Our Trip to Disney World

In October we took a trip to Disney World and it was everything they said it would be and more. Ben and Kate had the time of their lives and I got teary a few times taking it all in. They will never be 4 again when everything is so magical. It was the trip of a lifetime for me and I will keep these memories close to my heart! Here are a few pictures of our adventures!

"To all that come to this happy place: welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America... with hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world." ~ Walt Disney

Boofest '11

I have been a terrible blogger! I am going to try to be better- I promise!!!!Thanks to Alana for these pictures.

Every October my best friends from college (The Allstars) get together WITH our kids (the Twinkles) for the weekend. There are Halloween crafts, a bounce house, and a lot of snacks and wine involved! This year all 7 moms and 11 kids headed down to Houston. We had a great time!

Here is everyone in our MATCHING pajamas. We love to dress them alike!

(L to R: Drew, Kate, Ben, Jack, Ellen, William, Julianna, Caroline, McKinley, baby Kellen, John)

Here we are in our Halloween costumes. This is never an easy picture. Lots of tears! Usually because we do this in the afternoon on the second day when everyone is good and tired, because we like to torture ourselves.

(L to R: McKinley as a Fairy, Kellen as a toadstool, Julianna as Minnie Mouse, Caroline as a Bride, Kate as Snow White, Ellen as Jessie, William as Woody, Back Row: Ben as Optimus Prime, Drew as Darth Vader, John as Bob the Builder and notice a very upset Jack as a jack rabbit in the front!)

And on Sunday we wore our ghost footprint shirts we all made. Jack has his on I promise but he was in no mood for pictures!

Next year we will have at least 12 Twinkles because Caroline Elizabeth is on the way!

The greatest poem ever known
Is one all poets have outgrown:
The poetry, innate, untold,
Of being only four years old.
~Christopher Morley, To a Child

Happy 4th Birthday Ben & Kate!

 We have had a whirlwind birthday week complete with a Hot Wheels and Barbie themed double birthday celebration! This year was the first year that Ben & Kate picked their own birthday theme. We had a bunch of kiddos at Pump It Up which is a big bounce house indoor play ground- great for a hot August birthdate.

Ben had a BLAST. He was bouncing and sliding the whole time- happy as a clam.

It took Kate a little while longer to warm up. What finally did it was when Daddy got in one of the bounce houses with her.

The Birthday crowd

 

Cake time!

Happy Birthday Ben & Kate! These past 4 years have been the most precious of my life. 

We love you so much!

Birthdays are good for you. 

Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.
- Larry Lorenzoni

Let's Pretend Tea Party

A week ago I took Kate and Hadley to a local children's tea room for some girly fun! We met up with some of my MPOM friends and their twins. First we picked out fabulous outfits for the girls (and hats for the moms) then we had cupcakes and strawberry tea. Afterwards the girls got their hair and make up done and their nails painted- oh la la! They were in heaven and enjoyed it so  much. It was really so very cute.

I went to turn on my camera and the batteries were dead so thanks to Brenda & Beth I did get some pictures.

Kate dressed up for tea

MPOM moms- Beth, Leslie, Brenda & me

Hadley, me and Kate

I love my little girly girl!

In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different. ~ Coco Chanel

Besties

Allstars Girls Weekend 2011

And if you through a party
Invited everyone you ever knew
You would see the biggest gift would be from me
And the card attached would say thank you for being a friend.

~ Golden Girls

Bike Riding

These pictures were taken back in the spring before it was 100+ degrees every day! We finally got around to getting Ben & Kate bigger bikes and they loved to ride them, especially around the garage for some reason (?). These pictures were taken after we bought Kate's new bike but before we found one for Ben.

And here they are sitting in Kate's folding chairs. Ben is still very fond of his blue blankie.

The bicycle is a curious vehicle.  Its passenger is its engine.  ~John Howard

Gymnastics!

Ben & Kate have started a gymnastics class this summer and they are both loving it. Here are a few random pictures- my photography skills are not very good and these were taken from a distance so I apologize!

Whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right. 

~Henry Ford

Allstar Weekend

Twice a year my college friends aka Allstars reunite. Every October we bring our kiddos (this year that means 7 moms, 11 kids under the age of 5 with 1 more on the way!). Every June it is just moms. This June we stayed at a suite at The Crescent in Dallas. Mikie's brother in law works there and got us a great deal.

First we started off at The Hawaiian Nail Bar for manis & pedis. Notice the fresh cucumbers on Adele's legs!

Next we checked in to our AMAZING suite. I took a ton of pictures because we may have peaked--this may have been the nicest place we will ever stay!

  view from the second floor balcony looking down

We went out to dinner at The Capital Grille....

And gave Alana a western themed sprinkle to match Kellen's nursery....he should be here in about 2 weeks!

In between we had lots of pool time, drinks, good food and laughs. Somehow I did not get a group picture this year- oh well there's always next year! Like I say, we could be in prison and have a great time (but let's hope it never comes to that!). :)

Allstars Forever!

Yesterday brought the beginning, 

tomorrow brings the end, 

and somewhere in the middle we became the best of friends.  

~Author Unknown