- Sunday Funday -

Hashtag: summertime! Hashtag: funs and faves! Hashtag: water bebe! Ever since the day Grayson invited Harper to his water table/sprinkler party back in June, she has been obsessed with splishing and splashing in any collection of water she sets her eyes on [minus the toilet; so very lucky am I that she hasn't discovered that bowl of water yet!]. We finally decided to buy her her own water table about a month ago and haven't regretted the decision one time! This table and the toys that come with it [plus a few other small random Tupperware tubs from my kitchen] have provided so many hours of entertainment... I love watching my little munchkin play and learn and grow -- and have a ton of fun while doing so.

Check our our day so far today! Hashtag: Sunday Funday!

PS - I linked the table up at the top so you can buy your little minions one, too! And the best part? ...It's still on sale right now at Wal-Mart! ;) 

Happy Sunday!

xoxox :-* 

- Cheers to 55 Years! -

^^ The post title says it all! Happiest of birthdays to these super six! We had so much fun celebrating with you. :) 

...And the lake view wasn't too bad either... ;) 

May "55" be your best year yet!

- Splashin' it up at da Pad -

Yes! I'm #thatmom who lugs her Canon 60D into the brand new splash pad in town because ...of course... we. can't. miss. a. single. opportunity. for. documentation. of. day. to. day. life.  But turns out this splash pad was actually pretty sweet. At least Brian and I thought so.....

And Harper's opinion? ^^ Meh. 

We were wondering why all these kids and parents were frolicking around like it was Christmas in July or something whilst our offspring couldn't bear to dip her toe into one inch of fun .....until my mom sent this pick of a throwback to 1991:

#likemotherlikedaughter ...Apparently we both enjoy[ed] viewing water activities from the sidelines. 

But! After an hour or so of scaling the perimeters of the pad, Harper totally warmed up and dove in for some sweet summer fun! She didn't let Brian or me get too far from her side, but she really enjoyed playing in the small fountains and loveddd splashing around in the puddles! 

Look at that beach babe on the loose!! Can't wait to go back for more splashin' fun!

Happy summer, friends!  :-*

- The 4th ...then and now! -

A little "then and now" to caption up our holiday weekend because I'm a total American history junkie at heart...

Then:  The Stamp Act and Boston Massacre and British-proposed taxes on this, that, and everything in between! Helloooo, you brave souls of the Sons of Liberty. Resistance and ridiculousness and radicals-turned-"Patriots" tossing hundredssss of chests of tea in to the Boston Harbor.  Colonists read Common Sense and the scales finally tip towards founding a new nation... ...because as we know, "all men are created equal!" and damn straight that all of us be havin' the rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!" 

Now:  Boat rides and sunshine and lots of lovin' for the lake life! Life! Liberty! Happiness!!! 

Then:  Philadelpha, Pennsylvania -- July 4, 1776 -- Delegates of the Second Continental Congress cooped up in the Pennsylvania State House debating whether or not to adopt the Declaration of Independence.  And did they even have deodorant back then?  Because throw a bunch of tired, stressed-out, rebellious men fancied up in their fluffy, decorative wardrobes into a room of sweltering heat and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to add up that equation... Poo.  ...But they knew this declaration was treason against Britain, punishable by death! So! #solemnaffair

Now:  Hot dogs and ice cream and relaxation all around! And deodorant and sunscreen and bug spray and perfume. :) 

Then:  War breaks out; blood is shed and lives are lost. But bravery and courage and a burning desire for freedom perseveres and we pull out a victory against great odds! Oh haiiii, AMERICA! History be made.

Now:  Beer and fireworks and an official holiday where family and friends come together to celebrate our independence!!!  

 

Happy 4th of July from our family to yours!! But in light of all the partying, you betcha I'm gonna raise my babies to acknowledge the courage of the Patriots and the Founding Fathers annnnnd all other men and women who have fought for and defended our freedom since July 4, 1776! Thrilled that we can run outside and celebrate instead of sit inside our houses and hide the Redcoats! ;)  

Happy birthday, America!!!!! #thankfulforindependence #best4thyet

- Family Reunion + Father's Day -

Home from vay-cay at 9pm and one sleep away is the highly anticipated Drago family reunion!

The rooster rises at her normal crack-of-dawn time. And in the 3.2 minutes I'm busy putting my makeup on, she's in the closet dumping all my feminine belongings like, "PHEW, thank the Lawd I'm still the baby!..." 

...Yes yeshhhh, she's my baby; but she definitely isn't the only baby in this family!  There are EIGHT little munchkins in Brian's extended family that turned one in the past several months!! Craziness. Someone hired a photographer to come to the family reunion to capture a photo of all eight of them...

...which was a TOTAL disaster and I'm terrified to even see the photos!!! Ha...ha...haaaa, slow laugh... I didn't have high expectations considering I can barely even take a good photo of Harper these days before she just stands up and walks off, but it was even worse than any of us imagined! ALL EIGHT OF THEM WERE CRYING!!!  It was actually kind of hysterical.  I hope she got some good shots because these will be hilarious to pull out at the family reunion in 20 years! ;) The photographer also took some video footage, so I'm looking really forward to seeing all 'dat! 

Anyway, pretty soon the photographer packed up her stuff and left and then it was time for everyone to let loose! Shockingly, all eight babies were happy for the rest of the afternoon... 

 

^^ Brian's uncle bought this awesome inflatable that will be fun for yearsssss to come!  Harper was too little to get in this year with all the big kids, but she sure kept an eye on all the other cousins having a blast in there! 

Parade fun...

 

"Gog!"

 

...Then a little fair food and partyin' uptown at the carnival to close out the night! 

So thankful to be a part of this great family!! 

Oh, and...

 

Father's Day sort of definitely and sadly got overshadowed by vacation and the family reunion this year, but you better believe we had a lazy Sunday after all the action! Harper and I woke Brian up with a back rub and a big breakfast, then the rest of the day was dedicated to some true "Daddy/daughter" bonding time [...photo-free, shockingly!]! :)  

Happy Father's Day, Brian!!! Harper and I are so lucky to have you! :-*