Happy 4th of July!!!

I told the girls yesterday that the 4th is becoming my favorite holiday. So much fun together with friends & family over a long span of relaxing days off. The girls look forward to our week up north all year long. We got lucky this year with great weather which made it all the more enjoyable. The photos are always my favorite as well. All the red, white & blue looks so cute on the littles & festive for all.

 Always a bit crazy trying to snap a few pics before we head out for the parade, but they always turn out so darn cute! All 4 of the girls did great this year, big smiles from everyone.

After the photos we headed to the parade. So much candy & the weather was perfect. Nice not to be sweating hot with melting candy.

After the parade we headed back for more fun at the lake which is pretty much what we do all week. The girls did some tubing, lots of swimming & we spent a great deal of time cruising around the lake on the pontoon. The girls loved taking turns driving the boat. I am not sure why I always pack so darn much, they basically wear their swim suits all week.

 Also found this fun plane on the lake. Maeve was not happy that there were fish swimming around her feet. She had a hard time smiling for the photo.

The big girls loved swimming out to the raft & jumping in over & over. I don't know how they weren't more exhausted at the end of each night, I sure was.

 Blowing bubbles & playing with fidget spinners.

While we were on the boat yesterday my dad mentioned that he could see white in Maeve's mouth by her missing tooth. We have been checking constantly for that big tooth, just waiting for it to peek through... sure enough. We see a tooth coming!!

I can hardly believe it. Kinda makes me sad actually. It has become her to be missing that big tooth. She will look so different with that big tooth in there. My baby is growing up & she is pretty darn excited!

The days always go by way too fast. We're home today {Wednesday} and plan on heading up north again tomorrow to hang with the Veraghen crew while Gary works the rest of the week. One night to rest & unpack/repack. Love, love, love the 4th of July. Sad it's over & already looking for next years outfits/festivities. This week is definitely giving Christmas a run for its money. So much fun & so many great memories created each year. xoxo

Happy Father's Day to our favorite guy!

We love him beyond measure & are so thankful that he's all ours. He happily sported the shirt we bought him that we all thought was so funny & enjoyed the cards that the girls made him. 

We waited until the afternoon to snap a photo of daddy & his girls hoping that Marin would feel better. She was up all night throwing up & really was not feeling well. She was quick to remind me that she was also sick for Mothers Day this year.. poor thing has bad luck these days.

Although, even with a little sickness we had a great day together. Everyone slept in, we cleaned the garage in preparation for the new hot tub arriving this week {yay!}, had Sunday steak dinner at Grandma & Grandpa's & even took a long bike tonight when we got home.

We finished the evening in the driveway with sparklers {Margaux's choice} The big girls burned through about 6 boxes of sparklers... Maeve was in the house scared! haha Go figure!

Perfect low-key day. We need more days like that in our lives... things always get so crazy.

We love you Gary! xoxo

Today our little firecracker Maeve is SIX!!! The birthdays keep coming even though I beg for them to stop. These girls are growing up too fast for this mommy. Maeve was pretty fired up for her birthday, we've had a count down going for weeks! Yesterday the two of us went shopping together {that is all she wanted to do for her birthday} She grabbed her purse & we were on our way. At the mall she picked out a few dresses, a pair of pj's, an "m" pillow, some flip flops, makeup and this fun unicorn sleep mask was her favorite purchase.

She loved it so much she couldn't wait to go to sleep & wake up on her birthday. When I walked in & saw her asleep wrapped up in her blanket with the mask on I just laughed. Had to snap a quick photo.

This morning uncle Mike brought donuts for all & she couldn't wait to line up 6 candles around her donut. Happy Birthday Maeve!!!

She thought she was going to skip summer school on her birthday but decided this morning that she really wanted to go because her friends would all be there. Once she left summer school we headed to the water park for the afternoon. 5 hours in the water & sun. We were all wiped out after! I didn't take one single pic all afternoon {booooo!}. Never even thought about it, we were too busy having fun with our friends. Once we got home it was time to have cake & celebrate with friends & family.

We are always a little birthday cake'd out by the time Maeve's birthday comes along so we were all happy when she chose a recees peanut butter cup blizzard ice cream cake! So yummy! Birthday cake & more presents. She was so happy!

Here are a few photos I took of her for her birthday session the other day. She looks so darn cute & soooooo grown up. As I was snapping her I was having a conversation with her about the fact that this is the last year that she may be toothless. Really we don't know when that big tooth will come in but I would assume sometime in the next year. We have grown to love her toothless smile so much, it will be so different with a big tooth in there!

 Just love her to pieces.

Her little dimples make me smile until my face hurts, I love them so much. It is so hard to believe she is six years old already. Now if we could only get her to stop crying, we'd be all set. She says that when she turns 6 she won't cry anymore.. we'll see if that happens!

Although we wouldn't trade her for the world.

She has had a pretty good day though. Tonight instead of snuggling mom one last time on her birthday, she chose to have a sleepover at her bff Eva's. Just tucked her in over there & she is happy as can be with her sleep mask on for the second night in a row. So darn cute!

Happy, happy birthday to our favorite Maeve. Love you honey! xoxo

HOT here this weekend. Temps into the 90's so we decided we needed to be in the water. This morning we drove down to spend some time with the Brown clan. Almost the whole crew at the water park for the day & the kids loved every minute of it. They spent a lot of time going down the big slides, lounging on the lazy river & even enjoyed the hot tub! Crazy since it was so damn hot!

Margaux mastered the lily pads...

 Maeve loved running through the splash pad...

Marin's favorite was the zip line, she had great form!!

All three ran like crazy for 6+ hours. Needless to say they were pretty tired by the time we left. Maeve was relaxing in the shade for quite some time too.

We left around 6:30, grabbed a bit to eat & were on the road home. I assumed all three of them would fall asleep. Surprised that Maeve was the only one who actually fell asleep. Maeve wins for best passenger! haha

Super fun day, thank you Grandma Cece! Wore us all out, that is for sure. Our beds will feel great!xoxo

They made it! Last day of school today. Here are all the kiddos before our last walk to school of the year. All looking so darn cute! Maeve was having a moment & would not get in the photo because of the dog. She is terrified!

Marin has had a hard day today. Lots of tears with the thought of leaving elementary school. The 4th graders had a picnic lunch with parents as an end of the year celebration. Marin will miss her teacher so much, as well as all of the other wonderful teachers she has had the past few years. Love this pic of Marin & her friend Alleda with Mrs. Daniels. We are so fortunate to have so many great teachers at our school. We'll miss them all!

A bunch of the moms in the hood greeted the kids as they got off the bus with cupcakes & ice cream. So fun for the kiddos to enjoy a special treat at the bus stop together. Marin got off the bus & was crying almost immediately. She was just so sad. Broke my heart, but that sad feeling quickly went

away when she joined her friends outside for some summertime fun!

 Maeve found some of her posse to have fun with as well...

 Margaux & Hayden opted for no swimsuits... they chose fishing instead!

So hard to believe that another school year is complete. We are so looking forward to summer & all the fun that comes along with it. It warmed up quickly & we are in full swing summer! Love it! As of today, I am excited to have all three home with me for the summer. Ask me how I am feeling come August!! xoxo

Happy TEN to Marin today!!!

I cannot believe that she is T-E-N years old. Not only does it feel like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital, but it also makes me feel old! We love her beyond words. She is such a fun girl who enjoys being silly & laughing with her friends/family. She enjoys cuddling with mom & dad, hanging out with her friends, listening to music, shopping & playing basketball.

Because her birthday was today & she was at school for the day, we celebrated a bit yesterday. First up the Memorial Day parade in the morning. Always so much fun for the kids & the weather was perfect. Low 60's and sunny. First year in a while that we weren't sweating hot.

Then yesterday afternoon we had dinner at our house to celebrate the big 10 year old. The photo props were so much fun! Girls had fun taking pics of each other all afternoon.

Cookie cake for all and presents. She was happy to finally get the Adidas shoes that she has desperately been wanting, a bunch of clothes, swim suit, baseball hat & money to spend. It is so funny to see how the presents have all of the sudden changed. They all want clothes!

This morning she woke up to balloons in her room & streamers on the door as per usual. Gary ran to get her a donut {breakfast of choice}

She had a hard time blowing out all ten of those candles on her donut. We all had a good laugh. Our elf Merry was here for a visit as well. The girls just love her & her crazy places she lands when visiting our house.

This afternoon I had lunch with her at school {Jimmy Johns sub... also her choice} and we all went to dinner at her favorite local restaurant tonight. Lucky girl, I think it's safe to say she had a pretty great birthday. Being double digits is all it's cracked up to be. We love you so much Marin & are so proud of all you've become. Please stop growing up so fast. Thank you... mom xoxo 

This morning my dad surprised the girls with a ride to school in the fire truck! Last few days that they will all be in the same school ever again. Makes me so sad, as much as they argue they do enjoy being in the same school. I enjoy them being on the same schedule.

Marin just happened to look out the back door & see the fire truck pull up at the end of the driveway & she said "Why is the fire truck here?" Once my dad told her she & Margaux were so excited.

Maeve...not so much. She was scared & very nervous. Even crying {not sure why we were surprised!} Eventually I calmed her down & promised I would ride with them. She agreed to ride then.

Sloane came over to see them off & ended up riding on my lap in the truck with the girls. All three of our girls were all smiles the entire way to school. Lots of excited giggles & playing with the power windows in the back of the truck. Maeve would not look at the camera...

Once we got in front of school the girls were excited to see that all 3 of their classes were waiting outside for them to arrive. Fun moment for them & my dad too.

Had to take a pic with all those kids. No way we would have ever gotten them all to look but it is such a great picture.

Thank you Grandpa for the fun ride to school. We love you!!! xoxo

Today we are all still smiling from our exciting day yesterday.
Big News...

We are going to BOSTON!!!!

Gary qualified to run the Boston Marathon yesterday
with a time of 3:04!!!!

We are all so incredibly proud of him & the emotions were running strong for us all yesterday because of it. He has worked so hard & dedicated so much time to make this {crazy} dream of his a reality. I am still in shock that he ran 26 miles that.damn.fast!!! For months he has been saying that in a few years when he turns 40 he'd gain another 5 minutes & then he knew he could do it. But little did he know, he didn't need those extra 5 minutes at all & he made it look easy yesterday.

I had fully intended on bringing the girls down early & tracking with him along the end of the race. Early in the morning when the text alerts started coming & I could see how freaking fast he was running, I got soooo nervous/excited for him. My stomach was upset & I could not handle my nerves. I made the decision to just meet him at the finish line & let him do his thing with out us distracting him. Once we got down to the finish line & saw him come around the corner I was a blubbering mess. I saw the clock & at that point I knew he had it in the bag. Simply amazing.

Gary couldn't hold it together as he approached the finish line either. He was pretty emotional as he ran up the hill with the time of 3:04 on the time clock.

And shortly after he crossed the finish line this happened...

The emotions got the best of him & I was doing the same thing on the other side of the finish line after seeing him run across that line.

 I couldn't get to him fast enough... I wanted more than anything to give him the biggest hug. Such an amazingly proud moment & it proved that I too can cry like a baby at times. haha Usually he is the emotional one. I knew how important it was to him & I was so happy that he made it happen.

After all the happy tears it was time to celebrate. Starting with a little bubbly...

Travis couldn't wait to shake it up & shower him with it. Only took a bit for the bottle to be gone, enjoyed by all {except the kiddos!}Once we got home there was more celebration with a cookie cake! {Before, during & after a few drinks as well}

We had a fun afternoon celebrating the day together. The application process doesn't happen until September so we'll have to wait until then to confirm all the details, but looks like we'll be headed to Boston in April 2018!!!! So excited. Nice work Daddy!! xo

This morning while Gary rested his legs for the full marathon, Marin & I ran the 5k that she has been working so hard to train for the past few weeks. Gary was one of the co-coaches for the program & she did so great with all her training runs. We knew this 5k was going to be a piece of cake for her. She decided ahead of time that she wanted to run it with her bestie Estelle without any parents & we agreed that it was okay. I ran a bit behind with the Veraghen crew.

Marin & Estelle were giggly already at the start. So cute & ready to go...

Marin ran a great race. She finished & ran an average 8:27 mile.

Her time earned her a finishing spot of 445 out of around 6,000 runners! We were soooo proud of her! She was 7th in her age group too!

Maybe we'll have a house of little runners taking after their dad.

The rain stayed away & it was a great morning for a run. So proud of you Marin!!! Can't wait for Margaux to join us next year. Tomorrow is Gary's marathon, fingers crossed for a great run. xoxo

Happy Mothers Day!!

I had a great day with the girls & Gary today. We went to the zoo, hung out at home a bit & then headed to my grandparents house for our annual Mothers Day fish fry. Low key & just the way I like it. I told the girls all I wanted was a photo of the 4 of us together... and that was accomplished.

Last night the 5 of us went out to dinner together as well. We had a great dinner. It is so nice to have weekends where we are not so busy & can just spend time together. Doesn't happen very often anymore with the five of us all having social calendars... but when it does we try to enjoy every minute of it. I love these chicks so much & am so happy they all three made me a mom. Thank you for making this mama feel special today. I loved all your cards & hand made gifts so much. xoxo

Dance recital weekend in the books! The girls danced their hearts out & did soooo well. We are so proud of them both. They each danced in two shows & thankfully one of them overlapped so we could see them both in one show. Mind you, each performance was 3 hours long so they had a lot of time to hang with their friends & eat snacks backstage while they weren't dancing.

Here are Margaux & Hayden in front of the theater before their last show.

 And the big girls Marin, Emma & Rylie posing for a quick pic before they headed in for their final show last night.

They all looked so darn cute with their hair done & a wee bit of makeup. Great job girls!

We all loved the show!!! xoxo