Swimming with the girls...

Today we were invited to go swimming with some our friends. We met at Liz's community pool ... which is only the coolest kiddie pool EVER!!! Anyway ... we meet up with our friends and had a wonderful time hanging out. The kids played and swam (well ... tried not to drown) and we chased them!!! That's pretty much how the afternoon went. Luckily there were times when the kids would sit and play so we could all chat. I have been so blessed to have these girls in my life ... they have changed our lives forever!!!! I am not sure if I would be as good of a mom without these girls ... and that says something!!! Here are some pics. of our great afternoon!!!!

The kiddos ... minus Ava Winters(she wasn't there yet).

Hanging out at home!!!

Memorial Day weekend has been very uneventful for us this year. We had plans of going to the lake, cookouts, and hanging out with friends but .... it was really windy (so no boat on the lake) and our cookout was cancelled(Rach and Steves house flooded on Friday) ... we did get to hang out with some friends for a little last minute bbq on Sunday. Today I had to work :( ... We are planning on going to the pool this evening though.

The best part about spending the whole weekend at home was I got to spend so real good quality time with Payton. She amazes me everyday with the knowledge she has picked up in such a short time. She can now count to 15, knows about 12 shapes, says about 300 words and can make 2-3 word phrases .... She is by far the precious little girl I have ever laid eyes on ... I couldn't of ask for a better daughter. Anyway ... She cracks me up so much these days ... Sunday morning she was playing with her Wonder Pets and she had to have all of the vehicles lined up in a row. She would push one to where she wanted it and then move the others behind the first one in a perfect little row.

We also got some of the summer toys we bought her already out today. We are on round 2 of the bubble blower below ... Nick put the first one together and put the bubbles in the wrong spot so it never worked ... needless to say, I got the second one ready for Payton to play with.

On Sunday afternoon we decided to go get Nick some games for his xbox 360 that he got for his bday ... AND ... I finally got my Nikon D40 SLR camera!!!!!!! I am so excited!!!! I wasn't supposed to get it until Christmas but....... I GOT IT!!!! We were shopping for games and I went over to show Nick the camera I wanted .. hint hint ... and he said "lets just get it now"... I was so excited and couldn't wait to get home and try it out. We put up Paytons little play pool and let her play while I clicked away. Our friends, The Wares, came over so the girls could play and we had a little bbq. We had a great time hanging out and the girls had a wonderful time playing!!!!

Even though our original plans were all cancelled we had a great weekend ... but anytime I get to spend with my family is great!!!!

Our weekend minus the vacation!!!

Since we never made it to Philly we had the whole weekend wide open to spend as a family. On Saturday we didn't do a whole lot. We hung out at the house waiting on our luggage to be returned to us (we ended up getting it about 5pm on Sunday .... GRRRR) and just played with Payton. Sunday we had The Consers over for the afternoon and dinner. We always have a great time when they visit and its so nice that our kiddos play so well together. Nick cooked dinner... chicken parm (my fav.) and it was so yummy!!!!

I was off today as we were suppsed to be in Philly, so this morning Payton and I took Nick to Paytons favorite place to play. We decided to go to Going Bonkers for lunch and let Payton burn so energy!!! It is quite a workout for us as well ... nothing like chasing a 2 year old around a playground built for a child ... Payton had such a great time and on the way home she was ready for a nap. Here are some pics. of Payton and Daddy playing!!!!

After her nap ... she lounged on her chair and watch some Dora and Wow Wow Wubbzy ... her 2 new favorite shows.

Our mini vacation - VERY mini vacation

So ... do I have a story for you guys!!! Yesterday morning Nick, I and Payton got up early and headed out to the airport to Philly to visit Nicks dad. He is having a surprise retirement party today and we were going to be a surprise too. Anyway .... we got to the airport about 9:00 am and found out that our flight was delayed so we found our little corner where Payton could run around and not bother anyone. Next thing we know ... they cancelled our flight. They put us on stand by for the next 4 flights but they were all full. We got seats on 5:30 pm flight out .... so we sat and sat and played and played for a VERY LONG TIME. Luckily we found a little playground in the terminal so Payton didn't mind too much. Once the time came to board our next flight ... we find out that its been delayed a hour ... gggrrrrr. So once we finally board the plane .... 10 hours later ... the pilot come on the intercom and says that we are going to go the runway but we will have to sit there for about 1 1/2 hours before they are going to let us take off ... oh HELL no!!!! The pilot did state that if anyone didn't want to wait .. they could get off.... so Nick goes up to the flight attendant and tells them that we are so done and we want off the plane. The male flight attendant gets all pissy and says that he is not going to let us off ... next thing I know is Nick and male flight attendant are in a full blown yelling argument!!!! We finally get them to let us off and they refunded our money for the flight and we are back home now. We never made it to philly but we did get a nice 12 hour vacation at the DFW airport... and of course ... we have no bags, they actually made it to philly!!!

Whats really funny now is that when we called to find out where are bags actually are today ... we found out that they didn't get to Philly until 6 am this morning. So ... had we stayed on that stupid airplane we wouldn't have gotten until 6 am either. Needless to say ... the bags are on a plane right now heading back home and they said that they will be delivered to us late tonight.

I of course did get some pics. to mark this wonderful vacation ... hehehe. Here they are!!!

Playing at the play area we found at the terminal .... boy this was a life saver!!!!

Self portaits of us while we are waiting to hear if we are on the next plane.

Still smiles after being at the airport for hours on top of hours!!!!

Payton watching all the planes but ours leave!!!

Nick is so tired of being at the airport!!!

Congratulations Nick Sr. on your retirement ... we tried our hardest to be there to celebrate with you!!!! We hope to see you guys soon!!!

Happy Birthday Nick!!!

Yesterday was Nick's Birthday ... man he is getting old!!! 38 ... in 2 years he will be 40 ... remember when that was really old to you!!! I gave Nick his presents on Mothers Day so that he would have it all set to enjoy while I was at work during the day. For those of you that don't know Nick very well .... he is extremely spoiled and has a want list longer than any 5 year old( I am serious!!!). Anyway ... his favorite video game just came out but they only made it for 2 games systems and he has neither of them. So I got him his Xbox 360 for his bday.... I figured he knew all along that he was going to get it.... man he beat me down asking for it for months... heheh. He also got the game from my parents so he was in hog heaven....


I left work a little early so that I could get home and take Nick to dinner ... and it was the best dinner we have had since Payton was born. The food was the same, company was awesome but the best part is Payton was wonderful. We kinda cheated alittle ... we turned into one of those parents ... but it worked. We swung through the drive through of McDonalds and got her a happy meal and we took her portable DVD player and turned on Dora once we got to the restaurant. Let me tell you ... we never heard a peep out of her the whole dinner. She sat there eating her happy meal, watching Dora, giggling at the TV, and she was SO good. For those of you that don't know ... Payton hates to go out to eat. She is usually such a night mare at a restaurant so we are lucky if we go once every 6 months. But it was Nick bday and I have seen other people do this ... so I figured what the heck ... lets try it. IT WORKED!!!! YIPPIE!!!! I took a picture to mark the occasion ... our first dinner out and Payton was good ... I mean she was GREAT!!!!

Happy Birthday Nick ... Thanks for being awesome husband, amazing father, and the bestest friend a girl could ask for!!! I love you more and more each day ... if that's possible ... and I can't wait to see what adventure we have next!!! Happy Birthday!!!!!!

Mother's Day!!!

Everyone that knows Nick already knows what a amazing husband and daddy he is to us. He takes such great care of us and we are truly blessed to have him in our lives. I could never be happier with my life ... well ... I could lose 50 pounds ... heheheh. Anyway on Sunday morning Nick got up early and cooked me a huge Mothers Day breakfast. Everyone knows that breakfast is my favorite meal of day ... yummy!!!! Once he was finished cooking breakfast, Payton was waking up ... so he took care of the morning duties and I ate!!! After breakfast we were playing with Payton and she did the funniest thing. That girl can crack me up at any given moment ... check her out... who needs a dog to fetch when you have kids!!!!

My Uncle John was in town so we decided to have the family over for a cookout ... So Nick grilled some and the kids played outside in the bounce house and on the gyrosphere. The weather was perfect and my grandfather, who has been very ill, was having a good day!! I am so thankful that my family is close and that we are able to do this... I really want Payton to be close to her Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins .... its something that I really never had and never realized how important it was until I met Nick. His family is so close ... and its something that I now yearn for Payton to have!!!

Darrien and Mackinzee being silly!!!

Mothers Day was the perfect day for me( yummy breakfast, Nick, Payton, and the rest of my family... who could ask for more) ... and I hope it was great for my mom as well. Happy Mothers Day MOM!!!! I love you!!!!

Angie's Baby Shower

On Saturday we hosted a baby shower for Angie. She is pregnant with her 2nd little boy, Tyler, and we are all very excited to meet him. We did the shower for the whole family so the kids were all there. I bought over the bounce house and that gave the kids something fun to do. They had a blast on it .... this thing was definately worth the money!!!! We actually got to see everyone, which was really great. Caden has gotten so big ... I swear he has doubled in size since I saw him last month ... and he is super cute!!!! I finally also got to meet Tony, Heather's Boyfriend, and he was just has Heather described ... I am so excited that she is so happy and he is such a great guy!!!

I really wish I would have taken more pictures ... I think that Tony took abunch ... so when I get them, I will post more. Congrats Angie and James ... I am so excited to meet little Tyler!!!!

Payton and her future husband Austin!!!!!!

They were trying to slide down the slide together ...

After a hard time playing ... Payton thought it would be fun to pretend to be a baby again and climbed into Cadens swing to relax!!!

Heather and Tony!!

Cinco De Mayo

Everyone needs a good reason to get together and celebrate!!! So today is Cinco De Mayo ... and yesterday we decided(thanks Becky for thinking of this) to have a little get together to celebrate the day!!! We gather some friends and had a afternoon of kids playing, fajitas, margaritas, and fun!!!! It was a blast. I spend alot of time with these ladies and the kiddos so it was really nice to get the guys together also. It was a huge success and the day was so much fun!!!!

I was really proud of Nick too ... he is pretty anal as most of you already know and gets pretty stressed out when a bunch a kids and people in general are on the white carpet. We had 7 kids and 11 adults at the house and he was wonderful ... didn't get stressed once. I think we are finally wearing him down!!!! I love you babe!!!!

I am usually much better at taking pictures ... I really slacked on this one ... but here are some of our day!!!! I am missing some people and kiddos in the pictures ... sorry!!!

Payton just loves Ethan ... they actually chase each other around and play together!!!!

Payton, Gybson, and Ethan

Payton and Gybson tumbling down the slide together!!!

Play going head first down the bounce house slide!!!

The sand box is always a huge hit with the kids!!!!!

Not sure where she gets this from ... must be her dad!!! Payton is under the laudry basket ... which was supposed to be a step for the kids to help them in the bounce house.

Aboretum

So today we went to the Arboretum to have pictures taken by LE. Payton loved it there ... there was so much room for her to just run around and play. We were with some of our friends from TX tots and the kids just ran and played and ran some more. We won't have our pictures from LE until prob. tomorrow but here are some of the ones that I took.

Payton and Gybson

Payton chasing a bird

Watch out Christopher ... Paytons got a new boyfriend!!!

Payton loving on Ethan!!!

Needless to say ... I am paying big time for going around all these flowers and the spring grass. My allergies have gotten so bad that I have lost my voice ... who would of thought. Its crazy how something so beautiful can make me feel so miserable.....