{Happy 4th of July}

Our 4th of July celebration started at 12:30am when the fire alarm started blaring in our apartment. Good think it woke Kelsey up because I was out cold and didn't hear it and all of the babies were still sleeping through the loud siren. We walked outside to see what was going on and everyone was leaving the building... we decided we needed to wake our 3 sleeping babies and get outside in case there really was a fire and we just could not see it. Much to our surprise they were all fine and happy while we waited 20 minuets {yes you read that right - good thing there really was not a fire} for the fire truck to get there. Someone had just pulled the fire alarm - so no harm done other than it waking us all up in the middle of the night. The kids were excited to see the fire engine {Ryker is in LOVE with fire trucks these days}. Thankfully the kids all went straight back to sleep and it was the adults who had a hard time falling back to sleep.   

 Ever since meeting Brady and the Wood family I have LOVED celebrating the 4th of July. Down in Delta they know how to celebrate our independence day. We miss going to the park and letting the kids catch fish and ride ponies and we REALLY miss the demolition derby. I told Brady that I will someday race in the powder puff {girls} round. That is on my bucket list. 

 We found out about a fun parade in Dunwoody that we headed out to. We were able to find a nice place of grass to let the kids play before the parade started. And the people next to us had some great American pride music playing that we were able to jam out to. Sophi is too cute on her little puppy leash. She loves it and loves to push her limits with it on. 

 We were pretty close to the start of the parade so the kids were able to get loads of candy. And the people passing it out were really sweet and would come and put it in the kids bags most of the time instead of throwing it at them. We really liked the "Bug Buster" car. 

 We are thinking about joining the Pirates and Wenches guild after this float. hahahah. We also got to see the worlds largest Idaho potato. They claim it is real but it looked pretty fake to us. 

 That evening we had friends over for swimming, BBQ, and AWESOME fire works {if you are 2 you might think they were awesome!} Ryker is like his mama and LOVES fire! 

 Ryker and Sophi were LOVING the short tables so they could reach all of the chips. They ate almost an entire bag of Cheetos that night. They were in heaven! 

Enjoying our sweet fire work show. 

I am proud to be an American and live in a FREE country. I am so grateful for all of the soldiers who are fighting/have fought for our freedom. 

{Booths visit the ATL}

My sister Kelsey and her girls came to visit us in "HOTLANTA" {Yes that is really what people call Atlanta and YES it proved its self worthy of the name. We had a record high of 106 for almost 3 days. Good thing we have a nice pool and splash pads to beat the heat and still have fun.} We had been anticipating this trip for months and were VERY excited to have them to play with for almost 2 weeks while their daddy was away in Philly for a hockey tournament. 

We stayed VERY busy while they were here. I am pooped and looking forward to staying home next week and working on some of my "nesting" organizing projects before Nana arrives in a week. This is how you know I am starting to feel pregnant that I needed/wanted to just stay home and be lazy and not go on adventures. You know me I never turn down an adventure. 

 Trip to the Zoo. 

I love this picture of Ryker.... It looks like he is popping a squat. Silly guy. 

 Kelsey is practicing her Halloween costume with her sweet "bieber" hair. Hahahah! Love her.
On our way home from the zoo we got to stop and get a special little treat - snowballs! We loved them and they tasted just as good as our Rabner family ones. 

Crazy little Sophi. We love you even though you love picking on Ryker and making him cry. Someone needs to teach him how to be tough right?! 

Uncle Brady and Ali Jo had lots of fun being silly, building castles, and watching shows together {her favorite with The Colony}.  

Playing at the splash pad. We love this place. Sophi totally enjoyed playing in the muddy water and eating more than playing in the water but whatever makes her happy. Ryker and Ali had more and more fun the longer we were there. This place is a nice break from the pool to cool off. 

{Good Bye Ford's}

I have decided that the worst part of this stage of life {grad school} is that you lose good friends every year. I am grateful for all of the good friends we have made living here in Atlanta but it really stinks to have them grow up and move away and start real life post school. 

{Me, Mary, Clara, Marie, Lindsey, Ella, and Steph}

 We will miss you Mary. I love that we were able to make so many fun memories with you and your family. Thanks for always being willing to go on adventures with me and Ryker. 

 The guys!

{Caleb, Aaron, Andrew, Matt, Chris, Jack, Dan, Pete, Brady, and Ryker} 

I love our BBQ/Swim parties with these families. They are the BEST! And a BIG thanks goes to Marie for remembering her camera because I forgot mine and I really wanted pictures to document this super fun night. We wish ya'll the best of luck in Oklahoma Ford family. 

Oh Tiny how I love you! Ryker got this new "car boat" that was the hit of the party with the kids. He was too funny in it. He would recline and then paddle himself around with his little hands. It was so funny. 

{Family Photos}

So back over Christmas break we had family pictures taken. I am really bad and never posted them even though I LOVE how the turned out. At least I am posting them before we have new ones with Baby Gray right?! 

I think they turned out so great even though Ryker would not smile for anything. I love my dear friend Nikki who takes our pictures every time we come home. Check here out HERE. She does such a great job if you are in Utah and looking for a great photographer full of creative ideas and props. I wish we lived closer to her so she could take Ryker's yearly birthday photos also. 

{Mount Vernon}

Mount Vernon - George Washington's plantation was my favorite place we went on our DC trip. It was fun to learn more about our first president. I had no idea that he was as wealthy as he was. His home was quite fancy with the size, paint colors {the brighter the colors the more expensive}, the molding, and the furniture. We could not take pictures while in the house but if you are ever in the area I totally recommend driving down. He and Marsha were quite the host one year they had more than 400 guest stay the night with them {I wish I could remember the exact number - thank you pregnancy brain}. Pretty crazy. 

 The kids all enjoyed petting the Donkey. He was one big guy! 

 George Washington's tomb. 

He was truly a great man. He was very involved with all of his farms {he and Marsha had over 2,000 acres in 3 or 4 states}. His farm managers had to send him weekly reports on everything. It sounds like he was not  only a great general, President, but also farmer. He even invented this big contraption to have his horses break the wheat out of its shells - the 8 sided barn.  

 All of the kids were SO good. It was a long, HOT day and they were troopers. They loved petting the sheep also. 

 Erin and I even managed to make it up this HUGE hill pushing a double stroller together - it was so big it almost killed both of us. Kinda funny the looks we got. 

 Erin and I were also fascinated that even back in the 1700's they found ways to dress materials up to make them look more expensive. The mansion behind us was built out of wood and they made it look like stone by  covering the wood with sand and then painting it giving it the illusion of stone but for much less. Also another interesting side note the rooftops were all painted red.  

Wills and Hannah were so funny. We could not get them to take any pictures with us all day then as we were walking to the car they said "mom take my picture in front of this ROCK" ha ha classic kids right?! We were all dying about this. 

To top off a super fun day we got to stop at Cafe Rio and have dinner. We were all in heaven! Especially Brady. He LOVES Cafe Rio and I guess mom and I went over Christmas break last year without him and he has yet to let me forget. 

Ryker had so much fun playing with Wills, Hannah, and Graham. He still is asking to play with them and missing them. We love and miss the Quinn family. Erin and I had so much fun staying up WAY too late talking and playing games. We would love to end up living close to these wonderful friends someday. 

{Happy Fathers Day}

We are so in love with Brady Michael here at our house.

 Brady is such an AMAZING daddy and husband. He is always good to play with Ryker, help take care of Ryker's needs, and discipline{OK he is kinda a push over with that one but he is getting tougher}. These boys just love each other to pieces. Ryker was VERY excited to try on daddy's glasses tonight. Brady thinks he looks like a cute little nerd. hahaha! Ryker was good help in the kitchen today with breakfast and dinner for daddy. He even did a good job at helping daddy open his presents. 

Too bad I didn't get a picture of them all dressed up for church today - they both looked quite handsome. But in all reality a PJ picture is more appropriate for the kind of day we had after church and that was just what Brady wanted. Long naps, yummy food, US Open and NBA finals on TV. Needless to say Brady has been in heaven. 

We love you Brady Michael!

Thank you for all of your hard work with school so you can be an awesome physical therapist someday. We love every moment we get to spend with you! Ryker always misses daddy a LOT on Monday's when Brady has to go back to school/work. 

{DC part 2}

 Ryker loved holding hands with Wills and Hannah. The boys were so cute together at the zoo and they even matched. This was totally unplanned. This zoo is pretty cool. The orangutan's had this cool rope and tower that run through the zoo that they can climb on as they please. Too bad we didn't get to see one swinging around above our heads on it. The hill almost killed us prego mama's pushing strollers. It was BIG. But good thing we have super powers. We also got to meet up with Jaclyn for lunch after the zoo and it was so fun catching up with her {I forgot to snap a picture of us together ... Oops!} She was sweet enough to endure lunch with 4 kids in a restaurant. Brave girl I know. 

 Ryker was playing with his puppet so cute and of course when I pull out the camera he takes off his glasses and stops. Cute little turkey. 

 I think Ryker loved the Air and Space Museum the most. I must admit Brady and I really enjoyed it also. 

 Brady was a champ at getting us downtown without Erin and we didn't even get lost. 

 The Lincoln was Brady's favorite thing we saw on this trip. We knew he was BIG but neither of us had any idea of just how BIG he really is. So neat. 

 Ryker was a total trooper on the whole trip. We had long busy days and lots of stroller time. He just went along without a fuss. We walked SOOOO much. It was great. I am so glad the weather was not too hot and that I was not more pregnant or this might not have been as enjoyable. 

 The Washington behind my boys.

Too bad the reflection pool was under construction. I guess we will have to come back again and see it and everything else we didn't get to see. 

 We also got to go into the National Treasury and see the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence {they don't let you take any photos in the building}. It was pretty cool. I wish we would of had more time in there but we were trying to rush home to miss rush hour traffic. 

 We were lucky enough to be staying with Erin's parents so we put the kids to bed and got to go out on a date night just the 4 of us. We tried to get cup cakes in George Town but they were all sold out so we went and got the BEST shakes instead - toasted marshmallow {it really tasted like mallows fresh off the fire} and Milky Way {they had all of the separates poured on top of vanilla ice cream}. They were both AMAZING!!   

 We then headed to see the Roosevelt monument. It was so cool. I loved reading all of his quotes {no kids meant we could actually read everything we wanted to - how about that}. And NO Brady and I didn't plan on matching... we got into the car and realized it. Kinda silly.  

 Don't mind my crazy eyes{I blame the flash in the dark}. Brady looks good and I love the Washington behind us. So cool seeing them all lit up. 

 Erin and Oliver in front of the Jefferson. 

 We were all getting a good kick out of the boys and their jumping pictures. I must admit they have some sweet moves. 

 Erin and I tried to get some jumping pictures but Brady does not have the mad skills like me to get us. BUT we really tried for like 10 mins and THAT my friends is a LONG time when you are jumping with our baby bumps. 

Brady chillin with Jefferson. 

When we were walking back to the car I had my first encounter with city rats. As we were walking by some trash cans I could hear something rustling around  and I said to Brady "oh there must be some rodents in there" and then started walking faster... Brady being the sweet husband that he is started teasing me and saying "oh look right there he is" etc. I was starting to get even more nervous and then one runs out of a bush and I saw his whole creepy dirty body and that sent me squealing across the street. I hope to never have a city rat encounter again. YUCK! 

{New York}

While we were in DC with the Quinn's Brady got to take a road trip with Oliver {Erin's husband} to New York. The boys had so much fun. They had to go up for some business meetings {Oliver is opening a burger joint called Elevation Burger and they had to go meet with some other owners}. Brady HAD to eat burgers, fries, and shakes {rough, I know right} and hang out with just the guys. They also got hooked up by one of Oliver's friends with sweet Yankee's tickets. You know the VIP kind where they got to sit in cushioned seats, 9 rows from the field, all you can eat food and drinks, got to go in early and see batting practice, and try on a championship ring. Lets just say this was a once in a life time opportunity for all of them and Brady says the most AMAZING sporting experience he has ever had by FAR {and he is not even a Yankee's fan}.