Out 'n' About

Been busy solving world problems around here...or just attending the "Hoops for Kids" carnival and the "Touch a Truck" event.

The Jayhawk was there...big whoop. I share Cade's sentiments.


The closest we're coming to potty training this summer...


Stoked to touch some trucks.


Oh wow!!!


The idea of "Touch a Truck" is a great concept, all the things kids like in one place and you get to see them up close and take pics. There were trucks of all types, farm equipment, fire trucks, police cars, ambulance, etc. Each with a pretty lengthy line--which is where the problem lies. Toddlers don't do lines.


Cade insisted that he wanted to go down the blow up firetruck slide. Even though he's terrified of our 10-ft slide on the treehouse.


Getting coached up.


And here he comes! He climbed right up to the top and slid down. I was shocked!


Reese was not enthused. She told me to wake her when it was time to do girly things.


But instead she awoke to the sounds of big semis being honked by toddlers. "Who disturbs my slumber?!"


At one point in my life I wanted to be a truck driver when I grew up. Maybe it runs in the family? Cutest trucker I've ever seen!


He loves wearing his fire hat around...except he insists on wearing it backwards. I see how he's confused, the bill is in the back?!

The World of the One-Piece

You can welcome me to the club. You, know, the "Mom suit" club. I now sport what Target refers to as the "swimdress" rather than a regular ole' swim suit. (Obviously that is not me pictured above in the swimdress but feel free to pretend that's me if you like).
I'm not sure if this is a one-year pass into the club or if I will take up permanent residence here. To be determined. I was pretty self-conscious about it when I took Cade to the pool this morning for toddler swim time. For about two seconds. Here's a little tip, toddler swim time is the best time to head to the pool if you're self conscious about your body or your "mom suit." I was not alone in donning my one-piece and actually received several compliments on my suit. There were only a handful of Moms bold enough to bare their midriff...and it seemed as if at least one or two of those moms probably had been invited to join the "mom suit" club but their invites must have been lost in the mail. There's power and comfort in the "mom suit"--for now anyway--and it's just a small price to pay to be able to proudly call myself the mom of these two beautiful babies. (Don't worry, Reese's eyes don't look like this in person.)


Not to mention that my belly was stretched out to this crazy oblong shape just 3 short months ago!

Holy cow that's one big belly...no wonder the elasticity in my skin is completely gone.

Exotic Dining

We've been taking advantage of our many at-home dining options and using the deck and even the treehouse to spice things up a bit. It seems to help Cade to get excited to sit down for a meal if we let him decide if we're eating inside or out. However, memo to Cade, it's now crazy-hot outside.

I sat nearby in a lawnchair as I didn't think the bench would hold me...but it held Matt.

Bargaining to get a few more bites from Cade...


Reese was there too! She's such a good sport.


I think Cade just likes to eat outside because that provides even more distractions to help him put off eating. He's obsessed with killing bugs, even outside. Even if it's a fly he wants us to "smash it!" Got a violent one, here.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

I've been seeing everyone's Royals game pics pop up all over Facebook as it's that time of year to head to the ball park! We took in the first game of the St. Louis series with some of our favorite Cardinals fans.

Our seats were up high, but not bad. It was actually a very enjoyable Royals game experience. But that's not saying much as my expectations have come to be quite, quite low. It's usually hot, our seats are usually bad, and we usually get killed. Negative Nancy or just a realist? However, I bought one of those frozen lemonade cups this trip and I seriously think that made all the difference. I really am such a simple person.

3 Months Old

Reese is just thrilled to be three months old! Look at her work the camera.

Mom, why must I wear shoes if I don't even wear pants?

Because your new Minnie shoes from the Horner's are so cute!!

Wait a minute, Mom.

Ok, back to smiling then.

Testing out the bumbo, it's a success!

Reese and her sweet big bro.

Cade at 3 months.

Looks like Cade discovered the bumbo at 3 months too!


Reese girl seems to be a more plump version of Cade...but don't tell her I said that. I'm thrilled to have a child who likes to eat! Reese just smiles up a storm and has even started to let out little giggles. She rarely ever cries and goes with the flow really well. She's easing her way into 3 months sized clothes and still wears size 1 diapers, hopefully for awhile as we just got a shipment of 264 more of them! She's so, so sweet and I'm so thankful that we have nearly 2 more months of summer together!

Mr. & Mrs. Nathan Roberts

We traveled over the weekend to Tulsa, Oklahoma to celebrate the wedding of my cousin, Nathan, to his beautiful bride Brooke. This was our first time staying in a hotel as a family of four...let's just say I'm very thankful that we all have our own bedrooms at home.

The rehearsal was cowboy themed and Brooke looked so cute in her white dress and cowboy boots. Here, the bride and groom review their "master-plan."


My mom kindly let me borrow some of her old boots for this shin-dig. Fun fact, my mom was wearing these boots when she and my dad met at some redneck dance hall 34 years ago! Matt also kindly let Cade borrow his boots from when he was little. Cade is not going to be one of those kids wanting to sport their cowboy boots everywhere. He walked funny and kept asking to take them off. He must know he's a JoCo boy!


No boots for these two.






Dining at the rehearsal dinner.


We kept busy the next day with a trip to the mall, Chick-fil-a, and swimming before the wedding.



A highlight for Cade was getting to ride the elevator at our hotel and pushing the "butts" (buttons) all by himself.



I know Nathan, Brooke and my aunt and uncle had done a lot of planning to make this a wonderful weekend for everyone and they did not disappoint! Their wedding and reception afterward were full of neat little personalized details that were so cute!



Quick family pic with our mini-me's.


Let the celebrating begin!


First dance.


Cake cutting and toasts. My cousin Zach (Nathan's brother) was the best man and might I just add that his speech was hilarious, charming, and entertaining. Everything a toast should be!


I'm torn at events like this as to whether I should be that parent that forces my kid to sit down and obey or just let him have fun and run wild. Clearly, we chose the latter.

Cade and Cousin Andy busting a move on the dance floor. These two became famous among wedding guests. I was known as "Cade's mom" after he was finished on the dance floor.



My grandparents were the wedding guests who have been married the longest. How sweet.


Gentry and I busting a move...clearly the "golf clap" is our dance move of choice?


My grandmama and her two daughters, born 17 years apart. (Mom's probably not going to like that I threw that out there.) It was great to see my Aunt Mindy and her family as we haven't had the whole family together since we went to Disney World.


All the cousins (minus Beach Barbie MaKenzie who is in Destin, Florida for the summer)


Matt and I did get to dance one dance together but the rest of the time we had other dance partners...



What a great weekend with everyone! The only thing that would've made it more perfect is if the Thunder could have pulled off a victory!


Congrats Nathan and Brooke! We look forward to many more memories to come with you!