Wedding Weekend - Uncle Billy & Aunt Niki

This weekend my little brother Billy got married! Very hard to believe as I still remember the day he was born. The weekend was very quick so I'll mostly describe in pictures.

Friday night, Tim & I went to a dinner party baby shower for our friends Mike & Mary. I didn't take any pictures there but we had a great time. It was not overly baby but rather a nice sophisticated coed event. We had fun meeting other of their friends and talking with adults. Originally my plan was to leave when we finished there Friday night but as Friday went on, it quickly became apparent that leaving early Saturday morning was a better idea. So that's what we did!

We got up about 5am, got the kids up at 5:30 and hit the road at 5:45. A few potty stops and breakfast at Chick-fil-a later, we pulled up to the farm. Grandma & Grandpa were very happy to see the boys. They played with them outside while I made icing for some wedding cupcakes and then we had some indoor play time. Lunch and then time for naps - for all of us! Tim & I actually napped with the boys and it was great that we did otherwise it would have been a super long day! We left the farm by 3:30pm to get to the wedding. They had it at a historic train depot and it was very neat. Not only was it nice to be there for their wedding, it was nice to see friends and family. Billy and Niki both looked great in their wedding attire and looked so happy. It was very odd seeing my baby brother married; I can only imagine how parents feel when it's their child.

The reception was fun. Yummy food, the boys around like crazy and enjoyed punch and cake. Thankfully we had plenty of eyes on them so it wasn't that bad on us. We pajama'd everyone up and headed out about 8pm. Unfortunately we had to leave before the Bride and Groom but it was time to get the boys on the road home. They were super great travelers on this trip. Our best one so far. Worst things that happened, a few road side potty stops and a broken (at least we think) dvd player. Other than that, they were troopers!

Sunday was a catch up day. Eli & I went grocery shopping while Tim & Cole made a trip to Lowe's. Lunch and then a visit to the Y. The boys had fun playing with friends and I enjoyed a Pilates class. Late nap for Cole, outside play time, dinner, baths and the weekend was a wrap.

Very busy but very fun. We hope everyone else had a great weekend too.

And congratulations Billy & Niki!! Hope you enjoy your honeymoon!

Just a cute picture from Friday morning

Be warned - when you take a picture with Eli, you never know what will end up on your head.

Cole enjoyed his "french fries" - that's what he called the hashbrowns.

Sweet brothers

Sitting nicely waiting for the ceremony to start - Cole didn't make it through the ceremony but Eli did!

The groom and his groomsmen

My Mom and Dad - better known now as Grandma & Grandpa

Do you? I do....Do you? I do!

Kiss the bride!

the new Mr. and Mrs. =)

They love love love their Grandboys.

A great picture of my parents. This one will definitely get framed.

Mr. Adventure - Eli has really been trying stuff to see what his rubbery invincible 4 year old body will do.

My Grandparents - always great to see them

Getting serious about some food

Our table - on the left, my other Grandma. Great dinner company.

Me and my brother Jeff. It's been 6-1/2 years since we've had a picture taken together so it had to happen. Was great to see him.

Grandpa's boys.

Can you tell who was hitting the blue punch? Mr. Blue Mustache and Blue Tongue. He was most interested in punch, kept going back for more!

Beautiful cake

Family photo op - all dressed up!

Eli helped get the truck ready - tying cans and cowbells to the back

He even kicked them a few times to make sure they stayed put.

My big cuteness

My little cuteness - happy with a cupcake

He dug right in

and was the life of the reception with his cupcake cuteness.

My new sister in law!

When we went back outside, Cole had to test the cans.

Eli opted for cake over cupcakes. He went to the table himself and got his own piece - twice!

He also had to taste test Grandma's chocolate cake since he only had vanilla.

Self portrait.

The boys only cooperated with this shot because I let them each hold a hand full of rocks.

Eli surprised me by being Mr. Big boy and helping the men fold chairs and stack them up. He did it without being asked and he did a great job!

Cole just had fun playing peek-a-boo around the fabrics.

My Grandma.

The boys pj'd up with the bride and groom.

AUNT Niki!

Sunday morning at breakfast the boys each had "clown hair". That's what they call it when they let their shirt get stuck on their head.

Definitely fun when your shirt is long sleeves!

Boys adventure weekend

This past weekend, Tim and the boys headed down to Grandma & Grandpa N's for the weekend......without Mommy. As in boys weekend, Mommy home alone. It has been a LONG time since I've been alone in the house. We always had Belle here if I was ever by myself so this was the first weekend of no Belle and no family. It was quiet, parts relaxing and most of all, I realized that I don't miss whatsoever the time before kids. I missed Tim. I missed the boys and I missed us being a family. At times I felt it was too quiet and was most definitely excited to see them on Sunday afternoon.

While they were gone, I was a very exciting person. Physical therapy appointment, a run and some sewing and cleaning on Saturday. Sewing time with my friend Carol Sunday morning and then errands / chore time before the boys came home. Sadly, even being able to sleep as late as I wanted, I was awake before 6am each day and out of bed by 7am. I am a grown up!

So the boys weekend. They left out Friday night before 7pm and when I talked to Tim at 9:30pm, Eli was still jabbering away in the truck and Cole finally fell asleep. Saturday morning, Tim went on a bike ride with the boys hung out with Grandma & Grandpa. Apparently, the boys had a blast with them and were attached to them all weekend. Funniest thing, Tim said that Cole went into Grandma's room each morning when he woke up. I guess he woke up in a new place and went looking for someone. The rest of Saturday, it seems, was spent hanging out and playing outside.

Sunday was the BIG day. Tim and the boys went out on the boat with Tim's friend Preston and his family. The boys LOVED it. They talked non-stop to me about the boat ride - Eli has been calling it a two engine motor boat since the boat did have two engines. They rode to a spot, anchored and the boys got to play. Tim did great taking pictures. It was hard for me not to be there with them for the weekend. I never want to miss anything but desperately needed some down time. They spent half the day out, went back to Grandma & Grandpa's for lunch and then headed home.

Eli & Cole we so excited to see Mommy when they got home. Of course, Daddy was exhausted but overall the trip went well. Their first boys adventure weekend! And it seems like he'll try it again. A BIG thank you to Grandma & Grandpa for taking care of them all weekend and a BIG thank you to Preston & Maria for the boat adventure.

Puppy Jim and Monkey Jim, packed up and ready to go.

The goldfish pond is a magnet for the boys. Every single time!

Hanging with Grandma.

Which one is the true Buddha? Cole looks like he's poking his belly out to match his Buddha pal.

Fun throw and catch with Grandpa. I love Cole's face in this shot.

Grandpa and his boys.

Ice cream al fresco Saturday night.

Suited up and ready to go on the boat. My, don't they look cute?!!

Eli and Ray on the way out.

Ms. Maria and Thomas.

Daddy and Cole.

Mr. Preston telling Eli something cool.

Daddy self portrait with the boys.

Apparently on the way out, Cole kept asking for nappy nights so Tim took him below and let him catch a little cat nap.

My little explorers.

A shot of all four boys - Cole, Eli, Ray and Thomas. Hopefully they will have LOTS of adventures together.

Tim took this picture of pelicans for me. For those who don't know, pelicans and I don't get along too well. When I was training for the Ironman, we went out on the boat with Tim's parents so I could get some open water practice. A pelican "marked" me and thought I was a yummy seal snack. I was so worried that he would swoop down on me and knock me unconscious. So that never happened.....but it could have! Then the last time we went on the boat with Preston & Maria, a pelican started trailing us. They just seem to find me. And I don't like them one single bit!!

Cole loved the water and playing.

Eli the adventurer.

The boys had so much fun and played their little hearts out.

Cole fell asleep on the boat ride back. He even fell asleep with cheeze-its in his hand. That's one pooped little boy!

Boat loving Eli.

He was super proud that he caught his first fish. As soon as he got out of the truck on Sunday, he HAD to show me his fish. Fishy made the trek home in a plastic bag on ice. Then fishy spent the evening in a bowl, carried around the house by Eli. Now fishy resides in our freezer. Not sure how long he'll stay there but Eli checks on him regularly. I love that my boys are true boys.

Check it out - eating cheeze its with fishy in hand.

Thank you honey for the weekend off and thank you for taking pictures for me. Love you!