High School Friends + New Friends

We hosted a BBQ at our house Saturday night with some old friends from high school plus one new one, Laci :)  It was a great prelude to Dan's 20 year high school reunion in August....did I really say 20 years- ugh!  Needless to say, we had a blast and Wyatt fell deep for Jeremy's girlfriend, Laci- a pail full of candy might of had something to do with it.  We're blessed to have such great people in our life.

Wyatt and Jeremy shooting hoops



Jeremy and Laci



Wyatt saying Goodnight

Can't have an evening at the Defries' house without a self timed photo- (LtoR) Jeremy, Laci, Me, Mike, Dan and Annemarie.

Fourth of July Weekend Festivities

Wyatt and Luca Sunday Night

Wyatt drawing a road...

Luca too.

Wyatt chillin' at Bryant Lake Beach on the 4th of July.

Aidan

Wyatt being silly

The Birthday Boy- Micah!

Can't get enough of the water.

I think the water is still slowly dripping out of the wagon.

My boys...

Jemma, Aidan, Wyatt and Micah eating Spiderman Popsicles.

Is Summer Really Here to Stay?

Magnificent 7!

Olivia Pearl was born on June 27th to a wonderful friend and co-worker of mine, Christine Mortenson.  We went to visit them in the hospital last night- she couldn't be any cuter.  Amy, Christine and I have all worked together for the past 8 years.  When we first started at JMC Marketing, none of us had kids- now there are 7 among us.  We were able to capture this photo to the best of our ability- not too shabby.  The sad part about all of this is Christine will not be coming back to work.  She is blessed to be able to stay home with her 3 kids- I'm so happy for her but I'm sad that I'm losing a co-worker :(  Congratluations, Mortensons!

(LtoR) Wyatt, Bella, Norah, Emma, Olivia, Frankie and Marcus

Baker Park

We took Wyatt on his first camping trip this weekend to Baker Park on Lake Independence.  We rented a cabin to ease his way into a tent.  He's naturally an outdoors boy so we had a blast- he's definitely ready for a tent for the next go around.

Cabin #4 at Baker Park

Someone felt right at home.

Had we known this hill was so steep we wouldn't have let Wyatt go down it, especially without a helmet.  I bet he was going 30 mph by the time he made it to the bottom.  He had no fear, he had to do it again but that time he hit the grass and rolled twice before bouncing right up to say, "I'm okay....that was fun!"

Blessing the wilderness!



Grabbing sticks from the woods for the fire.



My boys!

Happy Birthday, Dan/Daddy!

Dan loves peanut butter...I mean loves peanut butter.  I found a recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting.  They were good but very rich.  Next time they'll be made with white cake.

We didn't think he was going to be home and he surprised us- we were so happy!

Is this what comes to mind when it's 103 degrees?

Equipped with a car, sprinkler, rainboots, gardening gloves and tools. 

Garden Time!

We purchased an Earthbox this year to plant our tomato plants- images to follow. Wyatt had a fun time helping his dad mix the "growing media" up.  Hopefully he'll leave the plants alone so we have nice juicy tomatoes in a couple months.

Nice face!

Memorial Day

Enjoying the heat with his new sprinkler...

Turbo Style!

Our Upton Neighbors

Dan brewed up a great fire Sunday night so we had our favorite neighbors over to enjoy it.  Despite a few sprinkles it didn't stop us from having a good time. 

L to R:  Jeff, Kristi, D 'Lee, Me and Dan

Happy Birthday to Me...AGAIN!

I don't necessarily want to say that everyone misses my birthday but because it seems to always fall on Memorial weekend it usually gets put to the way side.  Dan made it super special and wanted to have the weekend be all about me- and he meant it.  Saturday my family came over to celebrate.  At my request, my mom made my childhood and adulthood favorite birthday cake:  confetti angel food cake with fluffy white frosting.  To this day it's the only thing I expect from my mother on my birthday :)  Severe storms rolled through that afternoon but the skies cleared up just in time to enjoy our company.


Wyatt trying to sneak a taste!




Mark and Megan brought one set of peonies and Dan and Wyatt gave me another set- can you tell they're my favorite?  Thank You, Thank You!  Check out that cake!




Wyatt and Papa Suess being silly!




Gotta love the camera that sat on top of a storage chest that sat on top of a wagon to get the perfect family photo- well, almost perfect.




Wyatt helping me blow out my candles.



Uncle Scott and Wyatt




Wyatt perfecting his bowling.





Me and my Papa!




Our nephew, Johnny!  Who couldn't love this pooch?