More Summer Fun and a Birthday!

 I guess I had a few left over summer pictures after all.  Here are just a few more from one of our trips to the zoo.  If you're ever in St. Louis, this is a must see...and it's free!  You can't beat that.

 We finally got some warm pool water in August.  It was such a mild summer that we didn't get as much time in the pool as we usually do.  I had to snap some pics while I could.

 Daniel loved the water, as long as it was warm.  He takes after his Mama!

 Andrew learned how to do big canon balls into the water while yelling out his favorite superhero.  I'd give them points based on how big the splash was and if they went all the way under.  Best. Game. Ever.

 Anna learned how to swim this summer.  She did a great job.  She could swim the whole length of the pool and was SO proud of herself.

 We've been doing this throw for quite some time now.  Anna isn't going quite as high as she used to.

 Andrew started running around the house with markers.  He said they were rocket ships.  However, they weren't rocket ships unless the lid was off and put on the back of the marker.  As you can imagine, we started to see a lot of marker remnants all around our house and car.  That boy needed a real rocket.  I went in search of one but had no luck.  Instead I found these torpedoes for the pool.  He totally thinks they are real rockets and my house is saved!  That's what I call a win-win!

 Daniel totally gets it.  Oh wait, he just chews on anything that comes near him.

 I had a birthday a few weeks ago.  I turned the big 2-7.  I know, I'm old.  Just kidding.  I am the youngest out of my friends.  They don't tease me as much as they used to, but I don't mind being the baby.  In like twenty years, I can tease them about how old they are and how young I am.  So for now, I'll just sit back and wait.

 It was a great day.  Josh did all of the usual birthday spoiling stuff.  It was really sweet.  Even with all he has going on, (which is A LOT), he always makes time for me.  I sure am lucky.

 Daniel looks so dirty in this picture.  I wish I could say that this is rare and you would never see my kids like this usually.  However, my kids almost always have messy faces, stained shirts, and dirty feet.  They're kids!  They play super hard all day and then just crash at night.  I love it.

 Me and my sweetheart.  Best husband ever!

 My sweet, sweet friend made this beautiful birthday banner for me.  It's perfect.  I know these take a lot of time and now I will have it forever and always think of her.  It made me feel so loved.

 I was too tired to make a cake.  We had a really busy weekend right before and then a busy day on my actual birthday and I just couldn't do it.  My friend Marie brought us over a treat that night and that served as our cake.  It was perfect.  She saved the day.

Till next time....

Our Special Trips

 Back in July, little Daniel and I got to go on a special trip.  We flew to Utah to have a girls weekend for my sister Kellie.  Daniel was our only guy but he's so cute that we let it slide.  Kellie just got engaged to be married.  We thought it would be fun to have all of the sisters and my mom fly out to help her try on wedding dresses.  I decided to just call my sisters-in-law my sisters because they totally are.  It was such a fun couple of days.  Daniel did decent on the plane ride there but was a nightmare on the plane ride back.  I think they may have applauded when I got off the plane.  Doesn't he look sweet smiling for the camera though?

 This was our first stop.  It was so funny because we found "the one" at this store and just knew this was it.  To be sure, we decided to go to some more stores and try on more dresses.  At the next store, we found one we liked better and knew this was "the one".  Again, just to be sure, we went to one last dress shop, and there it was.  The REAL "one".  Each dress that we decided on got progressively more expensive and more elaborate.  The dress she landed on is beautiful.  She's going to make a beautiful bride.

 Me and Daniel had a great time chasing each other while we waited for Kellie to try things on.

 Aren't my sisters beautiful?  Holy cow.

 What's a trip to Utah without a stop at Cafe Rio?  Delicious!

 This was the place where we found her dress.  I won't post pictures of the actual thing in case he fiance gets any ideas and wants a sneak peak.  No, no!

 We wanted to make the day she got her wedding dress feel really special so we did a little thing where we each brought items to dress Kellie up in that described her.  By the end, she looked totally ridiculous.  So, of course we took her out for ice-cream afterwards all decked out.

 So, so fun!

 Oh, she's sportin' it.

 Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Ggggoooooooo COUGARS!  I was SO excited to go back on campus.  It was really fun to be there.  It also made me glad to not be one of those who was carrying a backpack.  I was very happy to be carrying a baby instead.  College was unbelievably fun but this phase is even more wonderful.

 I guess we all had the same idea to wear purple.  ;-)

 I got back on a Friday afternoon and then Josh left on Saturday morning for almost a week.  He had a conference in California for the AAA.  He had such a great time and got to see lots of his family.  He loved being able to spend time with them all.  We wish we could see them more often.  I LOVED seeing all the pictures of the cute little nieces and nephews.  Aren't they darling?

 Holy cow.  These women are beautiful!  Love them all.