Relaxing in Muleshoe

Last week, Kenna and Dane spent some time with my parents in Muleshoe while Daniel and I both stayed home to work. When Saturday rolled around, we headed that way to have a little "mini-vacation" before bringing the kids back home. The last several times we have made a trip to my parents', it has always been for some event....a wedding, birthday, shower, holiday, etc. It was SOOO nice to be able to go for an extended time with absolutely nothing to do but enjoy each other's company! :)

Abbye and Anson (and their parents) did come to play for two of the days we were there. All of the cousins had a blast playing on the back porch in their swimming pool. They even had fun dodging the occasional shower.....

....from Aunt Kyla who armed herself with the water hose (smart woman)!

Dane found his new best friend in his Poppy on this trip. Dane followed him around everywhere just waiting to be picked up! I walked into church this morning holding Dane and had to keep him from diving out of my arms to chase after the tall, bald man who was about 20 feet ahead of us. I had the unlucky job of convincing him that was not Poppy!

We stayed for 4 nights before making the journey home. It was so nice!

Of course, true to form, my children did not sleep in the car on the way home (well, to be entirely truthful, Dane slept for about 30 min). He had more fun trying to pour all of the cheerios and goldfish out of his snack trap. Fun times!!

It was a wonderful long weekend away and we can't wait for the next trip!

Joel -n- Mary

I have a new sister-in-law!

The first weekend in June, we were blessed to help Joel and Mary celebrate as they got married! We started off the weekend fun with a rehearsal dinner. Don't they look cute? :) We had a fajita picnic outside....very pretty location!

Kenna decided that she only wanted to eat chips and cheese - dinner of champions I know!

Dane was content to hang out with Uncle Josh!

Yummy food....

Miss Meg actually matched the decor!

Dane really enjoyed his fajitas...he was eating double-fisted!

Saturday brought the wedding fun! Everything was sooo beautiful!

The reception

Dane waiting for the wedding to start and doing what he does best....eating! :)

Gorgeous backdrop for a wedding...

Mercy and Kenna waiting for the wedding to get underway.

Dane hanging out with Shauna....somehow she drew the short straw for keeping the active one year old entertained!Joel and Mary promising to love each other forever.... (I LOVE weddings!)And then cutting into the cupcakes....yummo! We had so much fun celebrating and getting to spend time with all of the family that was able to attend.

CONGRATULATIONS JOEL AND MARY!!

New Toys

Dane got some great new toys for his birthday and he is already loving all of them! He spends all day bouncing back and forth between everything.

I love his "excited" face. I love how he stretches his neck out and shakes his hands...too cute! He really wishes that it would move on its own though...he keeps trying!

"Let me see if I can make this move...."

He also loves climbing all over his slide.

The only problem is that he doesn't sit down to slide off...he likes to climb over the side.

Of course, one of Dane's newest faves doesn't involve any toys...that is dancing with his sister....and she loves dancing with Dane!

The only problem is that, sometimes, his sister dances a little faster than he does!!

But, that is all okay when she helps him up to dance some more!!
I love watching my kids have fun together!

Picnic at the Pool

Since we went to the pool last weekend after Dane's birthday party, my little fish Kenna Beth has realized that the pool is now open and it is hot enough to swim...all the things we have spent all winter telling her explaining why we can't go swimming. So now she wants to go ALL THE TIME but I kinda expected that!

So the other night after work, we had a little picnic at the pool. Daniel and his brother had taken the kids over in the late evening to maybe miss some off the worst of the sun. I stopped on my way home from work and picked up a little Chipotle and met everyone at the pool. Both kids ate everything I gave them....swimming makes you hungry!

Dane is walking all over the place these days and doesn't always look down to see where he is going so we decided a life vest would be a good purchase for him. I will still be his shadow but, if he does manage to walk off the edge into the pool, then at least I know he can pop right up!

Doesn't he look so cute!! :)

And this is how Miss K stays the entire time we are there. She is doing such a great job with swimming all over the place with her floaties. I need to get her in swim lessons, but until then, I know that she will be okay as long as she has her floaties on....she will swim from one side of the pool to the other all by herself!!

I see a few more of these fun evenings happening in our future!!!

Celebrating Dane

This past weekend we had a fun, family-filled party to celebrate Dane's first birthday. We went with a little Noah's ark theme for our "big" baby boy.

We started the party with some good food...burgers straight off the grill. Thanks to Dane's Daddy and Dane's Poppy for doing the grilling. They were great! Even Dane enjoyed it!

Dane had some very generous attendees at his party...and a sister who was more than willing to show him how this opening thing worked! Dane didn't seem to be paying too much attention to the present unwrapping until he found a toy that he was really excited about....How do you get this out of here!!!

Kenna was happy to show off her "2 by 2" Zebra shirt....I thought it fit the party theme quite nicely!

Dane with his cake. If you look closely, you can see Daniel's hand holding on to Dane's arm. And if you look even more closely, you can see where Dane has already taken a corner of the icing off...He just couldn't wait! :)

Kenna was also on hand to show Dane how to blow out his candle.

Who needs cake when you have a giant lion's head balloon!

He wasn't too sure about it after his first bite....

But he quickly discovered how yummy cake can be. He had blue icing in his ears (not to mention all over his hair) when he was through!

After presents and cake, we made a stop at the community pool to welcome in the warmer weather. It was out first trip for the summer and Kenna was quite excited!!

My family....love them!

Thank you to everyone who came to help celebrate Dane's birthday. What a fun day!!!