Swimming!

We met Mom & Dad W at their neighborhood pool last week for our first time swimming this summer... and had the whole place to ourselves!! It was during the week before 11am, but it has never been crowded. Once Gabe warmed up, he had a blast! He didn't want to leave the stairs at first...

We finally got him out of the shallow end and jumping into the water & "swimming" around, but he only wanted me or Perry!

My kids give my arms a good workout!

Georgia was there, too! She slept in the shade the whole time... I can't wait to go again!

Happy Father-of-Two's Day!

Our TWO kids!

Making Daddy a t-shirt (I found this idea on Pinterest) and helping me unwrap- and eat- candy! I think the shirt turned out pretty cool, just wish I bought a heavier-weight one but I liked this color I found at Target. It was an inexpensive thing that Gabe could make that hopefully Perry would wear! I did have to entice him with a "pop pop" to get him to focus on coloring though; he's not interested in arts & crafts lately.

Presents & cards for the incredible father of my children!!! We made Rolo Pretzels with peanut M&Ms from his "little peanut" (Georgia's room is elephant-themed!) and Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers, or owl food, from Gabriel (his nursery was owl-themed!). Gabe picked out a Finding Nemo card. 

We invited Mom & Dad W to Red Hot & Blue for dinner {but they ended up picking up the check... thank you!!} See Perry's shirt? He wore it in public!! I call that a win.

Happy Father's Day Perry!!! Happy Father's Day Dad W, aka "Boo"!!!

And Happy Father's Day to my Dad, aka "Papa", too!!! Look at this dapper young man! I love & miss you!!

Easter

Saturday night: Gabriel's 1st Easter Egg Hunt, glow-in-the-dark style (idea I got from Pinterest!). We didn't get good pictures of the "glow". It was fun, though, and I will definitely do it again!

Perfect Easter Sunday: Easter baskets, celebrating Jesus' resurrection with the church, lunch with family, playing at the park.

Book What Is Easter?, bubbles, Peeps, crayons, toothpaste & toothbrush, twist-up frog;
Starburst jelly beans and Big League Chew for Daddy!

BUBBLES!!!

Black & blue boy (bruise on his noggin and blue Peep lips!)

♥ Family ♥

Kissy kissy!

Gabriel's Winter ONE-derland Party!!!

We had Gabriel's 1st Birthday Party on his actual birthday and it was so much fun!! Perry & I took pictures of our birthday boy and snowflakes and ordered his invitations from Tiny Prints. LOVE how they turned out!!

For the Winter One-derland theme, I chose snowflakes and polar bears with the color scheme of several shades of blue and white. On the front porch I used plastic tablecloths and balloons, as well as balloons on the light post (since we don't have a mailbox at the street!). Inside I hung homemade zigzag streamers in front of the dining room window and all over the house were snowflakes we found at Wal-Mart in their after-Christmas clearance. Score! I also picked up a few other style snowflakes at Party City.

I displayed one picture from each of Gabriel's 12 monthly photo shoots, the snowflake ornament favors and party blowers on the foyer table.

Other DIY Pinterest projects:

We had a table full of delicious food- big thanks to my Mom!! Mom W also brought yummy meatballs- thank you! I handled drinks & the desserts: snowflake cupcakes, powdered sugar donut polar bears and Gabriel's smash cake (thanks for icing it, Dad D!).

We loved watching Gabriel eat his cake! Before & after!!!

Sharing with Grandma & Papa

"Gabriel, how old are you?"

I think he got cake in his eyes and/or nose... what a mess!

After his cake-smash, Gabriel got a bath, then we all hung out. Until Gabriel was worn out!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY GABRIEL!!!! Mommy & Daddy (and everyone else that knows you!) LOVE you!!!!

Halloween: Gabriel the Greaser

I scoured Pinterest for costume ideas for Gabriel's 1st Halloween and ran some by Perry, but nothing struck us. Then Perry suggested a Greaser. I envisioned the 1950's style- think white t-shirt, leather jacket, cuffed jeans- on our baby... Perfect!! It would be relatively easy to put together, too. My Mom always made (sewed) amazing Halloween costumes for me & my brother, but I gave myself a break on the first one for our first kid. It was more for us to enjoy his cuteness than for him, anyway.

*White onesie- already owned
*Wrangler jeans- already owned (but never worn)
*Leather jacket- harder to find in size 12 months than I expected; ordered on eBay for ~$35 (expensive in my opinion but he's worth it!)
*Converse sneakers- ordered on eBay for ~$20
*Hair- slicked back with gel & a comb
*Hot rod- already owned

Seriously? SO CUTE.

Oh-I dressed up too. It was a Mommy & me date! The poodle skirt I wore was made by my Mom for one of my Halloween costumes (maybe around age 12?)!! It didn't still fit, of course; I cut the elastic waist and a slit down the side to fit it over my mommy-hips, secured it with safety pins, and wore a long sweater to hide my lovely "alterations"!

After taking pictures at our house, we headed to a local park for Trick-or-Treat The Trails. Local businesses, organizations and churches set up tables along a walking path to hand out candy (and brochures).

Love this picture of us.

Grandma // Boo & Nonny // everyone on the trail!

These guys have my ♥

And just for fun... there were two things that Gabriel was not sure he wanted to pose with...

Nonny's Surprise 60th!

Perry and Dad Whitaker planned a great family party for Mom Whitaker's 60th birthday! Unbeknownst to her, Cassy, Will, Lauren & Emily came to town, which was probably the biggest surprise! To get her away from the house, I asked for her help shopping for Perry's 1st Father's Day; we went to the mall for a few hours with Gabriel... She didn't even notice the balloons on the mailbox when we turned onto her street. She was so shocked to see her whole family standing in the driveway with party hats on!! Happy 60th Birthday, Nonny- we love you!!

Lighting the candles on the sheet cake I made (using my Mom's recipe!)

Nonny's beloved grandchildren

Everyone, including Creepy Perry! This picture makes me laugh so hard!!!