July 21, 2013

Charlie's Fourth Birthday Party

We hurried home from the beach to get ready for Charlie big firetruck themed birthday party!  I was excited about him having a summer birthday because it meant we could always do something outside.  I invited the kids to wear bathing suits and we had several water activites set up.  They had fun but it was sweltering and the grown-ups were quite hot.  The biggest hit of the party was when a Goochland fire truck rolled up the driveway and we got to see a real fireman in full costume!  Then we went back to the backyard for cake and our homemade pinata (which held up much better than I expected).  It was a great time and we were so thankful for all the friends who came and made it special :)

Some prep

Grandma and Charlie were in charge of making cookies (since Charlie doesn't eat cake)

Fire trucks and hydrants

Birthday morning... fire truck jammies the night before were key

Spraying out the fire on a less-than-thought-through art project

Fun with friends

3/4 of the grandparents at the party

Cornhole

Jane Perry checking out her favor box

Nothing is more fun than a hose

Poor James stood in front of a hot grill in the 95 degree heat.  We will be ordering food next year.

Chowing down

Charlie and his best bud Jack

A fire truck showed up!



Charlie, Caroline and a naked friend





James had to put on a fire suit


He wasn't hot enough already from cooking


Waving good bye

My awesome cake (eventhough he doesn't eat it)



At least he blows out candles


Jack wacking the pinata


Everyone going for the loot



Baby girl was there too but napped at just the right times

Opening some presents with just the family after the friends left

Our two girls


Izzy was eager to help

A new bike!





A bike-riding singer

Testing out his new airplane and fire backpack

Beach Trip

After talking about it for years, we finally arranged a beach week with Emily, Ashley and their families in Topsail this week!  We got an awesome house and had the best weather you could ask for.  Add great company, and it make for a really fun week!  Below are some pictures...

Two guys sleeping in


Our one and only nap attempt on the beach... it worked but just not for long




Toes in the water!


Striking a pose



Showing the baby a shell

The best I could do of the two of them

Waving to a passing ambulance


Our annual Ashley, Sarah and the boys shot

A pretty decent family photo

Shocking fish catch

The baby's sleeping arrangment... this is a closet





Too much beach time

Attempting a group shot

July 7, 2013

Fourth of July

We had fun celebrating the fourth out in the Gooch with three cookout/fireworks evenings in a row!  It was a great four-day weekend to just hang out at the house.  Charlie really dug doing sparklers this year which was fun to watch.  On the fourth we went to downtown Goochland to see fireworks thinking Kerrington would fall asleep on the way there.  She didn't and instead stayed awake for the whole fireworks display, ohhing and ahhing along with the big people.  It was awesome.  We also did some time at the pool and playing golf.  My favorite kind of weekend!





What Charlie loves... Race Cars!

Getting ready for her first trip to the pool

Cool pool guy