Katie's Bridal Shower

My sister Katie's wedding is approaching very quickly. We have just a little over a month until the blessed event. Last weekend, we hosted her wedding shower at my mom's house and I thought it turned out really nice. We did a travel themed shower because Katie loves travelling. We counted up that she had visited 14 different countries. We collected photos and mementos from every member of our family representing all the places she's visited and redecorated my mom's house. It was a big endeavor, but it looked awesome and I think everyone had a good time. Our United Kingdom themed dining room.

The French Themed kitchen. I really wish I'd taken this closer up. Lorie had matted photos of Katie travelling with almost all her bridesmaids and Mom. We're all world travelers and have the photos to prove it!

The favors were little suitcases that held Australian Cadbury chocolates. Our food represented different countries too: Prosciutto wrapped crudites(Italy), French Bread and Cheese(France), Hummus and Pita bread(Turkey), Mini Cornish Pasties(UK), Soft Homemade pretzels(Germany), Norwegian Meatballs with Spiced Cream Sauce(Norway), Tropical Fruit salad(Jamaica).

Katie received so many nice things for her shower. We played a game the required everyone to identify all the flags of the countries she's visited, as well as a game to decipher some wedding themed words that were listed in foreign languages. We also played a game where the guests had to remember 15 different items in a suitcase. The games were lots of fun, but I think everyone felt like we'd made them think too hard for a shower!

After gifts, it was time for dessert! We had a baffling array, so of course we all tried everything! We had Pavlova(Australia), Bailey's Irish Cream Cheesecake(Ireland), Shortbread(Scotland), Apple Strudel(Austria/Germany) and...everyone's favorite was the Chocolate Creme Brulee(France). The desserts were OH, so good, but I had a huge stomachache all night long!

Katie with a "small" sampling of the desserts. Katie and Mom.

Katie and I. Everyone used to think we look like twins. Maybe not so much anymore when I outweigh her by a good thirty pounds! Mom, Aunt Barbara, Me, Emily, Katie and Lorie.
I just love that Aunt Barbara goes out of her way to attend our showers. She flew in from Baltimore to be here to celebrate with us. It means a lot to us! I loved the shower and I'm so thankful to Lorie for helping to plan it with me. All the good ideas were hers and we both put in a ton of work to make it happen. I'm really looking forward to the wedding now!

Grandpap's Birthday and Fun at Church

My Dad's birthday was in the last week of July and we all got together to celebrate!! My family loves a party and a chance to celebrate, so we enjoyed spending some time together. Pappap got some Alex cuddle time in.
And Grammy got to cuddle her "little" grandson! Tristan and Maura were so excited to see all their aunts and uncles together at one time. Emily, Katie and I enjoyed some delicious ribs. Mmmm. Sidenote: at some point during the dinner, Maura spied the hole in Katie's top and decided that it would be a fabulous idea to stick her whole arm down inside it. We were all so surprised that we started laughing, which Maura took as encouragement. It was a while before we were able to convince her that it was not appropriate!

Lorie, Micah and Alex, umm, catching flies?? Maura got to help Pappap blow out those birthday candles. She actually selected that dress herself and came down dressed in it and a pair of capris after she woke up from her nap. We've had some hilarious clothing combos ever since she decided to begin dressing herself.

My Aunt Barbara had arrived that afternoon in anticipation of Katie's Bridal shower, so we were so glad she could join us for the occasion. Tristan enjoyed a shoulder ride from Daddy.

Is anyone getting tired of swimming photos on this blog this summer?? Sorry! They just look so darn cute! These were taken on August 6th, Tristan's 15 month birthday. What a big boy he's getting to be. He understands a lot of what we talk about now. The other day, Maura got to go out with Grammy for a date. We had talked all morning about how much fun she was going to have. When Grammy picked her up and it became apparent that he wasn't going along too, Tristan just cried his little eyes out. I felt so bad for him! He got to stay home and play one-on-one with Mommy. I'm just going to have to remember that he's probably getting a lot of what I talk to Maura about these days. Maura has finally turned a corner and actually wants to have her photo taken some days.

Happy fifteen month birthday little man. Tristan is walking very well, running at times, climbing whatever he can and trying to jump. The other day Brent and I watched as he "jumped" off the bottom step. He landed on his tail, but didn't get hurt. It was funny to see him try, though! Tristan us using about 15 words and five signs. He repeats a lot of words when asked to, but they aren't really part of his vocabulary. He says, "Hi, Bye-bye, Mama, Dada, baba(bottle), up, out, kitty, please, ball, hat, dogdog." He is very effective at pointing and screaming to get something. He's started having little temper tantrums when something gets taken away from him. He screams an ear piercing scream and stomps his little feet as fast as he can. He's just as full of drama as his big sister!! He wakes me up in the morning at around 6:30 usually by yelling, "Mama, baba!!" He likes his food--a LOT! He's starting to get pickier, though, and will spit out broccoli and green beans. I guess it's time to break out the Deceptively Delicious cookbook! Tristan is taking one nap a day for about 2 hours, which is nice to allow us to get out in the mornings. He's really developed a love of books and if I forget to read before nap or bed he's decidedly unhappy! He loves his blankie these days and stands outside his crib and cries for it until I give it to him. He's getting his molars right now and has been a teething pro. My kids have always done so well with teething. I hope the streak continues! He is still a mommy's boy and clings to me like crazy. I took him to the doctor the other day and he weighed 30.6 pounds, which was over the hundredth percentile. He was 32 inches, which was the 78th percentile. He's just a big boy. I can't wait for him to be able to walk more places so I can save my back!! He's just about the sweetest, brightest and funniest baby I've ever seen and he attracts so much attention. People stop us in public all the time to tell us how adorable he is and comment on his bright blue eyes. I feel a little sorry for Maura, who is just as darling, but not as social or as young and therefore attracts less notice. She doesn't seem to mind, but I don't want to create any issues!


Here's the little darling now! What a ham! As social as Tristan is, he does NOT love church. He screams at the top of his lungs when I leave him in the nursery, so I really have to see how many workers there are to see if it's something I can subject them to. There are two other kids the exact same age who always scream too, so it's quite the symphony of screaming back in the nursery. Tristan will consent to going to Cradle Roll only if I sit right behind his chair and help him. Even then, he's not so sure! I took photos of the rest of the class too, but don't want to put them online as I'm not sure if their parents would appreciate it.

My kids love the podium at the front of the church and make a beeline for it as soon as service is over. As you can imagine, they make quite a racket stomping across the podium.

Maura treats us to a concert in the "microphone" every Sunday. She looks like a rock star!! Sidenote: The dress she has on is one she received for her first birthday from Nan. She's worn it ever since she was 18 months old!!

Beach Party!!

My favorite event of the summer occurred last week. I had been thinking about having all of Maura's friends over for a swimming play date, but hadn't gotten around to it all summer. I finally decided to fit in this play date between our trip to Pennsylvania and getting ready for Katie's shower. Somehow along the way, it evolved into a real party and became so much more involved than just your average play date. We had a blast at our 1st Annual Playdate Beach Party! Maura was all dressed up and ready to go to the beach party. She shed the grass skirt and lei just after this photo, but would have worn the wings into the water if I would have let her!

Here's what inspired the craziness--I saw an email featuring these adorable cupcakes and just had to recreate them!

Lily enjoying the water slide. Tristan loved checking out the sprinkler. I think he spends more time drinking from it than running through it! Liam couldn't wait to get into the water!

Sarah was super excited to be there! Our new neighbor, Olivia enjoyed the pool.

ALL of the kids loved the slip and slide. Without an adult there to throw them down it, it was really more like an "inch and slide," but it held their attention. Sarah scooting ever so slowly down the slide.

Undeterred by the speed of the descent, Olivia went for another turn, and Maura got a "fresh" drink of water. Yum, yum! Jentry was SO excited to be swimming. When she got to her babysitters house that morning, she was SO upset that she hadn't been dropped off at the promised swimming pool. When she finally got to the pool, she giggled and splashed like it was the most exciting thing ever!

How many kids can Tristan counter balance on a teeter totter?? Answer: Three three year olds! The kids couldn't get enough of the water slide on the pool. They climbed up and slide down so many times.

Tristan's little buddy, Avery. Claire is the other daughter of our new neighbors. I think she and Tristan will be able to play someday.

Lainey came and brought her new baby sister with her. The kids enjoyed some water-free moments during craft time when they made butterflies and colored beach themed cutouts.

Maura always loves craft time and she pretty much gave up on swimming for the day when she realized there were crafts to be done. Daddy and Tristan enjoyed lunch together. I wasn't sure if Brent was going to enjoy being part of the play date party, but he fit right in with four of the teacher friends who we had invited!

The kids enjoyed an alfresco lunch, mostly because I didn't want a bunch of wet toddlers tromping through the house! My friend Julie posed with her little girl, Lainey. Rachel enjoyed her picnic with Jentry and Avery.

All the girls enjoyed "eating" together. Combining all of the kids together, one full lunch MIGHT have been consumed. They all had plenty of room for cupcakes, though! I thought that this was a sweet picture of Avery and Tristan playing together, but on second glance, I think it's a defensive maneuver of Tristan's part to protect his cupcake.

Mmm. Cupcakes always taste best when you wear them!

We had so much fun at our beach party that I've vowed I'm going to try and do it every year. I'm so sad that it's almost the end of summer, but if I can look forward to a party every year at the end of summer, I MIGHT be able to cope!