JT and Erica's Wedding

Oh my gosh! What a wonderful wedding. Gorgeous bride, handsome groom, lovely outdoor setting. Then there's the part that got very fun for us! Justin was a groomsmen, the boys were junior groomsmen and Chloe was.... drumroll pleeeeease... a flower girl!!! When I was a little girl, I would have given anything to be a flowergirl. It's like little girl prom or something. So, getting to pick out a dress for Chloe, do her hair and watch her twirl around all night was like a dream. I joke with Chloe that I need to get her more doll clothes so she can have the same fun dressing up her dolls that I have dressing her up. I probably shouldn't be so crazy giddy with delight over fixing her up. I know it is more important for her to be strong, capable, smart and she is all those things. But, I LOVE dressing her up. Sorry. Report me to Gloria Steinem, I just can't help but LOVE this part of having a little girl. Anyway... she sat and watched cartoons while I curled her hair for over an hour!

On the way to the ceremony:

I was completely obsessed with her hair and kept messing with her.

I was completely stalking her with the camers.  Here's where she looked at me and said, "Stop it Mommy, I want to be alone!" 

The pictures before hand were quite an experience.  I kept watching Tyce and remembering how much more challenging it was just a few years ago when the boys were ring bearers in Their Uncle Jay's wedding. 

Erica's nephews are the same age as my boys so they all had a ball when we let them play!

But the pictures were pretty challenging for all the kids after a while.

Then she was the most perfect flower girl and just dragged that cute little cousin of hers right down the aisle. When I first told Chloe that she was going to be a flower girl and explained what that meant, she looked at me with big wide eyes. I said, "Are you going to be scared?" She said, "Ahuh." I said, "Will you do it anyway?" She said, "Ahuh." So Chloe. She knew right away it would be cool and she knew she would have to overcome her fear to do and that she COULD overcome her fear. Tough little cookie.

The boys did a great job, too. They were so sweet and well behaved. Even after they were loooong done with the whole thing, they kept doing just what we asked them to do. So sweet!

When Chloe saw Erica she was start struck.  It was how I imagine her reacting to seeing a princess at Disney.

An all in all perfect day!

Then everyone had a ball at the reception. 

Thank goodness for the tire swing and the fact that the reception was in the backyard.  The kids had a ball and all those beautiful curls held up until we went to bed!

Here is a photo shoot by Chloe.  The world looks different from way down there.  :)

Wisconsin Weekend #1

When we thought we wouldn't be able to return to the beloved lake house we visited with our naighbors and good friends, the Morris family, we decided to take a quick jaunt to another lake in Wisconsin.  We had a ball.  I just love being on a boat.  With the crazy weather this summer, you can hardly tell that we are all at the same beach on the same day in these pics.

These two were diving and Jake was completely amazined and followed them around like the paparazzi.  I have dozens of pictures of these two. 

Love the boat!

Dolphins?  Sharks?  No, fish eating bread. Ahhh the simple things.

Here they are back at the indoor pool at the hotel.  Sooo much swimming this summer!  I love it!

West Virginia Visit

Our good friends, The Styers have a property they own in West Virginia that was passed down to Eric from his father and grandfather. They were there working on it so we went to visit them over the 4^th of July weekend and had a great time. They have a pool and trees and open space. The kids, especially Wyatt, now count this spot as a favorite vacation location. They swam, climbed trees, baked and explored with Grandma Vicky Styer, celebrated Madi’s birthday We celebrated the 4^th with a cookout and fireworks by Luke. It was the most excited I have ever seen Jake about fireworks. He was beyond thrilled that his very own friend was lighting them right there in front of us!