OOOOOOOOOOOO-klahoma

Sorry for the title...I couldn't resist :)

Last weekend we set out on a brand new adventure - the twins first trip on an airplane! Unfortunately, due to the bag my camera was in having to be checked, we didn't get a picture of this monumental event...but we did get a picture of them in the airport WAITING to board the plane :)

Note: see the shoe (and legs) on the left? That was a very nice woman sitting next to us. She WAS reading a book, but Ryan (who apparently cannot stand being ignored) leaned forward and loudly said, "HELLO!" and made her pay attention to everything he did...which is why he was looking at her in this picture!

If you ask Lucas, the flight was terrible. If you ask me, it could have been a LOT worse :) If you ask both of us, the flight home was amazing (but that's getting ahead of the story...) In his defense, Lucas did end up having to change Ryan's dirty diaper in the tiny airplane bathroom (his cries were so loud that people from the front of the plane were turning around to look...and Ryan was pretty loud too!), so that might be why we have such different views.

We flew to Oklahoma for my cousin's wedding (more on that to come), and due to multiple, small, flight delays (that added up to be really long - another reason Lucas felt the trip was terrible) we got in later than we expected. When we got to the hotel we planned on getting them in their pj's and into bed ASAP...but they had other ideas...

Note: he LOOKS unhappy, but he willingly chose to play on the luggage cart and look like he was in jail!

It wasn't so bad because they were able to spend a little time with Uncle Nic & Ariel (pictured below) and Papa, Gigi, and Uncle Matt (who had been at the rehearsal) before bed.

We did finally get them to sleep (I could write a whole book on sleep issues while traveling. My children pick a different and new one each night of each trip!). The next day they needed a bath before the wedding...and they loved the bathtub!

It was gigantic!

It might have been larger than their backyard pool at home!

And then we were ready to head to the church for the main event!

To be continued...

Happy Birthday, Cuppycake!!

One year ago we welcomed Cousin Cuppycake to the world! While we were very excited at the time that the twins would have a cousin so close to their age, we were sad that we lived so far away. We never could have guessed that not only would we end up living so close that we could schedule spontaneous playdates, but that we would actually be with her on her first birthday!!

Reading books with her cousins

(yes, my children were still in their pajamas when the birthday girl arrived. Yes, they were sans pants. Yes, I did dress them...I just waited until AFTER I took pictures!)

Unfortunately, Ryan bopped her in the face with this book shortly after this picture was taken. He was a little aggressive in showing his love for his cousin...

With Nana & her birthday balloon!

Checking out her presents...

Happy Birthday, Sweet Cuppycake! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Our 4th: Part 2

Saturday, Lucas was gone the whole day with a wedding and a big church outreach at the fireworks. Meanwhile, I was home dealing with diaper rashes that resulted from something the twins ate that they were allergic to.

Sunday Uncle Logi, Aunt Min, and Cousin Cuppycake came to celebrate with us!

All of the cousins were dressed in their patriotic finest!

I know I'm a bad parent for pausing to take a picture before I pulled him off the cooler...but I needed evidence of my monkey man's antics!

The brothers demonstrate that you never really grow old as long as you have a smile on your face and a freezie pop in your hand!
(note: you can't see Logan's hat well, but he was wearing a Yankees hat & Lucas was obviously wearing Red Sox...he's lucky we let him in the house!)

Dancing together :)
For some reason Ryan wouldn't stop touching her face...a sign of affection, I'm sure!
At the end of the afternoon we went swimming. The cousins enjoyed floating together!

We had a great time eating (LOTS) of yummy food, talking, watching the cousins run around. BUT, the highlight of the day was when Cuppycake decided she wanted to give Ry-guy hugs and kisses. At first he was game and they gave each other a really cute kiss. But then Cuppycake's hugs got a little aggressive, and he ended up running away and hiding by me! It was just so cute to see the cousins lovin' on each other!

Lucas and I wrapped up the evening by watching Boston's fireworks on tv. It was sad to know that we've been there so many of the past years, and now we don't know when we'll ever be again. But at least we've started a few new traditions of our own :)

Our 4th: Part 1

Since the 4th was on a Sunday, we got to do a lot of celebrating before the holiday even began! On Friday we had some new neighbor friends over for grilled pizza. It was so fun to hang out with them! We are so grateful that God brought such great friends into our lives so quickly! We also were incredibly surprised how much grown up conversation we had with 5 kiddos running around!

E pushing B on the little swing.

Ryan stops by to see if he can have a turn.

Instead Chris gave the kids rides on the big swings!

Allie LOVES the evergreens. She likes to touch them and give them hugs. The house next door has a row of trees, and she went down the row hugging each one...

Turns out I'm not the only shutterbug!

The girls

The boys

Happy 4th of July!!!!

Backyard Fun!

Because sometimes the pictures tell the stories better than I do...