THE BIG 2 ~ Skyler's Birthday Party!

So I know that it's been a while and I have a lot to catch up on. To get started, Skyler turned 2 on the 22nd of July. I can't believe how big my little man is getting.
We had a pool party at my Dad and Mom's place and Jared and Joanna Hoffpauir came and brought their kids to enjoy the fun!

I have to brag a bit and say that I made some very delicious and adorable cupcakes :)
Thanks to my wonderful, cake decorating friend Carisa Brisk! She gave me the cupcake icing recipe and it was a HUGE hit. I like it when I can pull off something I want to do.
The cupcakes themselves were an experiment. Half Double Chocolate, half white cake batter.
It was SO good! The 2 dozen I made disappeared fast. Just the way I like it :)

Everyone pitched in to get Skyler a tricycle. He was so excited and he still rides it everyday.
I love being able to see my boys enjoy life. We could hardly get him off of it long enough to do cake and ice cream.

After Cake and ice cream we took all the kids outside to blow bubbles.
Skyler LOVES swimming and bubbles so I would have to say he was a pretty happy birthday boy.

Thank you to all of our friends and family for helping us make this such a wonderful and happy day for Skyler. We are so blessed to be surrounded by you all.

HaPpY bIrThDaY DaD!

For my dad's birthday this year, July 8th, we had a BBQ at his house with the Geisey and Chapman Families! I made dad a potato salad, because it's his favorite and he is always asking me to make him some. :) We had Hamburgers and also a Fruit & Snicker Salad, that disappeared very fast!
Afterward we played a few games and visited.
Then it was cake and ice cream time.

So the icing didn't do what it was supposed to but you get the gist. :P
One of dad's new nicknames is Lord Helmet, because of the helmet he has to wear to protect his skull until his next surgery, which by the way is tomorrow. As long as everything looks good they will be putting in the prosthetic piece of skull tomorrow morning. I am so excited and grateful that this day is finally coming! I can't wait for my dad to be able to get back on his feet and do some of the things in life he has been missing! Thanks to all the great Doctors he has been working with he will be even healthier now.

Happy Birthday Dad!
We had a wonderful time with you and we are so grateful to have you in our lives!
Love, Kathrine

For all you Mommies of little girls

I seem to always find myself among amazingly talented women.
My friend Meagan started a business of making hair bows for girls. They are so cute and her idea is amazing. Go to...
www.bowsthatgrow.blogspot.com
to check out her entire line.

I love how this makes it possible to mix and match with ANY outfit! If only I had a girl! :)

She also makes the headbands adjustable for little growing heads!
Such a great idea, I just thought I would share!
Good Luck with your shop Meagan! :)

Our Indepedance Day!

Our Independence Day Celebrations began on the 2nd. We attended a party at Chris and Holly Oberhansley's home. There was a BIG potluck and everyone was asked to bring at least one firework brick. Of coarse we had to dress festively!

We were some of the first people there, the boys had a blast hanging out with the Neal Boys.

I made a fruit pizza to take! It was so good :)

This is the famous cooker that Brother Neal made! Anytime there is a party, he is there with this monster ready to make some amazing food! And the food is always amazing.

Kisses for Daddy

I am thinking that there were close to 250 people that came to the Oberhansley's Party. They were very well prepared with a tent and port-a-potties! :)

The food was amazing, and we had a blast hanging out with friends.

Daddy is a funny guy, just look at these faces.

On the 3rd of July we went to Saddlebrooke to be with my Dad and Mom. The Chapman's were having a BBQ and later fireworks. When we got there Auntie Anna and Ryan took Alexander and Skyler swimming.

Ryan helped Xander and Skyler practice their swimming skills. Before they were done, he had them both swimming with little to no help! I think he earned some brownie points.

My little swimmers are so adorable, aren't they?

This is the only family picture that we have of everyone together since Charles joined the family.
I can't believe how big our family is growing. I love to see us all together.

We had a good Firework crew to put on a show for us. Everyone put their big Fireworks together for a nice show. Derek, Ryan and Derek Chapman, Tiloi Meyers and James Jablansky were the main lighters. It was a good show!

Xander working his sparkler, with a little help.

Auntie Anna and Xander enjoying the show.

Auntie Ashlee and Skyler, he kept pulling faces, out of 15 shots this was the best I got of him.
We had such a great time with all of our friends and family.
Thank you everyone for a wonderful Independence Day
And a very special THANK YOU for all those to have fought and died to make and secure this beautiful country we call our home!