Happy Birthday to Davey!!

David Paul Adams III turned three on August 17th (if you've been around us at all in the last several months, you were well aware of that fact; he let no one escape that knowledge). We were all excited for his birthday, really, mostly because he was so excited. It was fun to plan a party and try to help him feel special.

His party was on the Saturday before, the 15th, and when I tried to explain that the party wouldn't actually be on his birthday, he screamed and cried, "No! My birthday is August 17!!" So I didn't broach that subject again.

If you can read the invitation at all, you'll see it invites guests to a BLUE party. What is a blue party you may ask? We didn't have the easiest time figuring out what to do with that theme, but Davey loves everything to be blue, so that's what we went for.

The house decorated with blue balloons and streamers.

Ready for the party!

We had what Dave and I consider to be an old-fashioned party with games for the kids, lunch, cake and ice-cream and present opening.

First, we read one of Davey's favorite books, Blue Train Green Train, a book full of colors about none other than Thomas and Percy.

Ready for the story.

The kids were supposed to cheer and be crazy every time they heard me say blue, though that didn't work too well...

Lena and Sammy getting into it a little.

Then we played a version of Duck, Duck, Goose!, using Red, Red, Blue! Again, only a couple of the kids got into it...

Same story with playing Hullabaloo...

I guess kids this age just mostly like to make their own fun. Or maybe I just tried to do too many things. But it was worth the try!

Then Dave took the kids out back to play with some water balloons.

Attempting a toss.

The kids had fun rolling the balloons down the slide.

M&Ms are Davey's favorite candy, so I used them to decorate the cake. I took care to make sure all of the Ms were facing up since that's what Davey does before he will ever eat any...

The cake. 

Davey helped me sort out all the blue M&Ms for it.

The birthday boy loved being sung to.

The big wish!

Then, the best part... presents! The kids all had fun helping Davey open them.

A big pause took place when he opened a gift with 

some gummy bears inside. No one moved on to another

gift until the bag was empty!

Last of all, the kids got to go fishing in the "big blue" for their treat bags...

Avery and Roberto

Lena, Davey, Lauren, Sammy

Once the dust settled and everyone was gone, Charlie enjoyed the spoils...

... and Davey was ready for another part of the day, just as exciting for him... popping the balloons!

Gathered up the balloons and ready to go!

After trying to step on them, they realized popping with

a stick was the way to go.

Luckily the sound of the popping didn't register nearly as loud on this video as it really sounded...

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All in all, a very fun day! 

Back in Texas

Since we've been home, we've had a lot of fun reconnecting with all the friends we'd missed.

It's been fun to get back into the pools and nice that Charlie enjoys it more now too. We swim 2-3 days per week...

Davey and his nursery buds

Does this not just look like summer? Ahhh...

It's so nice to have Mendy and Ryan just down the street. We often fill the late afternoon hours when kids are getting cranky and husbands aren't home yet with visits back and forth to each others' homes. Davey loves it when Ryan comes over and brings his wagon.

He also loves to share his "yum-yums" (puffs)

I love my double stroller and so do the kids!

Davey and Ryan have mostly been the ones to interact since we've known them, but now that Charlie's getting a little older, its fun to see him interacting with Ryan more...

Ryan checking out Charlie playing

Charlie checking out Ryan

Davey has been able to attend some church camps with MacKenzie this summer, which he's really enjoyed (except an over-zealous tiger during a play that scared him terribly). One day we got to have MacKenzie hang out with us all day...

I thought they just looked so cute in their pjs

(hers were so cute and girlie - I hope I get to dress a girl someday...)

After I picked them up from the camp we met 

Laetitia and Lena at Chick-fil-A for lunch

It's been so fun hanging out more with Charlotte and MacKenzie with them home for the summer; we're going to miss them when school starts again!

We also finally returned the favor from way back before Charlie was born and watch the Griffeth kids for a morning. Everything went very well, but boy was it exhausting watching 4 kids! I have a new appreciation for the effort of mothers of 4!

Charlie and Jared really enjoyed each others' company

And Lauren and Davey had a blast (though by the end

they needed a little down-time)

They were so funny while they were eating lunch, trying to entertain Jared...

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We're so grateful to have so many good friends!

Grandparents are Great!

Two nights before we left Michigan, we were able to get together for dinner with both sets of Davey and Charlie's grandparents for dinner. It was so nice to have all of our parents together with some time to chat and let the boys enjoy being with them. We met at Max & Erma's in Birmingham. It's a great place for kids because they have an ice cream bar you can bribe them with to eat all their dinner! :)

Davey was so excited about the BLUE whipped topping they had.

 It was blue-raspberry flavored... kind of strange if you ask me.

Afterward we chatted and enjoyed the beautiful evening and Davey enjoyed throwing coins in a fountain, always a favorite pass-time for him.

The boys with their grandparents!

Each of our parents were very helpful with the boys and spent some nice quality time with each of the boys. Grandma Adams was especially helpful with Charlie and Grandpa Adams indulged Davey a lot when Dave and I didn't want to take him outside. Grandpa Paulson was able to spend more time than usual with the boys, cuddling Charlie and playing ball with Davey, since he took some extra time off while we were there and Grandma Paulson thoroughly enjoyed the boys every chance she got and giving me breaks whenever I needed one.

(Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the boys with G & G Adams... :( it seems like I just go in spurts of sometimes remembering to take pictures when we're on vacation...)

Grandpa Paulson with Charlie

Grandma Paulson gave Charlie almost all of his baths while 

we were in MI. It was so nice!

Grandpa Paulson made his famous whole wheat pancakes and 

home made syrup for our whole gang. They were a hit with the 

kids since he catered to them and made blueberry and chocolate

chip pancakes too!

As happy as we are living where we are, there is a big part of me that wishes we lived closer to our families so we could spend more time with them. We always thoroughly enjoy it! We love you Grandmas and Grandpas!!

More Fun with the Romneys

When we got back to SE Michigan, we had a couple more days of fun before heading back to Texas. Davey has really gotten into sports in the last few months, so he was excited to go see a Tigers game with his Daddy and Ada and her Daddy, Mark. 

Showing support for the Tigers!

The two don't seem to tire of each other.

The next day we headed to one of our favorite spots when we return to Michigan: The Original Pancake House.  Their food is sooo good. Davey and Ada got a little familiar while we were waiting to be seated...

Hey! You two aren't even three yet!

Afterward we stopped at this great park in Birmingham, Booth Park. We'd never been there before but we will definitely be adding this place to our usual stops when we're back. It had so many fun things to do!

There is an astroturf hill you can really get going

down fast sitting on some cardboard. So fun!

Davey and Ada had a blast on the tire swing. 

They were all giggles and laughs.

As you can imagine, Davey loved driving the train.

It was sad to say goodbye to Michigan, and we could have still spent more time and seen more people we would have liked to have made time for, but it was also nice to return home. I'd say 4 weeks is a good length to visit. We love and miss Michigan but we also love Houston. Davey was so excited to see his toys again and Charlie seemed a little surprised by where he was, flipping his head back and forth to look around when we walked in the door and I took him up the stairs. It was also a happy reunion with all of Davey's friends.

Up North!

Another exciting part of our big summer trip to Michigan was the week up north with Dave's family. They have a great cottage on Mullett Lake with lots of fun water toys, a beautiful beach and spot on the lake, wonderful clean air alive with earthy smells and always promises a relaxed pace. We all had a lot of fun with the Adams side of the family...

One of the main highlights was a visit from Gigi Featherly

who came to visit for the 4th.

Uncle Mark, Aunt Debbie (in this pic with Charlie) and

Lisa also shared a nice visit with us on the 4th.

I was so excited about the chance to go Up North this year - especially since I wasn't pregnant and would be able to take part in the water skiing, tubing, wind surfing, etc. - but the weather just totally didn't cooperate. It was cold and windy almost every day. I didn't even get on the ski boat or put my swimsuit on while we were there... :(

This is the best day we had - Dave gets in the water

no matter how cold - he's so crazy!

Despite the cold, however, Dave was able to get in some good sailing and we had some fun on the kayaks and paddle boat.

Dave's Aunt Kay and Cousins Brian and Beth and their families were able to join us for a barbecue one afternoon. It was so fun to see them again, catch up on their lives and see their growing families.

Davey having fun with Emma

Charlie hanging with 2 1/2 month old Abigail

Whenever babies are getting attention, Davey is always

right there, ready to join the fray.

We had a fun dinner at Vivio's in Indian River - great pizza!

Davey got a hold of the parmesan cheese shaker and dug in...

and went a little overboard when his Aunts Kiki and Katie thought he was funny...

Licking the cheese from his elbow

Davey and Charlie had so much fun playing with Grandma and Grandpa Adams and Aunts Kiki and Katie and Uncle Bryan. And Dave and I did as well! We miss you guys and hope we see you all again soon. The week went by quickly and the last day after everyone had left but us and Carrie (Kiki), we decided to venture out to the big bridge and search for a good pasty.

The 5-mile long Mackinac Bridge

Davey thought it was pretty cool.

We found a great little park on Lake Superior in St. Ignace to let Davey play.

Mackinac Island in the background

He enjoyed throwing rocks into the water.

Of course when we got up to leave the next morning the weather was warm, still and clear. It was so hard to leave!

Flip City

With Kelly expecting her new baby fairly soon, she and Colter decided to take a few days away for themselves while they were in Michigan. After Desiree and Harmony returned home (boo hoo hoo), they took off and we had fun helping my parents watch the boys. We kept busy with trips to the park, various indoor play-places, and the most fun of a visit to a gymnastics place called Flip City...

All of the boys had a blast! Amy brought her daughter Ada as well, so she and Davey had a good time playing.

Davey loved jumping on the large trampolines, but he especially liked the long tramps with the foam pit at the end. Watch this video... no fear!

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The cousins were so cute together...

Ready and...

JUMP!