Summer nights with Friends - It's a good Mix!

Friday afternoon I got a text from my friend Camron saying...(come out tonight...bring Nate and the kids...we'll have a fire...the kids can run around...let me know...)

So I texted her back right away saying that sounded perfect and that we would be out.  Summer nights that end like this are the best kind.  I really do like when we have no plans and then something out of the blue like this comes along.  And Grey was super excited when I told him he was going to see all of his friends that night.

This was our first fire of the summer and to me this is what summer is all about.  Gathering with friends, my kids running around me, fun music playing in the background, adult conversation, good food, and some cocktails make for a pretty great night.

 Our friend Ruby loves babies...

 Lyla and Ruby were destined to get Sailor walking.  She might need a little more work.

I'm telling you though this girl is getting closer and closer...

Camron set up the tent for the kids too and by the time the sun went down it made for some pretty good story telling in the dark...the only light you could see was a flash light...

For the most part - you can bank on it that if kids have others to play with and food at their fingertips - they are good to go - don't you think?  I'm big on that - if the kids are fed (and well rested) you are for sure good to go...

I know Sailor was sure entertained by all the 'BIG' kids;)


And Nate and I laugh because this specific child of ours-as long as she has food in her hands-she's happy!

It was a lime-a-rita kind of night for the girls...I had tried it a few weeks back and wasn't sure...but now I'm sold -

an ice cold lime-a-rita was a perfect partner for our night...

 See what I mean....she was double dipping - first a pretzel - then a graham cracker...

She watches everything he does...makes my heart happy to watch them.

But you better believe when he tries to take something from her -she never goes down withOUT a fight.

She can even pull off a death grip with a graham cracker in the other hand...I believe this is where I chimed in with my motherly voice and said "Greyson let her have it"...I think he knows when I say 'greyson' that I mean business. 

I must admit that I'm the one that declared it S'more time!  I mean if this doesn't scream SUMMER - I don't know what does...

 

It's kind of funny how you want your kids to have all of these experiences and for me this is one of them...I want this for my children...the outside part I mean - because in my opinion these days a lot of kids don't know what good ol' fashion fun is...I want Greyson to be around a campfire making s'mores with his family-it's a small little detail in the grand scheme but to ME it's a BIG one.

I constantly remind myself that we are making memories for our children and I want them to remember them.

And one of them needs to be - summer bonfires and making s'mores:)

and let me tell you Nate can make a pretty stellar s'more

All I have to say is that our 'first' fire this summer delivered BIG time...

By the time we left the sky was dark, Grey's feet were black, and Sailie was falling asleep - definitely a sign of a good summer night...

Happy Monday!

My 2 Hawaiian Beauties

Deb bought these matching outfits in Hawaii for the kids when she visited Uncle Just.  Aren't they adorable in them?!  We had a little luau to go to on Friday afternoon and they worked out PERFECT!

We hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Road Trippin'

We are pretty much always up for a road trip.  The last minute ones usually make for the best times.  This one was no different.  The kids and I actually met my mom for an early breakfast and when I say early - we were all up/showered/dressed and out by 8am.  Those early risers of mine allow for these type of days.  So, after breakfast - my mom said - "let's take a ride to the Naperville Riverwalk!"......that's all it took....we picked up my Aunt Amy and piled into my moms van and off we went.

We started along the riverwalk where we were greeted by all the ducks...

I didn't have any bread but luckily we had graham crackers to feed them...they didn't mind one bit...

After the ducks we decided to walk over by the fun fountain where all the other kids were running around...the only difference was that my child decided to walk right into the water...I think Grey thought that it was only going to be to his ankles but instead it was all the way up to his neck...yep he fell right in - we all could not help but laugh...grey didn't think it was very funny though...

and no I did not have an extra outfit in my diaper bag...luckily I had fresh underwear...so my mom bought Grey a new outfit at baby Gap

this is what he looked like after the fountain ordeal...and we found it all on the clearance rack:)

We made a pit stop because Amy said grammy Ann needed some work on her brows;)

and Grey was a total charmer while here...

Sailie chillaxed most of the day

This cracks me up because my mom forgets she has her glasses on...you see her sunglasses are also glasses that help her see - haha!  She's all incognito while doing a little shopping...the woman is a sucker for jewelry and accessories - ;)  wonder where I get that from...

and we had to make a pit stop here.....yummmm!  Our last stop of the day...

Grey's final decision was vanilla ice cream with oreos...it was so good....he wanted to feed Sailor...

that's all she needed - one little taste -she's like ok give me some more...

Fun day and a whole lot of GOOD shopping:)

Happy Friday!