Happy Birthday Brandon (Daddy)!

Tuesday was Brandon's 32nd Birthday! While he was at work Jack and I prepared for his birthday dinner. We had Pork Tenderloin, roasted potatoes, crunch slaw, and the yumminess below....chocolate brownie triffle. Jack and I had a blast making it. It was the perfect dessert for him to help make because the brownies and candy bar had to be crumbled, so there was no messing anything up. Mimi and Andi and Joey were able to celebrate with us. It was a great night.

Happy Birthday Brandon. We love you!!

Our Beach Trip

We spent the last week on our wonderful family beach trip to Destin that has become a yearly thing since Jack was born. It is the trip we look forward to each year. This was the first year that Jack really enjoyed it. He played on the beach for hours,which was great since I love to be on the beach. The beaches were more gorgeous than I have ever seen them and there were no signs of oil. I hope it stays that way.

This picture is my favorite of the whole trip. They are having a little Father/Son chat.

Brandon and Jack had a blast playing on the beach.

Friday was Jack's "official" Birthday, so we went to Big Daddy's Arcade witht The Martins, The McPhillips, and Gigi and Cookie to celebrate. It was a great place that just opened by the owners of Fudpuckers and The Track and has arcade games, pizza, and ice cream. The kids had a blast.

Jack and Cookie had a great time shooting deer. Brandon was really proud of this picture.

Jack loved riding this motorcycle. He barely fit, but he made it work. The arcade was right next door to Fudpuckers so we walked over after to look at the alligators and Jack, Brandon, and I actually took a picture with a small alligator. Jack thought it was so cool. They took the picture so we weren't able to take one of our own.

My little handsome 3 year old. I can't believe how time has flown.

We had a great trip, but were ready to get back home. Jack was ready to get back to his "jeep" of course.

His First John Deere

Brandon has wanted to get this for Jack since he was a newborn, so we decided that this year would be the year. He calls it his "jeep" and absolutely loves it. I think he would sleep in it if he would fit.

Jack Turns 3

We had Jack's 3rd Birthday party Saturday at Treetop Family Adventure. It is a new family fun place that has just opened and it was great. If you live in Birmingham you have got to go.

There are tons of arcade games for the kids and adults. Jack had a blast bowling for the first time. There is also laser tag, a big treehouse for the kids to climb in, putt putt golf, water wars, golf carts, etc.


Since most of the kids were 1-4 we did the package that included the treehouse, putt putt, and arcade games. The kids loved playing putt putt. Jack was so proud that it was his birthday. As each person came in he gave them a hug and said "it's my birthday". I think this was the first year that he really got it.


His Parrain and Kayley were able to stop by to join in on the fun for a little while. Notice where they went. John and Brandon are dying for Jack to be the right age to hunt. Anytime they can get a gun or bow (toy, of course) in his hand they do. His Parrain gave him a toy bow and arrow set and Jack loves it.


After all the putt putt and treehouse fun, we headed to the party room for pizza, cake, and ice cream. It was a bit chaotic to say the least trying to round up a bunch of little ones, but it was worth it. They had a blast.


The Go Carts were not included in our package because the kids were too little to do it on their own, but the kid in Brandon, Nikki, and Nanny made us stay after to ride the go carts a couple of times. Jack wasn't real sure when he first got on and didn't understand why he couldn't drive. Once he got going Brandon said he loved it. He was smiling the whole time. Brandon said after a couple of laps he was yelling, "crash into Nanny and Nikki", "go faster".

When we got home Mimi, Nikki, and Nanny stayed over to watch Jack open his gifts and have a small photo shoot with the Birthday Boy.

He had a great birtday party and I can't believe that my little boy is 3. Thank you to everyone that came to his party and made it a very special day.

4th of July

I have decided that instead of playing catch up I am just going to start with July 4 and keep it up from here. We didn't do much July 4 weekend because we knew were going to be busy the next few weeks. Our friends, The Busby's invited us to an event at the Morgan Creek Winery, about 30 minutes outside of town. We had such a good time that we want to make it an annual thing.

It is gorgeous out there. There were over 1000 people there. You bring your own food, chairs, wine, beer, etc. and just hang out from about 6-10. We were there right at 6 so we were able to sit close to the front where the band was so that the kids could dance and stay entertained.




About 1 hour into the fun. I got bitten by aunts when I was picking up french fries that the kids had dropped on the ground. It hurt really bad but I didn't think anything of it because I had never had issues before. Well about 15 minutes after it happened my knee started swelling and the palms of my hands, bottoms of my feet, and my eyelids, started itching and burning really bad. I thought it was just because it was hot and the mosquitos were out and probably biting me and making me itch all over. Barkley looked over at me and saw that my arms were covered in hives, so she suggested we all head over to the little store to get Benadryl. As we walked over it got worse and worse. I took some Benadryl and went to the restroom. As I was washing my hands I looked in the mirror to see that my entire face was swollen and broken out in hives.(This answered why everyone was staring at me when we were walking). Brandon said that I looked like Will Smith in Hitched.
Brandon decided it would be best to bring me around the corner to the Harpersville Fire Station to let the paramedic look me over so Barkley and Buzz were nice enough to watch Jack and take the kids to pick blueberries. I'm so glad she took pics because he had a blast and I missed all of it. As it turned out I was having an allergic reaction to the ants and after a few Benadryl the hives were gone, I was fine, and we were able to enjoy the rest of the festivities.

It was a late night but the kids and the adults had a blast. They ended the night with a great fireworks show that the kids loved. I can't wait to go back next year. I hope everyone had a great 4th of July.

Ashley