Birthday Dinner & Fathers Day

Saturday night we dropped the boys off with Grandma & Grandpa for the night and Brad took me to a very special birthday dinner. It was an incredible evening. I highly recommend the Capital Grill if you have not been. They made us feel so special, we ate the best food ever and drank really amazing wine and enjoyed really amazing company. It felt so wonderful to have an entire evening being with my hubby with all of our focus being able to be on each other, something we haven't had in awhile. It was the best birthday gift.
While we were off enjoying a nice romantic evening, the boys were having so much fun being silly with Grandma & Grandpa! We can't thank them enough for keeping the boys.
This picture cracks me up because it looks like the boys are doing a dance routine!

Sunday we celebrated Fathers Day with a wonderful brunch at my parents house and had a nice relaxing day together. I am so grateful for the dads in my life. My own dad has been such a wonderful father and gives me so much support in so many ways. I have to talk to him pretty much every day or else I feel lost. I can always count on him for anything and am truly grateful for him in my life. I am grateful for Brad's dad because he helped raise my amazing husband and helped shape the man he is. And I am so incredibly grateful for Brad. Brad really is the world's most amazing dad. He does so much for our boys, from getting them ready in the mornings and taking them to school and picking them up each day, to giving Blake his bath and reading him bedtime stories each night. He loves them with every ounce of his being and it shines through and warms my heart to no end to watch him day in and day out with these two sweet boys. Brad hung the moon in the boys' eyes and I know will always be a positive, loving example for their lives. Happy Fathers Day!

Quintessential Brady

This picture captures Brady perfectly. I love it.

A Few More Pics...

My Nana lives about an hour and a half south of Brad's mom and my Aunt just happened to be in town visiting, so the two of them drove up on Saturday for lunch and a short visit. It was so great to be able to see the two of them, especially my Nana who I hadn't seen since right after Blake's birth. It meant so much she was able to meet Brady and see Blake two years later! Here are two pics from our short visit my Aunt snapped...

Blake after painting his eye with BBQ sauce

Me, Brady and my Nana

And on other random notes, today is my birthday and my three boys helped make my day extra special, so thank you to all of them for their endless love! Who couldn't feel blessed on their birthday with having two of the best boys around as sons and one amazing hubby! I found out today I have a special date night with Brad on Saturday to celebrate and I am really looking forward to that! Thanks to Grandma & Grandpa, I'll even be able to sleep later than 6:30...woo hoo!

What I Learned On My Summer Vacation

1.) A vacation with a 2 year old and an 8 month old really isn't a vacation
2.) My boys are great fliers.
3.) Flying first class is way better than coach. (Thanks to Florida Grandma & Grandpa!)
4.) Flying with two babies gives you more dirty looks than I could have in two lifetimes. (what happened to waiting to see how my children behave on the plane before issuing dirty looks!...see #2 people!)
5.) I could look at the ocean views all day long and never get bored.
6.) Packing a change of clothes for baby in carry on was a very good idea. What I learned was carrying a change of clothes for mommy might also be beneficial!
7.) I have learned how to get through security with a double stroller, two kids, a breathing machine, bottles, sippy cups that all have to be tested and a bag full of medicine quicker than some people get through with just themselves. Its an art form that I have mastered.
8.) An entire week with no work and 9 straight days of quality time with my boys, witnessing their amazingess, their laughter, playfullness... is the best thing ever.

Thank you to Brad's mom and stepdad for being our gracious hosts. I know Brad's mom ate up every second she got with the boys for a solid week as well. I didn't take many pictures at all, I know lame, but here are a few I snapped...

Brad's mom found this awesome playground just off the ocean, so we took Blake and he loved it. Why don't we have playgrounds like this here?



Have I mentioned I could stare at the Ocean all day? I think its so beautiful...

Thursday evening we went out to celebrate Brad's brother's good news... he found out earlier in the day he was accepted to the seminary program at University of Dallas. Yup, this Jewish gal is going to have a Priest as a brother-in-law! We are of course all so proud and happy for Tom and grateful we'll have him living nearby.
And on our last night in Florida we went out to eat at a yummy place on the water. There was a deck out back where you could feed these giant catfish. They scared me. Blake loved it though! Here is Mr. Blake with Brad and his other brother Orion.

Meeting Mr. T

I spent the long Memorial Day weekend in the Windy City where I got to meet my nephew for the first time. I had to wait 2 long months before I got to hold that sweet guy! I am so grateful I had the opportunity to go up there and grateful for my hubby and parents for watching the boys so I could go without the stress of mommy duties for the weekend and get the most out of my visit. I had a great time with my brother and sister-in-law and of course loved every second of my time with Trent. He has beautiful blue eyes, lots of brown hair (except on top!) and killer dimples. Can't wait for our next visit and hopefully next time the cousins will get to meet!
Even though I had a great time away I missed all three of my guys so incredibly much. I got the absolute best greetings from Brady and Blake when I got home. Such an amazing feeling. And Brady even gave me a welcome home gift...he CRAWLED FOR THE FIRST TIME!! My parents and Brad swear up and down he didn't crawl while I was away and so my sweet boy saved that first for mommy! Exciting yet scary that I have TWO MOBILE KIDDOS!
Next up...THE BEACH!!!!!