Birthday BBQ

We had a fun Memorial Day weekend with a neighborhood BBQ on Monday in which we had a wonderful group of friends and neighbors over to grill and watch our kids play.  I've said it before & I'll say it again--we are so blessed to have amazing friends in our lives.  It is always nice to socialize with other parents of young kids who "get it" and who can share in the trials and tribulations of parenthood...we laughed, we drank beer, we swapped stories.  I am just bummed that I got ZERO photos of that day.  

On Tuesday, we had family over for a birthday celebration for Taylor and me, since we share May birthdays.  It was great since my mom is in town this week and could help us get our party on!  

Mom & Kelsie in their fun summer colors.

Just the girls...

Davis standing in a gravel/mud puddle of Easy Street Wheat from the keg.  He knew he was in trouble, but used his super-cuteness to distract me from disciplining him.  Dang it!

The birthday cousins!

Tyler helping Davis with the pink sand (long story).

Carter showing off his sticker skills.  

Mom with her favorite nephew.  :-)

Kelsie Rae & Carter busting a move.

Most of the gang...

Sean: Grill Master

Cousins with Carrot Cake.  Happy Birthday Tay Tay!!

The boys were very ready for cake!

My favorite Aunt and her son.  Love this!

Celebrating Another Year

Thank you to everyone who sent cards, helped me celebrate and/or wished me a happy birthday on Thursday!  It was a great day spent reflecting on the past 37 years and all of the wonderful things that have happened in my life.  Here are two of the best parts--my sweet boys!

 They were SO excited for birthday cake.  Can you tell?!

 My awesome cousins, Taylor & Kelsie, who came over to babysit the boys so Sean & I could go out to dinner.  AND...they brought me flowers!!!  Thanks, guys!

Dinner at the Village Tavern & the huge birthday dessert that we just couldn't say "no" to. 

 I was finally getting over Strep and Sean was just starting to get it, so we passed on going to a movie & just walked around Crate & Barrel instead.  On the way, we saw this Maserati parked outside the restaurant & 

Sean couldn't resist checking it out.  (The security guard nearby was keeping a close eye on him.)  It was a great birthday and I am not even going to think about the fact that in three years, I will be 40!!!  

Mother's Day Visit

We had a really nice visit with Grandad & Grandma Nancy over Mother's Day weekend.  The boys enjoyed doing puzzles with Grandad & Grandma, but the highlight was that they got to swim at APEX with their grandparents.  They went down water slides, played in the kiddie pool and warmed up in the family hot tub (not too hot).  No photos from that outing, but a good time was had by all!  (Including mommy, who had a relaxing pedicure while everyone else was having fun at the pool!)  The only downside was that I came down with Strep throat over the weekend...hopefully nobody else gets it! 

On Monday, Dad and Nancy took us all out to eat to celebrate my birthday!  We drove to Olde Town and had a yummy meal, with dessert of course--love it!  Thanks Dad!!   

 Davis was HUNGRY and we had to get some crackers to settle this kid down until dinner arrived.  Does anybody remember that movie Gremlins?  That kind of describes how Davis gets when he goes too long without food.  Yikes!

 Sean looking guilty for trying to hit me with one of Carter's toys right before I took this photo.  Nice.

The Beilman-Bonner Gang

Grandad left this sweet note for Carter to find after they left.  :-)

Thank you to my sweet husband who got me flowers, cleaned the house & made dinner for me as a gift for Mother's Day (Even though my throat was hurting so badly that I didn't eat any of it--bummer!).  You are awesome, babe!  (A girl could really get used to all of that.)  Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day, too!  

Puzzle: Take Two

After several comments that the YouTube video was not working, I have re-posted it...fingers crossed!

Davis is obsessed with the 24-piece puzzle!  Carter was never really into them, so we kind of forgot all about doing them with Davis.  He found one the other day & has been putting them together nonstop...all by himself!  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZFaM18gkzk&feature=g-upl

Busted!

Carter loves the Leap Frog videos and I am convinced they have something to do with the fact that he taught himself to read at age three.  Personally, I think they are kind of annoying but he is happy AND learning, so I suppose I shouldn't complain!  Here he is dancing with the video this afternoon.  I'm pretty sure he got those moves from his dad.  ;-)

Boy, Girl, Boy, Girl

Last week we had our favorite girls over for a play date.  Big A is year younger than Carter and Little A is a year younger than Davis.  The girls' mom is one of my best friends, and we (maybe me more than Megan) are secretly hoping that some day my boys are smart enough to marry one of these sweet girls!

 The whole gang!

 Davis looking pretty in Big A's headband.

 I absolutely LOVE this girl!  What a doll!

 Carter did a great job sharing.

 Big girls can sit at the table by themselves.  :-)

 Looking for lightening and rain...

Having fun with trains.  (Can we call this a first date?)