The 4th!

We had a great 4th!  We went to Aunt Erin's house, like we do every year.  Ate yummy brats and watched fireworks.  We had a nice, laid back time.  I didn't get very many pictures.  The kids do not like to cooperate with me.  :)

Our patriotic family

Glo sticks

Sparklers

Cousins

Grand and Great

I LOVE my Grandma and Papa!  And so do my kiddos!  They are amazing grandparents and great-grandparents!  They have always been there for me and my family.  Words cannot express my love and appreciation for them. 
Their marriage is such an inspiration to me.  They just celebrated 50 years of marriage!!  WOW!!  It's not too often that you hear of a marriage lasting for 50 years. 
I have always had a very special bond and great relationship with my Papa.  I have so many great memories of us playing and going to lunch together.  He has been my father-figure and he even walked me down the aisle at my wedding.
I have also had a great relationship with my Grandma.  She is so full of  wisdom and shows so much love.  She always assures me that I am a good mom and gives me great advice.
If you guys read this, I love you both soooo very much!  Thanks for all that you do and for being such a good example to me!  Love you! 

Papa and Riley

Grandma and Riley

Girl's Night!

Last weekend I had girl's night with some of my favorite girls.  It was a bittersweet girl's night.  My best friend Shauna, of 18 years, moved to Utah this weekend.  And this was a "Shauna is moving away girl's night."  :(  We went to one of our favorite places BJ's Brewhouse.  We had a great time hanging out and talking.  And then as we were leaving, we set my camera up and took some self timer pictures.  Those are always fun!  As always, the night ended way too fast.  I will miss my Shauna, but I know we will still see each other.  Maybe I can talk Shaun into another girl's weekend! 

Silly faces.

Oops!  Timed it wrong!

Staring off into space.

Emma's Birthday Party

Emma chose to have her birthday festivities at Peter Piper.  Which she chooses every year.  She chose a Tangled theme.  She is obsessed with that movie and Rapunzel.  We had a great turn out and had lots of fun!  She got tons of gifts and loves every one of them!  And she got a good amount of cash, which she always insists on putting in her piggy bank.  She says she is saving her money to buy a house or a car when she is a grown up.  LOL!  She sure cracks me up.  She is definitely 5 going on 35.

Emma's Birthday

Emma is five!  How did this happen?!  It seems like she was just placed onto my belly.  After 12 hours of labor, of course.  :)  The years are just flying by.  The day started out with her opening the few gifts that Shaun and I got for her.  He also had me throw in some strange "gifts".  Have you have ever seen Jimmy Kimmel's videos of parent's letting their kids open one Christmas "gift" early.  They open the gift and it's a half eaten sandwich, leftover's, etc.  Obviously something a kid does not want.  Most of the kids cried, or got angry and yelled at their parents.  Anyway, he had the idea to try this on Emma.  So, I wrapped up a box of Hamburger Helper and a pear. (Pears are one fruit she doesn't like)  She didn't react like those kids at all.  She just opened it, looked confused and moved on.  Good girl!  She opened the rest of her gifts and was very happy with them.

Then, it was a breakfast of her choice.  Blueberry pancakes, eggs, bacon and strawberries.  Yummy for all of us!  And then a late lunch with Grandma and Papa at Emma's choice, Olive Garden.  Again, yummy for all of us!