a half. The rides are all 1 coin each and sometimes the boys just play around pushing buttons. We have gone in there and not spent a dime (quarter)! Plus we usually get enough tickets for the boys to get a prize each. So it's usually a rubber spider of a sucker, but it's a prize that makes the ride home enjoyable and they won't miss when it gets thrown away (by mistake of course).

Busy Family Weekend

This past weekend was quite a busy one for us. My SIL, Julie, and her family were in town as well as my BFF, Stefanie and her family. So we had lots of people to visit with, plus celebrate Father's Day, and I had an extra long shift at PB on Saturday night (with strict instructions to buy anything). Seven hours at a store without shopping-so not fun! Anyway, the weekend was a blast, and most importantly I think Mark enjoyed his Daddy Day!

Connor and Savannah (Stef's daughter) in a bubble bath. She started this with the boys several visits ago, and now every time we see them, Connor wants to take a bubble bath. Colton did not want to participate this time-which is good-he probably would have been lost in there!
Savannah swimming with the boys

Celebrating SIL Julie's birthday. Niece Sydney trying to hang on to Colton

Yummy cake!

Lots of swimming this weekend-Nannie's pool is very shaded or it would have been too hot to swim-imagine that!

Nieces Madison and Sydney took great care of the boys in the pool

Nanna and Pappa Lou enjoying the shade on Father's Day and getting to see 4 of their 19 great grandchildren.

So cute!

So proud he can say "cheese" now, plus he was being fed ice cream by Nanny

My little nephew (OK not so little-he's a chunker) Carson eating his first ice cream. He belongs to Mark's brother, Jon.

Daddy Mark and his 2 boys!

The family-(Mark's older brother and his wife were missing)

Little Brother Jon and his wife Charlene-son Carson 10 months

Big Sis Julie, hubby Kenan, daughters Sydney 15 and Madison 13

Me (the fat one), Mark, and of course Connor and Colton

I"m Going to California

For some reason, the picture was coming up sideways....so just tilt your head!

When Connor rides his bikes around the house he is yelling "I'm going to California" or "California here I come"! I guess he gets it from the movie "Cars" where the race takes place in CA! I found it an appropriate post since that is where I am headed this weekend. I am taking a little last minute, casual trip to San Diego-no kids or hubby- to relax. My cousin is meeting me out there for a little family catch up. I can't wait to see her!!

So, California, here I come!!!

And by the way, we do make him wear shoes when he rides outside!!!

Our Weekend in Pictures

FRIDAY NIGHT

We ran
We biked and crashed (on purpose)

We took our Popsicles out front and played in Daddy's truck

We walked off our dessert

We held hands



SATURDAY

We went to the park and yes, Daddy can still slide

We rode the lawn mower

SUNDAY

We watched Daddy move furniture

Still watching....it's funny!

We played ball-lost our shirt after a messy dinner out on the patio

AAGGHHHH, the dogs waited patiently to be called in


MONDAY

We (adults only) went to lunch at Chuy's-our usual holiday treat

Amy, Linda, Big D, and me

Still at Chuy's

me, Mark, Amy, and Linda

I did not make big plans for the weekend because #1 I had a big honey-do list and #2 I was expecting quite a bit of rain and clouds. We had a couple 5 minute showers, other than that the weather was beautiful. Mark came home at a decent hour on Friday so we played outside a bit before bedtime. Saturday I woke up at 4am with the boy's cold, so between that and feeling tired from not being able to sleep, I had a completely lazy day. Not what I planned at all. I had intended on supervising my honey-do list. The boys went to the gym with Mark and after nap we managed a trip to the park. We did grill out for dinner and then Mark took care of the boys for the rest of the night so I could rest. Sunday I felt much better- I should have after sleeping most of Saturday. We got a few things done around the house. Marked moved some furniture for me. He did the yard work, changed air filters, vacuumed. OK so maybe I should say Mark got some things done around the house. Then we ate dinner out back and played. Monday we took the boys to Nannie's house for nap so we could meet our friends at Chuy's for lunch. We go there every holiday. Then I went home to take care of the boys while Mark and the gang went out to play video games and enjoy the afternoon. It was MEMORIAL weekend, not necessarily a MEMORABLE one, but it was nice!

Family Dinner

Sunday night I cooked dinner, nothing special just some chicken breast on the George Foreman and some steamed veggies. I decided that since it so rare that we are ALL home for dinnertime that we were going to sit and eat together for a family meal. I even set the table as opposed to just making the plates at the counter like I normally do when it is just the boys and me. When I went to turn the TV off I did, however, get the eye roll from Mark...I turned it off anyway!! We sat and chatted about our day and week as much as you can converse about such things with a 2 year old. None the less it was a great meal and a great time, at least for me.

My boys-all 3 of them

Connor tried feeding Mark

At least Colton liked my cooking

Of course I had help with the dishes from a NAKED Connor. Why does he always get naked? And thanks for the "bum" shot dear!