Memorial Day {{weekend/rewind}}

The weather this past weekend could not have been anymore perfect! So thankful Mother Nature decided to share some of her good side with us! ;)

We spent most of our weekend outside. Enjoying each other, the sand and some poss-iggles (as Harry says!)

We also found a new love :: jumping. Our generous neighbors opened their tramp to us, and the boys dont wanna stop now

Daddy spent most of his weekend working (welcome to starting to a new business) and Sunday he took us to the site he is prepping for a pole barn for someone. They have 27 mini donkeys, as pets, and the barn will allow the donkeys to winter inside. ;) Crazy huh? Anyway, the boys fell in love...the donkeys were soooo gentle and not afraid of the boys, they let them walk right up and pet them. 

This was Bentley's fast friends Madison.

Harry meandered around but he was a bit more reserved than Bentley was with touching them at first.

They also train dogs for shows.

The boys spent almost an hour on the agility course, and chasing the dogs.

taking a break with his new buds

Monday we got up bright and early to head downtown for the parade. I love the Memorial Day Parade - and not a year goes bye that I don't get choked up when the troops pass!

Shout out to my Brother in Law, Ronert (on the far right of the pic)...thanks for your selflessness, courage and service. We appreciate you on memorial day, and always!

Bentley was supposed to ride on the preschool float with his school class but decided he was too "scared" at the last minute. So he joined Gramma at the curb instead.

Proud of our soldier!

The boys were pretty whipped after the parade, and a long weekend outdoors, so we took early naps on Monday and then headed outside where we spent the entire rest of our day.

Our neighbors had some friends over to grill out so we headed over there to play in the sun and water with the kids.

Harry loves the kitchen! :)

Daddy got home late afternoon and joined us! It was just perfect weather, all day!

We ordered pizza for dinner...and the ice cream truck came through JUST before the pizza came. Our neighbors stopped it, so the boys ran over and I totally caved. It was the holiday weekend, I couldn't deprive them of their first ice cream truck experience! ;)

It didn't take Harrison long to dig right in and enjoy his!

Daddy also unearthed his race truck. The boys' favorite. Its a rock crawler RC truck so they love to lay down and let daddy "crawl" over them! ;)

We had a perfect weekend and are looking forward to a busy week ahead, including my dad coming in for the weekend from AZ! Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday as well!

Mommy's {28th} birthday

Wednesday we celebrated my birthday. The boys love birthdays more each year, which is perfect, because the older I get, the less I love them! ;)

We started with donuts for breakfast with Great Gram, Gramma, Auntie Jenn & Sawyer.

The boys picked the donuts with "rocks" for me, so they could have the ones with sprinkles.

Then we headed downtown for some shopping and farmer's market.

Harrison is one persistent little love. He pulled his brother a looooong ways down 8th street!

We had some afternoon naps, enjoyed the sun and then headed to my parents for dinner.

The boys both had to help me blow out my candle, as did Sawyer. Never in my life has one candle been lit four times in a row, just to be blown out...But i loved it!

I also got to open three blue gift bags from one of my favorite boutiques downtown! Thanks Mom, Gram and Jenn - I'm sure spoiled!!! :)

Thursday afternoon my mom and sister had planned a girls day for the three of us and our cousin Brittany. We headed out after lunch and left all the guys with Casey. 

We enjoyed lunch at PF Changs and then headed to get some pedis. We headed home but not before a quick stop at Home Goods!

It was another wonderful birthday for me, I am blessed and spoiled beyond measure! :) I have no doubt that 28 is going to be another wonderful year for me...it is already taking shape to be one of the best ones yet! ;)

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, you know how to make a girl feel loved!

Harrison's Birthday Party {2yo}

Sunday we celebrated Harrison's birthday with our families and friends. I always struggle with what "theme" or idea to do, so this year I took him to party city and let him pick out his own.

He chose Toy Story.

 

I found this printable banner on Pinterest and hung it on the mantle - he was pretty excited about it!

I also searched Pinterest for cake ideas. This is how his cake turned out - honestly it wasn't what I hoped...and I sure won't be quitting my day job to go into cake decorating. But he LOVED it. Which is all that even matters, right?

I didn't go overkill on decorations, just a few things here and there...

Opening his presents in his Buzz costume.

A new bell for his bike, so he doesn't have to ring brothers anymore! ;)

Our birthday Buzz!

Singing happy Birthday - he said "no mom, no!!!" the whole time we all sang!

he is just too cute! ;)

wouldn't be a complete two year old birthday party without a boo-boo! He and his brother had a small skirmish just minutes before our guests all arrived and he caught the corner of the couch with his head. He recovered well, but it doesn't look very pretty!

After some naps, we headed down to fuzzy peach for some birthday fro-yo. he loved being able to build his own treat!!

Beans joined us...all the boys enjoyed their treats and their time together.

It was a perfect day celebrating our baby...hard to believe he is TWO years old already! :S

Harrison Lee, you are TWO years old!

 What a blessing you are to our family, Harrison. It seems like two years is hardly any time at all, yet we struggle to recall what life was like before you joined us. We thank God everyday for allowing us to be your family...we just cant imagine what things would be like without you!

you are smiley and spunky.

full of energy.

and orders.

you love to be outside.

you drive anything that has a steering wheel, that you can reach.

you copy every single thing your brother says and does

you love bathtime

you also love to eat.

you are daddy's big buddy.

he puts you to bed each night, and if he doesnt, or cant, you cry relentlessly.

you are also a huge fan of grampa.

and gramma too, but grampa more.

you love to say your prayers at meals and bedtimes, you love to yell amen.

you also love to read.

you love music and dance any chance you get.

you are starting to want to "me do" ....everything

you love trucks. trains. planes. monster trucks.

dump trucks. diggers. loaders.

anything that moves.

we cant wait to see what the next year holds, and the plans God has in store for you.

we are so thankful and grateful for you, love. you are a true blessing to us.

love,

dad, mom and bentley

{weekend/rewind}

We had a busy, yet productive Mother's day weekend!

We spent friday night downtown watching Casey & Ally dutch dance. The boys love their Phillips girls!

The boys behaved, and earned themselves their second sno cone of the week! They even shared with Daddy!

Saturday morning Bentley and I slept in and ran for some groceries and starbucks, while Daddy & Harrison ran to get mulch for the yard. Bentley insisted on wearing his pajamas to the store, donned by his sunglasses. He also got treated to his first ever chocolate smoothie from starbucks. Not very often does it pay off to hang with mom {especially when a dump truck ride with Dad is involved} but saturday it did! ;)

We spread mulch around the entire yard...such a big job but so nice to have done.

These two helped a lot, but took quite a few breaks too. Including this "pop" break. They are too cute!

we all took some pretty big afternoon naps after all that outdoor time and work. Saturday night we headed out for dinner with some friends and the boys went back downtown with Casey, Kevin & Ally. 

We went to church Sunday, where Bentley made me this "welly feshal" flower in sunday school. He is my sweet boy!

We had lunch with my side of the family before heading home for naps and finishing our night up with a trip to Capt Sundae - mommy's request! ;)

It was the perfect weekend, and I am reminded how grateful I am, today and always for these two sweets that call me Mommy. They are some of God's greatest gifts to me {besides their daddy} and for that, I am infinitely thankful. :) Hope all my mommy friends had wonderful, blessed days as well! xoxo

{screen free week happenings}

we had a really refreshing week investing in each other and spending time outdoors and doing "other things" together. Here is our list we compiled at the beginning of the week...

and here are some pics of the fun we had:

superheros!

my superheroes even accompanied me downtown to do some mother's day shopping

we bought, filled and  hung a bird feeder.

harry was so excited he stood next to it and yelled "come eat, birdie, come eat!"

We headed downtown for junk food and a walk

the boys enjoyed tulip time treats with Wes, Willa and Bea.

Some kisses were even exchanged. :)

We rode the Quality Car Wash float in the Wednesday parade

the boys say front row and had so much fun!

Instead of waving, Bentley had a thumbs up pose the entire parade route. He got quite a few laughs.

Didn't take long for the littlest dutchy to pass out on me! It was a big day!

we spent our hottest day {Thursday} playing outside and whipped up this treat to cool off!

and we spent some time with our neighbor friends outside, enjoying the sun and sprinklers :)

{while it lasted}

we spent our rainy Friday morning, inside playing with cousins! :)

We accomplished most of our list, but more importantly we had some good fun together without any distractions or screens.
Sadly, I learned how reliant I am on cartoons to keep my kids "busy". I know we are coming out of a winter from h*ll and with summer coming we will be outside more, but it has really opened my eyes to our use of screen time, collectively, as a family.

It was a fun week, and we learned alot, which was our goal. :)