fun summer nights

With summer time comes a different vibe around our house.....no rushing to school in the morning, no homework at night, relaxed bedtimes and more fun on the calendar! Two of these fun nights happened recently......Patrick took Cooper to Luke Air Force base in his jammies to watch the planes take off....he loved it

 and one night I met some Moms from Caroline's class for a fun night of dinner, drinks, and crafts! We have a cool new art studio where you pick a Pinterest craft and they have the supplies to make it! It was so fun! Cheers to summer!

Grandpa

Grandpa arrived in time for us to head to the Kentucky Derby, and held down the fort while we were gone. He then stayed all month to help out with Scarlett who needed someone to watch her since her school was unavailable in May. It's been fun having grandpa here! 

While we were at the Derby Grandpa took the girls to the theatre to see Fancy Nancy.

Grandpa took the little to the splash pad 

there is a Bear Factory in town that gives free tours and one day Grandpa and Scarlett went and she suckered him into buying her a bear! 

we have been borrowing Paw-PAw's suburban so my dad would have a car while he was here....the kids love it! 

 Grandpa helping Caroline with homework

 Grandpa with the grands

One night Caroline and I took Grandpa out to dinner, Caroline got super dressed up! 

she even got a fun paint your own dessert

We've loved having you Dad, thanks for all of your help! 

swim lessons

With summer upon us it is time for swim lessons! I thankfully found a sweet girl to come to our house and do the lessons twice a week to save us from trecking to the swim place and save us some money! Caroline loves the lessons......the other two not so much just yet! :)

the littles are happy........cause they haven't gotten in the water yet :)

Mothers Day

Mothers Day I awoke to this sweet crew with breakfast in bed. It was a nice weekend with the family, and even better my Mother's Day gift was a weekend away to the Ritz with my Mom when she comes in town in June! So grateful that God gave me three blessings that call me Mom. 

Stars and Stripes Forever

6 weeks ago Caroline came home with papers in her folder stating that she had been chosen to play a role in the upcoming Kindergarten production and needed to memorize some lines. I figured it was a sentence.......turns out it was a long 9 sentence paragraph! She was instructed to take six weeks to memorize her lines, but in Caroline fashion she has those lines memorized in two hours! I also soon realized what an honor this part was.....only a few kids, and only three girls in the class were chosen for large roles! She played the part of Betsy Ross.......and she ROCKED IT!!!

Here are the kiddos that had small and large parts in the show

 the boys

 the girls (the show incorporated the saints and these kids had small little lines to say)

 Betsy Ross with Paul Revere

the show was the most darling thing I have ever seen! 

 The star of the show (or at least we thought so!)

 Her lines: "I would like to tell you a story about the day I met George Washington in my sewing shop. He was the head of the army and a great General. Our county was at war. Yes, those were very dangerous days. He came in with a sketch of a square flag with stripes. But, I told him a rectangular flag would make the stripes longer and bolder and look better. My flag had 13 stars and 13 stripes. I was so proud that it flew over the battlefields and became our nation's symbol. 

all the sweet kindergartners

take a bow

Caroline and her friend Autumn

 Caroline's fan club (Grandpa, Paw-Paw, and Aunt Laura joined us in support)

I was in charge of the dessert reception after the show and I asked all the parents to bring red, white, and blue desserts.......and they came through....the table looked delicious and FESTIVE! 

 This production has been happening since a mom wrote the show after 9-11, 14 years ago......it is just adorable and by far my favorite thing about Kindergarten! I can't wait to see Scarlett and Cooper in it in a few years! 

Rub A Dub Dub

Patrick and I never intended to have three kids in four years, but we did, and these three are the best of friends. They might not be bathing together for much longer, so tonight I wanted to snap a few pictures of what every evening looks like in our house right now. These three race to the bathtub every night to be the first to add the bubbles, play, splash, and cover the floor with water. It's a nightly ritual that is loud, crazy, and sometimes drives us mad......but when the bubbles are put away and replaced with showering teenagers I know we will long for these evenings. 

Kentucky Derby

Last weekend we has THE.MOST.FUN at the Kentucky Derby with our dearest friends! We were so graciously hosted by my college roommate and her husband and they had us set up for a weekend to remember! We had welcome gifts, lunches ready for the track, drinks on ice, and of course the best company! Thanks Kaelin's for making this all happen! 

a morning mimosa while waiting to hit the track on Friday

Friday at the races is called Oaks Day and they say "you can wear any color as long as it's pink!" in honor of breast cancer. Patrick and Vito were happy to oblige!

almost ready

love this girl

we made it......we are GOIN in! 

we are official

here's where we spent the next two days.....having a box is awesome! 

we are so happy to be here, and I'm so happy to be back with my girls

first stop......a derby drink! These Lily's are delicious!

Look who I ran into right when we arrived! So fun! 

found this lovely lady too!

siblings and outlaws

happy faces

guess who won some money....

check out all the pink at the track

we were so blessed to have my college girlfriends there, my brother, Paige and their friends, and our four dearest friends from AZ....Jess,Wade,Nate,and Emily.......really the best company

handsome fellas

the AZ crew

College girls and their hubbies

these girls are MY PEOPLE.....if I've been through something in life, they've been by my side

Kylie

Claire (a pregnant Claire.....WAHOOOOO)

Natalie

the fellas

BIG WINNER.....GOOOO American Pharaoh 

thanks to some connections we made our way down to the paddock with trainer passes

Churchill is so beautiful

check out how small these jockeys are!

between the spires

Then it was time to head home after the races, dinner reservations and catching up with more people we love......

my cousin Heidi and her husband Dave......can I say anymore how this weekend rocks! 

Saturday it was more racing ahead! 

were excited! 

Claire

Kylie

the four ladies......only missing Kristy.....we missed you terribly Krit! 

We are loaded in the car and ready to go! 

we're official again!

getting ready to go inside

back in our suite

the official Mint Juliep

Claire and Natalie

so fun betting on the ponies

besties

pretty ladies

siblings

love them

the whole crew!!!!!! so glad we made this happen! 

P and Wade

the Az crew

Tommy and Paige

W, N and P

Patrick and Nate

on the rail

and their off....

the last race of the day

This trip was one for the record books.......beautiful weather, lots of betting with some BIG wins, delicious food and drinks, but more then anything it was nice to be with our dearest friends. Those people we love most, who have supported us through life and the people we have the MOST FUN with! This trip was one we will never forget! Thank Kaelin's for hosting us and special thanks to my Dad for holding down the fort back home!