Emmit's 4th Birthday Party

Emmit turned 4 in late August, and we had a fun party with family and friends. A couple weeks before his party we also tornadoes rip through our area and had a fair amount of damage to our house/yard. We weren't able to get the mess cleaned up in time for Emmit's party, so about a week before moved it to a park near-by. Everyone had a lot of fun, especially the kids!

A few weeks before his birthday, Emmit got his birthday present from Mom and Dad - a new bunkbed and a little 'refresh' to his bedroom. He loves his new bed, and sleeps on both the top and bottom! He also has fun shelves to put 'treasures' on. We moved some toys up into his room, so it definitely has more a 'big boy' feel =) He and Ellie like to play on the top bunk together. I remember playing on the bunk bed with my sisters when we were kids - hopefully Ellie and Emmit can make some fun memories of that too =)

Our big 4 year old! Emmit is full of 4-year old antics lately (definitely knows how to push buttons!)

Emmit got a new Lion jersey just like Daddy's. They have been wearing them to watch football on Sundays now =)

Party theme was SUPER HEROES this year! It was going to be trucks up until about a week before the party, then he suddenly got on a Captain America kick. He loves super heroes and trucks, so we really couldn't go wrong!

The kids having fun on the playset at the park

Opening gifts! Emmit did a really good job of opening his gifts one by one and saying thank you, but he was definitely spoiled by everyone that attended! He also had lots of help from his friends =) I'm not sure how gift opening can NOT be chaotic at this age?!

Cute one of Ellie and Julianna =)

Emmit also got a new wheelbarrow and shovel, which he has been using A LOT! (He had a little wheelbarrow before, but it blew away in the tornado!) He has been digging in the creek and helping Mom and Dad 'work' with new one now too =)

Birthday card that Ellie made Emmit =) They play together really well now - I thought this was so cute =)

Happy 4th birthday Emmit! We love you!!!

Fun with Neighborhood Friends

Our first half of summer was fun with family; the second half has been fun with neighbors. The kids have so many friends in the neighborhood; there's always someone to play with. The Moms and Dads have fun with each other too, so that always helps! Here are a few pictures of the kids playing with friends this second half of summer =)

Ellie watching a movie with Sydney and Grant

Emmit and Palmer playing with toys - these two are double trouble!

Ellie, Emmit, Emerson, and Eli playing outside on a hot day

Ellie and Lyla with their blankies

Emmit and Lukey playing in the creek

Henry came to visit for 3 days which Emmit loved! Again, double-trouble!

This video of Emmit and Henry is hilarious =) I love how they're throwing the ball =)



Ellie, Emmit, Avery, Aiden, and Henry watching a show together

Ellie and Emmit have been having a great summer with Kimmy too - they sure love her!

Ellie and Sydney at the park

Ellie, Emmit, Sydney, Palmer, and Grant at the park

Just the boys

The whole gang again =)

We had a new family move 3 doors down a few weeks ago. Their boys are almost the exact same age as Ellie and Emmit, so they've fit right into the neighborhood gang. We've been playing together a lot! =) Here's Emmit, Alden, and Caiden 'working' in the garage...Emmit was taking his training wheels off =)

Mr. and Mrs. Lovell

Our first half of summer was busy with wedding festivities, and all the fun came to a peak on July 6th with Steph and Mike's wedding. I've been procrastinating on this post because I have so many pictures, I don't even know where to begin, but here goes!

Rehearsal Day

The day before the wedding the girls got their nails done, and Ellie had so much fun coming along.

After a short rehearsal we had a fabulous fish dinner at a family friend's house. It was a low-key day which was great (we needed it for the day that followed!) The bride and her bridesmaids are ready to go!

Wedding Day Prep

Wedding morning we went to the Upper Cut early. Judy went all out for us which she always does - everyone looked beautiful after leaving the salon! We then headed to Aunt Sandy's to get dressed and take a few pictures before heading to the park for the wedding.

Stephi looking beautiful

Ellie in her dress. Ellie got a big bug bite on her eye the day before the wedding!

The decorations were also a masterpiece and Stephanie's creativity was awesome. We had been saving wine bottles for almost a year leading up the wedding - Steph had a vision and it turned out SOOO nice!

The Ceremony

The wedding was at Fayette State Park which was an absolutely beautiful setting. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. Aunt Bev married Steph and Mike which was really special. Colin, Matt, Andy, and Dustin (the ushers extraordinaire!) earned their keep as the location presented a couple challenges! The wedding was short, sweet, and exactly what Steph and Mike wanted =) Here are pictures of all us walking in, everybody but Ellie. After the months, weeks, days of anticipation leading up to the wedding, Ellie had nothing short of a meltdown when it came time to walk up the aisle. Too. Much. Excitement. Daddy carried her up the aisle, and sat with her during the ceremony, but she wasn't much for picture taking after either. We had one tired girl on wedding day, but that didn't stop her from having a great time at the reception at least!

Heading to the reception

After the wedding and pictures at the park, we headed back to my parents' house where the reception was being held. Ellie hitched a ride with Kevin, Anna, and Leelo...Leelo definitely perked her up after a rough time at the wedding =) Auntie Liz and Uncle Matt were saints driving Henry and Emmit (the ring 'bears') around for a while after the wedding, while they took a much needed nap! =)

Colin and I and the rest of the wedding party then hopped on the party bus and headed back to North Delta!

The Reception

The reception was so much fun and kind of a blur. With it being at home the kids were very comfortable in their surroundings, and pretty much running everywhere the entire time. They had so much with all their cousins. There was no relaxing that's for sure! It wasn't until 11:00 at night that they were in bed, and I had a much deserved glass of wine! The DJ played music until 12:30, and then the 'after party' started at the bonfire. The last men standing finally went to bed at 5:30 am. The night was a lot of fun!

A Few Favorite Pictures

Their photographer took SOOO many pictures, and I need to take some time to look at them all again and order some. There are a couple of my favorites though =)