Preparations Underway

2 Years, 47 Weeks.


Man, it's been a busy week!  We've been working feverishly to put together Braelyn's 6th birthday bash  this weekend, which meant a lot of late nights getting stuff all ready. We are looking forward to her having lots of fun!

Here are this week's highlights:

• Friday, we continued getting supplies for the big day.  Later that evening we joined the Grodacks for a celebration for Duncan's birthday with create your own pizzas.

Shopping cart shenanigans.

Making sure the 2x6 board doesn't shift during the drive back home.

Doing a test run of "walking the plank".

Look Mom, no hands!

Duncan doing his best to prevent the smoke alarm to go off from the oven smoke!

• Sabbath we attended church with Nana, and then after lunch we donned our hiking gear and set off to explore our backyard, namely, the boardwalk at the Oakland Nature Preserve and then a neighboring playground.  After we put some exhausted kids to bed, Tangie and I went out to get yet more things for the birthday party.

Looking pensive on our way to church.

Lift up the trumpets...

The twins kneel with Auntie Marlissa.

Mommy and Kohl at story time.

Silly faces.

Walking with the twins to the restaurant.

We had lunch at Cafe Positano.

Exploring the kids' table at the Oakland Nature Preserve.

The entire 1.2 mile walk to Lake Apopka was on a boardwalk.

Braelyn running towards the canopy.

Lake Apopka, we even saw two gators from the lookout dock.

Playground in downtown Oakland.

• Sunday morning we had breakfast at Cracker Barrel en route to the Strawberry Festival in Plant City, just outside of Tampa.  It being the last day of the festival, the entire state of Florida also decided to go, and we met up with them on the roads and in traffic.  It was so stinkin' packed!  This experience reminded me of why I strongly detest traffic and large crowds, and when I say detest, I really mean abhor. It was more of a state fair/carnival feel rather than a festival; we were expecting flowers and exhibits rather than the fried food vendors and the rowdy/raucous atmosphere.  It was definitely a honky tonk crowd for sure.  

The girls give each other some competition.

Table side 1.

Table side 2.

Maddy says hello to a parrot at PetSmart while Mommy made a quick stop in Joann's.

The crowds at the Strawberry Festival.

The highlight:  eating freshly made strawberry shortcake!

Waiting for the cows to come home, at the livestock show.

Maddy doing an impression of Daddy.

Kohlden was beat, and fell asleep on the way back to the car...

Where they all fell asleep on the way back to the house!

Putting together her birthday goodie bags for her class at school.

Getting her hair chopped off by Nana!

• Some more pictures from the rest of our week:

A man's man:  Washing dishes without a shirt on.

Maddy texting her friends.

Kohl and Braelyn on the iPhones too.

Afternoon ice cream cone treat!

Mommy working on goodie bags for Brae's birthday party.

Yee haw partner!

Singing Happy Birthday to Deeda on Nana's phone.  She turned 82 on Wednesday.

Putting them to work.  

Pooped.  Nap time.

And we're back.  A bucket full of silliness.

Coveting the delicious desserts and pastries!

Last Costco run with Nana!

Hanging out with Madelyn.

Randoms:

Kohl:  "Help me Daddy, I stuck!"

Excuse me, but I ordered the large martini...HELLO!

The ENTIRE WALL was made of strawberries!!

Mmmm...Chocolate Bacon.  Especially when it's DIPT...seriously?

Food:

Make your own pizza, Corey's recipe with pesto, goat cheese, and arugula!

Made a steak and vegetable dinner for Nana and I whilst Tangie was also
having steak at a recruiting dinner at Ruth's Chris!  

Injury of the week:

She slipped on her socks and landed on her bum.

She saw me taking photos with my phone...

and really started to milk it!

Quotes:

• I was sitting on the pot, doing my business, when Maddy opens the door and walks in:

          Maddy:  "Daddy, what are you doing?"

          Me:  "I'm going potty."

          Maddy:  [incredulous, eyes wide open] "Like ME?!"

          Yes, little girl.  Like you!

• Braelyn and I were discussing weekend plans to celebrate her birthday:

          Me:  "Let's go eat at a restaurant."

          Braelyn:  "Ok, but I get to choose."

          Me:  "Okay, which one did you want to go to?"

          Braelyn:  "I don't know.  I haven't decisioned yet!"

• We were putting the twins down for bed, and were reiterating the importance of not waking each other up in the morning when they themselves awoke.

          Me:  "Maddy."

          Maddy:  "Yes?"

          Me:  "Repeat after me.  I will not wake Kohldie up in the morning."

          Maddy:  "I will not wake Kohldie up in the morning."

          Me:  "Do not wake up Kohlden."

          Maddy:  "Do not wake up Kohlden."

          Me:  "I will be quiet."

          Maddy:  "I will be quiet."

          Me:  [to Maddy]  "Are you going to wake up your brother in the morning?"

          Maddy:  "Yes!"

          Oy vey!

Best friends for-heifer!  

Have a great weekend!