Ev's Room

 I finally have Everett's room the way that I want it - all it needs is a baby at this point. 

Dr. M. moved my c-section back to 8/21 so now it is a race to see which comes first - Everett by his own accord, or Everett by force. His actual due date is 8/22. Wyatt came a week early, so I'm hoping these brothers can share at least that. I'm ready. Well, I'm not ready right this second, but I'll be ready a week early for sure. :)

Back to the task at hand - Ev's nursery. 

Here it is!

Changing table and crane mobile

Hanging these letters was beastly. Pop Pop was a real trooper!

Re-purposed artwork from Wyatt's nursery

Restoration Hardware's Stroller Blanket. Love. Wanted this for Wyatt, but couldn't justify it since we already had 100 blankies for him. Couldn't be happier with this piece.

Toddler pillow with monogram. Love.

Crane Mobile made from the pages of Little Women. From Etsy. It's precious.

Room with a view.

So - that's the way it all turned out. I was able to talk Jason into painting a blue room blue and he has been very complimentary of the way it all turned out. He's also been super sweet about bankrolling the whole project and not being too fussy. ***TOO***. Keisha did a great job helping me get all of the pieces in order. Pop Pop was so helpful and patient with hanging everything - excluding me, so...I appreciate that. Gabby and Katie watched Wyatt so I could help supervise Pop Pop. Also helpful. I think we've got a winner of a room. Can't wait to spend many-a-sleepless nights in there. Coming soon. :)

Happy Birthday, Aunt Sue!

We had a pool party at Gabby's today in honor of Aunt Sue's 29th birthday. There were tons of great snacks! Connor was home (a party in itself), Laura was in from Tyler, and then there were the in-town regulars! Fun crowd.

The Griffith's table - a moveable feast. We just can't get away from our legacy!

The pool was cool. The sun wasn't too hot. There was even a nice breeze blowing that made it almost cold if you got out for more than a second. 

Swimming to Daddy

Wyatt had some playmates today that he was enamored with - he couldn't get over blue eyes. I guess he'd never seen anything like it!!

Wyatt "holding" Aunt Sue

Libby and Jimmies

It was a great day. After dinner, a storm blew us all inside. Gabby made a brownie triffle that was out of this world - she even put candles in it. All in all, you can't beat a day like today. Happy birthday, Aunt Sue. We love you!!

4th of July

Always a large family event, we celebrate July 4th with just as much fervor as Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is a great time for everyone who can to gather together and eat, play, catch up. 

It is so much fun, being a part of a large family. 

This week we were fortunate enough to have TWO celebrations. 

On July 4th we drove out to Eagle Mountain Lake to cheer on the fireworks at Aunt Sue and Uncle Jim's place. 

Appetizers under the pergola

It was Wyatt's first time in the lake and he was such a fun little floater. He would drift back and forth between everyone. Gabby and Pop Pops took him up to the beach so he could build sandcastles - he had lots of help there. 

Not sure about this sand business

Pop Pops explaining how sand castles work

Sue & Jim prepared an amazing dinner that we all shared. Then we headed back down to the dock to watch fireworks. Wyatt loved Jim's tram and found the whole thing fascinating. 

Tram-tastic!

This was also Wyatt's first time to see fireworks. For days, he has been talking about "ka-BOOM". His favorite color firework was green and he was just riveted by the show. Sue and Jim had a little chair for him that had a cup holder "for his blue juice", but...he still spent most of the show perched in Gabby's lap. 

On Saturday, we drove out to Briar Creek Vineyard for more 4th fun. We started out in the pool - it was a revisit from childhood. We played motor boat, we had appetizers, we had beverages. 

What's that you say? You've never had THIS MUCH FUN?

Motor Boat, Motor Boat, Go So Slow...

Cheers, Brother!

Looks like they're on vacation

Fun with Aunt Becky

Then the rocket contest began. This was the first annual model rocket event and I think it is something that will be added to the rotation. Kids of all ages were fascinated by it. Since a steady stream of beer had been imbibed, there was a lot of trash talking and good spirited ribbing. 

Blast Off!

Up in the sky, Aunt Katie

I feel the need...the need...for speed

It's a bird, It's a plane, It's...daddy's rocket!

Spending time with Aunt Katie

From there, a pie baking contest ensued. Proud to say that Gabby won the pie contest fair and square with her amazing chocolate pie. Aunt Becky baked a cherry pie that I'm dying to get the recipe for; I probably would have eaten that whole thing, if sharing wasn't caring...

Pie Contest WINNER!!!!

Fireworks and patriotic songs rounded out our evening. I'm telling you that our family is so fortunate to have each other and to have such great experiences together. I feel blessed to have been able to introduce Jason to the joys of a large group of crazies that genuinely care about each other.  And that Wyatt and Everett will have the same childhood experiences I did: growing up with a passel of cousins, Aunts, and Uncles, Grandmothers, and Grandfathers who are all invested in making sure you have the best life possible.  

God Bless America!

Wrapping up June

June has flown by. I'm afraid the rest of the summer is going to go at this hectic of a pace - today we scheduled Everett's c-section for August 17th. We have a deadline! (Although, I'm not sure this kid is ever going to leave my rib cage. Ugh!)

With six weeks left, there is a lot to get done - plus we want W to enjoy his last few weeks as an only child. :) We've been working on the nursery and will reveal all of that as soon as it is completed. It's coming along nicely and I know I'll enjoy the HOURS I will be spending in there with the new guy.

Daddy and Dub - taking some calls, working on some business. 

While we were down at Katie's house a few weekends ago, we ran into a real live ice cream truck. W picked out a Pink Panther ice cream bar and then enjoyed eating it in Katie's front yard. He was such a mess we had to hose him off in the backyard, but it was a very cute experience. 

We've been having dinner with Aunt Katie, I can't tell you how nice it is to have Katie in the neighborhood.  We run into her when we're out on our Saturday/Sunday walks. She brings Molly down for visits, which W loves to pieces. Here we are at Chicken Scratch, sharing some chicken strips and lemonade. 

Playgroup has been in full force this summer. We're doing everything we can to stay cool. Here is a pic of W eating some Magic Pop over at Drew's house. This was all before getting in Drew's crazy blow up pool complete with slides! Look at those long legs! W a big boy now. :(

Here is a pic of W reading books with Pop Pops. Wyatt loves reading books. We got him all signed up for a reading program at a local library - every week we check out/trade in five books. After we read twenty books, we complete the program and W gets a prize. He is enthused about reading with or without the program, and it is fun to see everyone joining in and reading to him. I'm convinced that alone has grown his vocabulary (which is extensive and never ending these days...).

Last weekend Katie took W for a bit so that Pop Pops and I could finish hanging up some letters in the nursery and Jas could run to Home Depot. Katie convinced Wyatt to help her make some Mac and Cheese, his favorite thing to eat. When I came down to pick him up, he was eating raw bread crumbs and helping Katie unwrap butter. He was pretty impressed with the whole process and with Katie. I think she scored some major points with that idea!

I'm glad that we have made it this far into the summer without it being too hot. We've been swimming at Gabby and Pop Pops' house a lot. At first W was hesitant, but he has since picked it up and does pretty well with swimming. The only problem is that he doesn't want to stop to take a break and breathe. 

We've been talking to W about fireworks. This year will be his first year to really experience Fourth of July and since our family does it so well, it will be quite the holiday. He loves to say "boom" when we talk about the fireworks exploding. We will see how it all goes in person.