Dustin and Amy's Wedding

June 21, 2014
Drew and I were very fortunate to go to Connecticut on the weekend of my birthday for a wonderful celebration.  Our longtime friend from college, Dustin, was married to his beautiful fiance, Amy and we were there to help them celebrate!  We left on Thursday morning around 6:30am.  My parents had the girls for the entire weekend, so this was just a weekend getaway for the two of us.  It ended up being about a 14 hour drive!  It wasn't terrible, but the last hour or two were the worst part.  Once we arrived on Thursday evening, we checked in and headed right to the little hotel restaurant for a bite to eat and a drink.  A well deserved drink!

The ride was long, but very pretty.  All I know is Pennsylvania is a very wiiidddeeee state!  It took forever to get through it!

I have never been so happy to see a state sign before!

The next morning we were eating breakfast down in the hotel restaurant and Dustin's mom and dad came down and then his brother, Brandon and his wife, Annie.  We all got to chatting and then Dustin arrived to get ready to leave with all the guys to golf.  Dustin's mom, sister, and sister-in-law invited me to go with them for the day.  They were going shopping and just walking around the little downtown in Westport!  We had a wonderful time and I am so thankful they invited me along.

Ashley, Annie and I at the rehearsal dinner that night!

On Saturday morning Drew and I had a chance to go back to the downtown area and have a wonderful brunch and just take in the sights! It was a beautiful way to spend the morning of my birthday and relax before the big wedding!

Across the river in Westport

The wedding wasn't until 5 in the evening and it was right at the hotel. It was an absolutely beautiful evening!

This is Dustin's brother, Brandon, Amy's twin sister, Lauren, and the flower girl.

Dustin's wedding party

Here comes the bride!

Rings!

I love this picture of the two of them.  So in love!
Congratulations Amy and Dustin!

Annie and I
We were basically instant friends from the moment we met on Friday morning!  Two very similar people! :)

This was so hysterical!  We were all taking our pictures in front of the arbor and then someone mentioned how funny it is that none of the men could fit under the arbor.  We figured it was only appropriate that we take these pictures.

Dustin had to get in on the action!

Dustin and Amy's first dance

It was a terrific weekend of celebrating and a great birthday weekend with just the two of us! I sure was excited to get home to these two goobers though!

They had a ton of fun helping Grandpa in his garden!

So happy to be home!

We missed them both so much!

Norah's First Dance Recital

June 12, 2014
We are so proud of our little girl.  She was in her first dance recital this year!  She danced to "A Clown, A Clown".  I just couldn't believe how comfortable she was on stage and she was just quite the little performer.  This recital was special for two reasons this year.  It was Norah's first, and Anita's last.  I danced with Anita for 10 years growing up and it is so hard to believe that her career teaching dance is coming to an end, but I feel so blessed that Norah got to be a part of her last recital.  It was a pretty emotional couple of days!

Rehearsal Night
Norah was a little feisty this night.  I think she was confused about everything that was going on and she was so worried that the recital was going to start without her.  She had a couple meltdowns, but I pulled her aside and tried to explain how everything was going to work.  She was pretty good after that! :)

I had to do a little red stain removal from her crisp white shirt every night.  

All the little clowns waiting in the band room before the recital!  Ready for the real recital!

Audrey and Lilly were in two dances this year!  They did a great job and it was so fun watching all of the girls perform.

The one thing that Norah remembered from going to the recital last year was that Audrey and Lilly got flowers after the recital.  It was one of the first things she asked us about when she found out she was going to be in a recital.  So cute!

This is Norah and her friend, Grant, from daycare.  They have been besties ever since they started in the baby room at daycare together!  Grant's sisters were in the recital and he sat in front of us on the first dance recital night.  He was so excited to see her on the stage.  Just a precious friendship!

My Aunt Dinah and Uncle Kenny came to the recital on the second night!  I am so grateful they were able to see her dance and also very grateful that my Aunt is so good with the camera, especially in poor lighting.  She knows how to get the shot!  All of the following pics are from her!  Thanks Aunt Dinah!

I am so bummed this little stinker blinked in this picture, but I had to post it anyway!  

Hazey came to watch Sissy the second night.  She made it quite awhile at the recital and then Drew had to leave with her.  I am just so glad she got to see Norah on stage!  She loved watching her!

Norah was the first one out of the car!  She was so enthusiastic both nights! 

"A clown, a clown, I am a happy clown...."

"I sing.....I dance....I tumble up and down....."

"My tricks are great....."

"My jokes are lots of fun!"

"That's me, you see, a happy little clown!"

Drew getting our little performer from the stage after she was done!  Norah made it through watching the ENTIRE recital BOTH nights in a row!  She loves a good performance!

Camping.....Sort Of!

May 31, 2014 Mom, Dad, Aunt Dinah, Uncle Kenny, Bridget and Chopper were all camping during the last weekend in May. I decided to head up for a visit for the day while Drew golfed. The girls had so much fun playing around the campground, going on an animal hunt, and going to the beach.

Trying out the campground swings!

We brought our big wheel and Norah had a great time riding it around the campground.  

Aunt Dinah had a little ball and net game that Grandpa and Norah had fun playing with!

This picture proves that I will do anything for this little girl!  I DO NOT enjoy snakes (or any reptile for that matter).  But, Norah wanted to go on a nature hunt and we had found a few little insects along the way, but I ended up seeing two snakes along the way.  Well, I had a butterfly net and this little bug box.  Long story short, I captured the snake and managed to get it in the bug box.  Norah and I walked back to camp with our nature walk capture and showed everyone.  I'm not sure who was more proud, Norah for having this to show everyone, or me for actually catching the creepy thing! 

And just had to share three of my newest favorite photos!
Chhheeeessseee!

First official day of summer vacation!  Momma is done with work, which means time for walks and playing in the park!

The fact that they can ride on this alone, just the two of them......well, they are just getting so big!