Fun With Friends

Since school started the girls haven't been able to have as many play dates with their friends.  Home work & extra curricular activities keep these girls busy all week but we manage to make up for it on the weekends.

One Friday night, I let Maddy & Mikayla each invite a friend for a sleepover. Maddy, Mikayla, Tayler & Shayleen had a great time, we ordered pizza, they played Just Dance on the Wii and watched a movie!

A different weekend Maddy & Mikayla were invited to a bowling party. Olivia was Mikayla's best bud at preschool last year but sadly she & her family moved. We haven't been able to see much of Olivia either, so were all excited for her party!  The girls bowled great games with the help of bumpers & ball ramps, they got a couple strikes & picked up a few spares!  Olivia's parents invited me to bowl too.  I played two games and got 4 strikes! Not bad considering I hadn't bowled in years!

Maddy's bud Tayler's Birthday is on Halloween and her Mom went all out for a Halloween/Birthday party to celebrate!

The girls had a great time eating pizza & cake and watching a magic show....

they played games, won prizes...

and got balloon sculptures from the magician.

We all had a great time!  Tayler was one lucky Birthday girl!

Allison's Baby Shower!

My Sis-in-Law Allison is due any day with her second baby.  She & her hubby Mike are already parents to their 3 yro son Cameron. This time around they are expecting a baby girl!  Last month, I helped my Mom-in-Law throw Allison a baby shower.

Allison's best friend Lauren made arrangements for us to rent the clubhouse in her subdivision.  It was a lovely room perfect for a cozy gathering!

In addition to Lauren helping us secure the clubhouse, she also made a gorgeous diaper cake and hung a clothes line above the mantle to display some of the outfits Allison received. My niece is going to be one stylish baby girl!  I coordinated the games & prizes, Baby Shower Bingo & a jar of jelly beans for guests to guess the quantity. 

I also designed small soy votive candles for the favors. My company Scentsational Soaps & Candles makes soy candles in many sizes & beautiful fragrances.  Allison chose Macintosh Apple and I customized a cute label. 

Allison & her Momma

Allison & her gal pals, all of which are Moms to baby girls! Lauren's baby is 6 months, Kelly is due a week after Allison & Cheryl is due right after Kelly.

Allison & Mike loved opening presents for their baby girl!  My Sis-in-Law Lauren and I gave Reese a Fisher Price Rock & Play sleeper.  

Maddy loved spending time with Grandma!

Cam is going to be a great big brother!  He helped open all of his sister's gifts and inspected them closely! 

And what would a shower be without cake? ... chocolate & vanilla!

When the shower was wrapping up, Auntie Lauren took Maddy, Mikayla & Cameron outside to the playground while my Mom-in-Law & I cleaned up the room.  I'm so glad I sent my camera out with her, because she got some cute shots of the three cousins. By Thanksgiving, there will be four cousins!

 Allison & Mike received some really nice gifts for Baby Reese and everyone had a great time.  It's pretty safe to say the shower was a complete success!  All we need is our Baby Reese!

Cameron Turns 3!

Recently our nephew turned the big 3!  Where has the time gone?  It seems like yesterday that Allison & Mike told us they were pregnant with Cameron and now they're pregnant again, this time with a baby girl!

For Cam's big day, Allison & Mike hosted a relaxing party with family & close friends. Here's my Dad-in-Law & Mike P. with friends Josh & Matt. 

The two Mike's & Dave

Allison, Kelly & Mike... Kelly is also pregnant!  Their due dates are a week apart!

We finally got to meet Lauren's Baby Taylor!  What a cutie!

And our handsome Cam was all smiles while he opened his presents!  

Cam's proud Grammy & Grandma

And of course Cam, who's known as the cake hound loved his Toy Story cupcake cake!

Happy Birthday Buddy!  We love you!

Beach Wedding

Back in September, Mike, the girls & I spent a weekend in Ft. Lauderdale for a beach wedding.  Mike's Uncle Keith & his fiance Amy were finally tying the knot after 19 years together!  It's been ages since we went anywhere so it was fun to pack up the car and get out of town!

Keith & Amy chose a quaint little hotel on the beach for their wedding location. The rooms were affordable and the view was spectacular!

We arrived around lunch time Saturday, we swam in the saltwater pool and explored the beach where the girls collected mini coconuts!  Mikayla studied the letter "C" at school the following week and brought hers for show & share with her class. :)

After some fun on the beach & in the pool we got showered & dressed for the wedding!

While we were waiting for the bride & groom, we had fun taking pictures and catching up with family.

Mike's Mom, Dad & sister Lauren

Mike's sister Allison and her baby bump... Reese :)

Chloe, Mikey & Paige

Uncle Chuck, Aunt Betty, Tess & Ed

Troy, Alli, Bob & Lynette

Uncle Ed, Sue, Aunt Carol & Uncle Dennis

 

David, Shannon, Chloe, Timmy, Kristin & Maggie Rose

Finally when the bridal party came down from their rooms, we congregated on the beach under the palm trees for the wedding ceremony!

Keith & Amy were so happy, and very thankful to everyone who was able to be a part of their special day.

After the ceremony, we kicked back for a casual reception.  The barbeque buffet was delish, the drinks were flowing & weather was beautiful!  It was a perfect one night getaway for me, Mike & the girls plus a happy occasion to catch up with our extended family.

When we woke up Sunday morning we requested a late check out.  Most of the wedding guests had already left so we had the pool & the Atlantic all to ourselves.  We hated to come home so soon but that's life. Time always flies when we're having fun. Hopefully, there's another getaway in our future!