4th of July/Friends Lake Trip

Major catching up to do here! 2 posts in one- first, Peyton's first 4th of July and second, our lake trip to the Ozarks with our good friends, the Schultes.

My brother, Scott and I (and P)

My annual AMAZING dessert (have to brag, it's that good)

We had a nice cookout in the backyard with my grandparents, Chris's parents, my brother and his girlfriend, Moriah.  As per annual tradition, we watched the fireworks show from the edge of our backyard- no Peyton this year for that.  Maybe next year. :) Or the next! We shall see! 

Neighborhood parade (missed it due to naptime) and cookout- did make it to the cookout! With neighborhood friends, Eli and Hugh. 

Fun weekend with Nessa and Grandpa- enjoying Jack Stack BBQ after church before they headed back to Chicago

Neighborhood mamas- Megan & Hugh, Rachael & Eli, and Peyton and I

Adorable shot of Peyton and Hugh

Every summer our friends Jen and John Schulte (and their 2 darling kids, Ella (3) and Anderson (1) ) invite us to their family's lake house in the Ozarks. We look forward to this every year! Last time we were down there was for New Year's with all the kids- had a great time but way more fun to be able to get in the water. :)  It's about a 2.5 hour drive down there, the end being VERY windy roads... that got to poor Peyton's stomach. Had to pull over about 15 minutes from the lakehouse for a baby with an upset stomach. Happy to say I survived my first of many child throw up experiences. I felt awful for her but the day improved from there. 

It was hot, hot, hot and getting 3 kids ready to get on the boat was exhausting. Totally worth it, but exhausting!  

Peyton didn't know about this whole group bath experience...

Enjoying a yummy cookout outside with Anderson (love his expression)

We drove the boat out to a cove and parked for lunch and floating- 1 by 1 kids started to fuss so we lasted a whopping....45 minutes? Oh how times have changed....!

Peyton enjoyed the water in small doses. :)

Time for naps...!

Peyton turned 11 months at the lake! Can't believe it. That post is up next! :)

33 Weeks!

I'm going to attempt to do more posting as D Day quickly creeps up! The question lately is "are you ready for her to come?" My first thought is "who are you talking about?" (still do not feel like this is happening!) and but my verbal response is a quick "absolutely not." lol Now here's the deal... IF she came tomorrow, are we ready? Technically? Yes. But to my standards, no. haha :) 

A good friend of mine from school, Julie, requested a "red, white, and "bump" pic on the 4th of July. So here it is. :) 

Chris setting up the Rock N Play (like a portable cradle)

Finished my nurses' thank you gifts- will pass out (or more likely have CHRIS pass out) at the hospital to our nurses.  Just put a Bath and Body lotion and a pack of gum.  Figure I need all the help I can get and these girls need some serious appreciation for all they do! I made 10 of them, hoping that's enough.

The Coffeys came in (Mike and Vanessa, Chris's parents) for the 4th! They drove in from Chicago Thursday and got in later that evening and stayed through lunch on Sunday.  This was their last visit before baby! So, so weird. Chris and I felt so strange saying bye to them.... next time we see them things will be QUITE different...!!!

Vanessa and I crafting- she was a saint and helped cut out a bazillion fabric circles so I could put together my mobile for the baby room (see pics at the bottom of the finished product!) 

Mom, Dad, Granddad and Grandmother, and the Coffeys were over for a yummy cookout and amazing fireworks that we see every year from our backyard view (we can see the Corporate Woods show!) Best seat in town. :)

Scouty boy unphased, as usual, by the fireworks 

The Grandpas (Dad, Chris's dad, Mike) 

Grammy and Nessa (Mom, Chris's mom, Vanessa) 

My favorites, Grandmother and Granddad

Last 4th with just the 2 of us! 

Only child... for now... 

My favorite dessert that is TO DIE FOR...  here's the recipe (very lowfat and so refreshing/festive for the summer): click for recipe

Dad and Granddad enjoying dessert- the weather could not have been more gorgeous. We sat outside/on the screened in porch for most of the night. 

Special breed....

Doing what he loves best

Below is the mobile I made (with major help with the circle cutting from Vanessa..!!) I LOVE how it turned out and the colors match her room perfectly. 

7 more weeks until baby time! Check back for more updates. :) 

I'M BACK! 4th of July

First, an explanation for the very few readers I may still have- life has been busy, busy of course and this past year I've been working on my classroom blog and have been putting all of my time into that- thus, the personal blog gets neglected. Sorry blog.  Here's a link to my classroom website if you're interested: http://mrscoffeyskinders.blogspot.com/

We had a wonderful 4th of July, as always.  :) We had yummy food at my parents and then came back to our house for dessert (see below) and awesome fireworks in the backyard.  We are so lucky that our house backs up to the best fireworks show in town! Quite convenient and a perk we didn't know we'd have when we bought the house. Now for some pictures!

we love our grandparents!

front of our house

patriotic dog

yummy fruit trifle dessert

petsat Henry for the holiday for Laura- they had a good time together :)

GM and GD trying out the chairs they bought for us!

masterpiece and oh so yummy!

 

Hope your 4th was a great one!

Coffeys Celebrate the 4th

This past weekend, we enjoyed hosting my wonderful in-laws in from Chicago!  As tradition, we watched the Corporate Woods fireworks display from our backyard (does it get any better than that?) :)

Hope you had a memorable 4th!

hard life

petsitting "guest"- Tillie :)

Chris and his parents

me and my parents