4th of July!

Our 4th of July started out with an AWESOME birthday gift for our oldest.  He had his 1st ever birthday party in May, so this was icing on the cake for him!  July 4th is the coolest birthday to ever have, don't you agree!?  I will write a post later this week about his surprise, but let's just say, the sky was the limit!  :o)

After a morning of fun with our children, my parents and grandmother (and waves of morning sickness), we returned home for lunch and a few hours to recuperate and let the baby (and me!) take a nap.  Later that afternoon, we headed to our lifelong family friend's backyard BBQ.  I was really excited to see everyone and the kids had a marvelous time in the pool!  It's so wonderful to have 3 true swimmers...I was able to hold actual conversations!  Another family friend of ours actually had a 4th of July birthday, too, so my mom brought a cake and we celebrated together with our oldest.  After the BBQ we decided to head to watch the local fireworks.  Because of budget cuts, the 2 that we usually watch didn't happen, so I had a creative idea to beat the crowds at the BIG one...park across the street at Walgreens and watch from the front!  It turned out perfect, even though the entire neighborhood was mobbed.  All 4 kids loved it and there were no meltdowns when the noise started!  After the show, we were the very first car out and made it home in 5 minutes! 

Thao was NO fear of the slide or diving board!

 Woohoo!

 And our daughter got in the action!

 With 2 of my babies :)

 Friends having fun!

 She kept jumping off the diving board!  So proud!!

 So did Thao!  He is a speedy guy.

 Back jump!

 Happy birthday to Minh and Patti!!!

Just got set up for the fireworks!  We literally parked, walked over and sat down.  Easy Peasy!

 Beautiful!  God bless America!!

 A little loud at first. 

Boys Birthday Party!!!

We had a birthday party for our 3 sons last month and it was AMAZING!!!!  Our oldest turns 8 in July and has never had a friends party (besides his 1 year old party).  It was always too overwhelming for him and just the idea of a party with attention focused on him completely stressed him out.  However, this year something shifted and he declared that he "wanted a friend party just without any attention on him!"

hmmmmmm  I was determined to make this work somehow.

We came up with the idea to combine a party with his two younger brothers who were turning 1 on May 5th and 3 on May7th...he LOVED the idea, I loved that he loved it, and the party planning commenced!  After tossing around a lot of ideas, we decided to rent the local Water/Spray Pool for 2 hours on a Friday night.  And can I just say...it was a perfect event.

The weather was perfect.  The food (pizza's, watermelon, grapes, and chips) was perfect.  Everyone had an amazing time!!!  Including our 8 year old, who in "I don't want any attention on me" form, did not want happy birthday sang to him...he splashed, played, ate, and had a marvelous time!  Along with his 3 year old brother and 1 year old brother!  This will most likely be the biggest party we will ever have for the kids...but it was worth every penny!!!

Getting all set up!

 One of the birthday boys!!!

 My brother, Uncle Bo, and our 8 year olds Uncle...the cool dudes chillaxin!

 Braylon was SO excited 2 of his classmates came!  It was a very very big deal!

 Lets get this pary started!

 This place is amazing!

 Even I had some grown up fun!  There I am ready to go down...

 WOOHOO!!!

 Sweet friends!

 One of my best childhood friends and her husband!!!

 Daddy with birthday boy #3!

 Snapping the glow necklaces {they were our party favors.  The kids wore them and it was so cool when the sun set!  The pool was glowing!}

 Kyan's pal and his sweet mommy!!!

 My father, Braylon's Aunt (20 weeks along with baby #1) and her husband!

 More friends!!! 

Water fun!

 Happy 8th birthday!!!

 Happy 1st and 3rd birthday!!!

 Birthday boy #3 and I!

Attempting to get everyone lined up for a group picture!

"Simon Says!"

Perfect!  Super stoked!

 Friends!

 214 foot slides!

 After the glow necklaces were passed out...it was so neat to see the water glowing in different colors!

 A great success!

Celebrating Our 5 Year Anniversary!!!

On Wednesday, April 20th we celebrated five years of marriage!!!  I cannot believe how fast the years have gone...five years later we now are a family of SIX!  I now truly understand the phrase, "the days get longer, but the years get shorter."  My sweet parents watched the kiddos and we headed out to dinner at a very nice Vietnamese Restaurant and then went to our first movie in 3 years.  YAY!!!!  I realized how out of touch I was with things when a woman came into the theatre (scared me half to death, I might add) and asked me if I would like to order any food or drinks.  Whaaaat? THIS is what going to the movies is like now?  ha!  And we didn't take up the entire stock of high chairs at the restaurant.  I went in with just...wait for it... a purse!  gasp  No bulky diaper bag stuffed with diapers, flashcards, and all the necessary inbetweens for 4 kids.  I received a beautiful anniversary band (he sent me to the jewelers a few months ago to pick it out) and HE received a Hot Air Balloon Ride (with champagne and breakfast)!  He loved his present and we will try to schedule it within the next month.  It felt soooo nice to be out with my husband, wearing a {semi} new dress and a beautiful sparkly ring.  I felt like a princess with my prince!

April 20th, 2006

The kids waiting for me to unwrap my present!

Ooooo

So beautiful!

I don't wear a lot of jewelry, so this is very very special!

Not  a great photo, but trust me, it's beautiful and so sparkly!

Just read his present!!!  He was totally surprised!!!

This will soon be us!!!  We are sooooo excited!!!

Leche Mimosas

:)

Authentic Spring Rolls!

We got so caught up in our date we forgot to get a photo of us!  :(