Birthday boy

Gosh aren't we lucky to celebrate this guy!  Matter of fact, the whole day was a celebration - 

We stayed up the night before with the Yasutis's  to ring it in - which made for a EARLY morning for our business owner as he headed out to his job site.

It was also the LAST day of school for everyone!  What a treat for Chris too right?

The night of his birthday we had Nick's baseball practice and Chris had a coaches meeting.  As a birthday wish, it rained and he didn't have to go to the coaches meeting!!  So we went from breakfast for dinner to a delicious night out at Mikados!!  

To the guy that works so hard, juggles so much and keeps it fun and loves his family.  WE are thankful you are our man!

Celebration BEFORE the last day of school

How many kiddos get a celebration BEFORE school gets out?  Our boys got a reunion 5 years in the making.  Caz and Ben were our great buddies from Brambleton.  I remember bonding with Teresa at the Sport and Health pool and instantly wanting to be part of their every day lives.  We had plenty of adventures together and while the years separated it was beautiful to see the boys pick up and enjoy each other.  

We were So thankful they included us as a stop on their way to visit Caz's sister in Maine!  The evening started with Just Drew, who loved the alone time with Caz and Ben before his brothers got home from baseball.  He showed them all the ropes from Chickens to trampoline to carpet ball.

Teresa still amazes me with her focus and ability to ask all the right questions and really get into wear the kids are at.  I enjoyed 'mothering' with her.

I remembered how much Caz loved his A1 and had a new bottle waiting for him.  Chris was a rock stair and had cooked up burgers and brats for the crew to devour between sports outside.

They had teams that were reallocated once they became lopsided - Just one of the aspects I loved about the kids.  They were fair and kid to each other - such a sweet set of brothers and I thought it was truly beautiful for our boys to experience.

They played well into the late night  - we managed to get them inside to watch some of Caz's 'where is shaprankshu' videos (to hear Drew say and remember that the next morning was a true feat) Drew hosted the boys happily, Ben on the floor in a feather bed and Caz on the top bunk.  

We stayed up catching up on life - Teresa started an amazing business called Pop cycle that truly takes all her strengths and puts them together in one amazing output of riding happy.  Its so cool to see this entrepreneur so beaming 2 years later!

Had to capture the 4 of our - love the thread of friends that come into your live and truly enrich it in ways you hadn't thought possible.

Wait, we still have school the next morning?!?!?  Its the LAST DAY!  The boys struggled to get us - to include Chris who had to be out the door QUITE early - ON HIS BIRTHDAY.  So I managed to get these 2 out and going.  Drew was a fogging dude that barely made the bus (thus no picture)  it was kinda fun lifting his dreary body from the sleeping room and getting him dressed and ready.  Thankful the last day isn't full of high expectations!!  Nora looks tired too!

See, who wants to miss the last day ice cream Sunday?!

Thank you for the room moms for passing this photo along.  The last days of school are filled with SO much - its amazing to keep it all together.  Shane LOVED his 4th grade Teacher Mrs. Mckay - she is so full of inspiration and care for the kiddos and it really showed.  Great class!  Having Mrs. Gibbons was a plus too.  Love that she even made the time to come to one of Shane's games (and made him blush)

Here you can capture them all without the dabbing

Father's Day

Mother Nature helped us to really enjoy a lazy Sunday - I got to make breakfast for our man and book tickets for the whole family to see END GAME in theaters -

Epic treat!

Everyone snuggled in (to include Nick and Benicio on the handicapped seats which really meant curl up on the floor - if only we knew, we would have packed blankets!!

The evening was capped celebrating with my dad too and a DELICIOUS lime steak fajita dinner -

While I don't have a single photo to show for it - I love knowing what it felt like for us all to be home and surrounded - and often lead by these 2 great men.  They both have come so far together in so many ways.

Lucky night -

With all that is going on, the baseball tournament over and onto all stars we managed to squeeze in a night away to celebrate a great friend that recently came back home.  Beth and her family moved to Dallas 2 years ago.  While the homes are bigger and newer and opportunities boundless - she missed the simple town of canton - so they came back and we are all so happy for it.  So I felt a little selfish having this night away - but its amazing the women that made it happen and we treasured the time.

Recognize the Seasuit?!?!

Toasting on the beach

Some ladies really do think of everything, thank you Julie! - she also did an adorable photo of Beth from HS prom on our cozies!

My folks took the boys to the strawberry fest back home - looks delicious - Chris hosted a massive boys wiffleball game too.  Who needs a day of rest?

Fun night out at a new haunt in the cape - 

not stealing the sign - merely signing it - love how simply Rebecca can grab it

Why leave the sign alone?  Lets really leave our mark!  The girls went back the next morning to snap a photo of the evidence.

Julie rocked the drive home staying up until 2:30.  it was everything I could do to keep my eyes open and talking to her.  It was nice to be in bed and ready for father's day.  Thank you Julie

babies

This sweet baby was trying to follow her mother and cross the road with her - but thought better of it - I just had to snap her photo while we waited for her to be safely on one side or the other.  Thought it was a sweet capture

Another sweet baby photo captured by Erin - love the way they all are together.

baseball and Drew

With all the rain outs this season, the end of the season brought LOTS of games to try to finish up.  One on a Sunday that a few players couldn't make it to - so we brought in our ringer -

 It was adorable to see his excitement as he put on his brothers jersey and the smallest pants we owned.  Thankful for belts!  We even managed to find cleats.  

Drew often finds himself at Shane's game, but not on the field.  Last week he was helping them warm up, the Burlington team commented on the girl that was part of their team - than Drew threw the ball and the comment revised to 'wow, that girl can throw!"

Drew, may you always be full of such surprises!

He comes our slugger - He will admit to being nervous - but he looked adorable and rocked the first ball out to second!  Solid hit!  Pretty sure he floated all the way to first base!

This is where we normally see Drew this season - which was honestly a blast to watch.  The boys make connections, passes and score goals.  They have come quite a long way.  A few hot games and Drew was dragging a bit - however once on the field, that fades away and the athlete comes out.

Trying to capture Shane throwing heat!

Drew had another at bat and was so excited to swing he was batting the high ones down.  Can't win them all kiddo - but so fun to have you on the team!

Boys

An evening at my folks for dinner and with spring here and wet weather, what do they find?  Lots of toads and they couldn't be happier.  Walking along he rocks catching them to check out and return.  These are the things of boys - through and through.  Love this photo