Tons of Pics and Special Guests!

Look who has her very first ponytail!

Chad's Aunt, Uncle and two of his cousins came to visit for a few days in mid-July.  They had met Lauren before but not the twins.  This is Chad's cousin, Anna.  She was the flower girl in our wedding!

Mimi and Boppa Steighner came up for a visit too.  Chad's Aunt Kathy is Mimi's sister and this was a chance for them to be together and visit as well.

Prior to their visit, my close friend Amanda came for the weekend from San Diego.  Amanda and I met when we were six years old and have been close ever since.  Our childhood consisted of sleepovers and playdates as well as family vacations together.  In adulthood, we've visited as often as we can and even got engaged the same day!  We were in one another's weddings 8 years ago and now our visits have allowed us to meet and spend time with one another's children.  This time, Amanda came here to meet all three of my girls.

Westin decided that he wanted to be in the picture too :)

Amanda and her husband have joked about our lawn tractor.  They don't have one (most people don't where she lives) and she had a goal of riding ours while she was here.  The crazy girl even packed a "tractor-riding outfit".  Um, Amanda?  I hate to tell you, but I've never seen someone ride a lawn tractor while wearing a dress...and stilettos.

We had a wonderful visit.  It's too bad that we live so far apart.  Wish we could see one another more often!

 

The next several pictures are from a trip to Horeb Pool in Waukesha.  We actually took the kids while Amanda was with us, although she isn't in any of the pool pictures.  It requires 3 ADULTS to take our girls swimming these days.  Ugh.

 

 

We celebrated the 4th of July with many of our Dinner Club friends.  We enjoyed a parade and BBQ in Menomonee Falls.  We tried to get a family picture but the shot above was the best we could do.  It was close to 100 degrees and everyone was HOT and getting crabby.  Can you tell?

Lauren's 4K summer school program had a 4th of July parade.  The kids all dressed in red, white and blue and Lauren was chosen to help hold the class sign and lead her classmates in the parade!

 

I've still got many more new pictures to share.  Hopefully, I'll find the time to post those today or tomorrow :)

Love,

M

Summer Fun!

It's been more than a month since I posted last and I think I've got a ton of fun summer pictures to share.  We've been super busy!  We've had guests from out-of-state come (those pictures will be on a later post).  And we've spent a great deal of time chasing the babies, as they both have begun crawling everywhere!  Kate was first at about 8.5 months.  Maddie was closer to 9.5 months before she was up on all fours, crawling everywhere.  Now they truly are double-trouble!

Our new set of wheels!

I set up our two baby pools in the back yard one afternoon.  At first, Kate HATED it and just kept reaching for me to get her out.  Maddie loved it, as you'll soon see.  Kate watched and saw how much fun Maddie was having and she finally enjoyed it too.

 Checking out her big sister in the other pool.

 "Okay, maybe this isn't so bad after all."

 I recently took all three girls and went up north to Rice Lake for Karlee's first bridal shower.  It was so much fun to celebrate with her!

Mimi's girls!

Getting a good picture with all three kids is tough. In fact, to get a good one, I usually take about 20 that aren't so good. Here's a few funny ones :)

 Yes, that would be my sister.  It appears she's attempting to nurse both of my babies.  Thanks, Karls!

Momma's girls!

I've got a ton more pictures still.  I'll try to find the time to post them soon....

BIG NEWS HERE...did I share with you that Lauren is engaged to be married?!?!  She came home from summer school one afternoon and exclaimed, "Mommy, guess what?  There's a boy named Tyler in my class and today I asked him to be my husband when we get older.  And Mommy, he said YES!!!"  You'd think it would end there, right?  Not so, with my daughter the planner.  She has since genuinely asked me if I'll be one of her bridesmaids and she wants to call and ask Sophia also.  She's a hoot!

Love,

M