Fun-Family-and the Fourth of July!

I am sure everyone feels the same but summer is FLYING BY! I swear we have something going on every weekend which makes the weeks super busy with preparation for the weekend happenings, and then obviously the weekends are over in a blink! Its all fun things so no complaints here....just amazed that we are already into July! We have been spending lots of time at the park in our neighborhood and parks near our home; lots of pool time on the weekends and during the weeks after I pick the boys up from daycare; and Easton has gotten to play with Baylor a lot as well this summer which is loves. 

Ben is now walking really well....mostly running now days lol but the tumbles are few and far between now. He has also started to stake his claim on toys which leads to lots of "mom Ben did ____" or "mom Ben took my _____" I play referee most evenings to try to minimize the meltdowns. 

my naughty Benny Boo

Sharing a ice cream cone at the pool <3

Love this face...even when he is eating sand when I'm not looking

Brian and Patrick were in charge this evening.....enough said

 We took the boys to the zoo a few weekends back. Ben was amazed and LOVED everything. Last year he spent all zoo trips in the infant carrier in the stroller so this was a whole new experience for him. Easton still continues to be our cautious scaredy cat child. Every single fish display in the aquarium he had to double check with us that there was glass protecting us from getting attached by the sharks or fish lol.

lunch time madness

monkeys

 Shortly after this photo one of the gorillas ran past this window and hit it. Both Easton and Brian jumped so high and far back! Easton wanted nothing to do with looking at the monkeys after that incident.

petty zoo fun

For fathers Day Brian wanted to spend the day golfing with his dad and brother. Love this picture of the 3 of them. So nice that they now have this hobby they can do together. Brian's only other request for this day was a nap so I took both boys bowling and for ice cream...(even though it was fathers day I felt like I got a gift out of it too....loved spending 1x1 with the dudes for an afternoon)

The Kalasek Men

 A few weekends ago MaryPat's daughter Karen got married in Hastings, NE. We of course wouldn't have missed it for the world. When she lived in Omaha she was a HUGE part of Eastons life at Mary's house. She would always accompany them on their fun outings and just love on them all the time whenever she was over for a visit. We are so happy for her and Brandon and glad they aren't too far so we can still see them from time to time. The boys had a blast bc a couple of the other little boys from Mary's were there to play with. Craig (you may remember him from past blogs) doesn't go to Mary's anymore now that he's in school full-time but he was the ring bearer so we got to see him again and visit with his mom. The wedding was gorgeous. Mary Pat, her husband, her daughter & her fiancé, and her son all decorated the church and the hall (along with friends and family). I went to pick up the boys a couple days before the event and she was ironing table clothes and getting decorations ready to pack up for the drive to Hastings. She is seriously the hardest working woman I have been blessed to know.

my handsome men

 After the wedding ceremony all the boys started running around in the church's yard and found a dead bird (leave it to boys). Of course MaryPat then joined in with them and started looking in the grass for other treasures. We had to remind her that she wasn't "on the clock" and needed to go start celebrating with her family and friends :)

The reception was beautiful. They did such an amazing job decorating. We had so much fun talking to people, meetings some of MaryPat's family members, dancing, and chasing our boys around. The daycare boys played tag most of the time and had so much fun taking over the photo booth :) Of course Mary brought light up rings and toys for all "her boys" to play with at the reception. It was a great night. I had a little too much fun so the next morning was a bit rough for me....lol can't party hardy at weddings like I used to that's for sure!

playing tag

Benny trying to keep up

The pretty bride, Karen and Benny

Mary and her boys in the photo booth

Mary helping Easton during the garter toss

He wasn't happy he didn't get it lol 

MaryPat <3

 The next morning we headed over to my cousin Ben Kohler's house to see him, his wife Kristina, and their two boys Kobe & Jack. Kobe is almost exactly a year older than Easton, and Jack is almost exactly a year older than Ben. Its so fun bc we sort of measure what our kids will be doing in the future based off their boys. They all sat around and had breakfast and then played their little hearts out. It was fun to see their new house and get to catch up with them. They are Brian and my favorite people and its fun to let the boys go nuts while we get some adult conversation time in.

 For the 4th of July we were lucky enough to have Tom, Halley, and Grayson come for the weekend. It was so nice to have them here for two entire days and nights. Its rare that my parents get to spend a holiday with both their kids under the same roof so this was big time for them. Truth be told it was big time for me too. Grayson John is the sweetest, cutest, most precious lil guy and I loved being able to hold him, play with him, and watch him interact with my boys. Tom and Halley were generous enough to let me tag along with them to the Outlet malls for a bit of a shopping trip! I couldn't tell you the last time I just went out and shopped for fun instead of for groceries or items the boys needed. In addition to that I got to catch up with Tom and Halley without any little people interrupting a conversation or needing me to watch something/get something/or wipe something LOL! Its so much fun watching my little brother be a dad. Not only is he an excellent father but he is such a fun loving uncle to my boys. Easton absolutely adores him and is constantly asking when Thomas is coming back to see him (he's been gone for less than 48 hours lol). I definitely count my blessings that not only do I get along with my sister in law, but I love her so very much and consider her one of my closest friends. Its so fun to swap mommy stories back and forth.

Can not get enough of this face! 

Easton showing uncle Thomas his Disney pictures album

We spent the first day just hanging out at my parents house. My dad, Tom, and Brian all went golfing that morning. In the afternoon I went to the Outlets with Tom and Halley. That evening my parents grilled steaks and crab legs and we just let the boys run crazy. We did some fireworks as well of course. If you know my mom you know theres nothing she loves more than fireworks...its a Morgan family thing. My brother and her love lighting stuff and then throwing it a little too close to the other person....its hilarious watching the two of them. Not sure who acts more like a kid during this holiday.
Ben and Grayson played and talked to one another. We obviously didn't know what they were talking about but they had a couple nice little conversations back and forth which was so sweet to watch. It was fun for Ben to have someone smaller than him around and Easton just LOVES his cousin Grayson.

sharing toys on the deck

silly little Benny

attempting to get them all 3 in a picture

hugs and trying to break free

picture time is over lol

 For the actual 4th we hung out at Champions Run Golf Club. They had a petting zoo, pony rides, pool games, bounce houses, food, drinks, and lots of other fun things for kids and adults both. Easton loved riding the pony. He rode "the biggest one!" and was so proud of himself that he didn't need me to hang onto him during the ride.

Me and My little American boys

 That night we spent at my parents house and let the boys play again. We did more fireworks and then Tom, Halley, my mom, my dad, and I all went to a nearby parking lot across from a house that does a giant fireworks show and watched theirs. We were going to go up to Champions for their show but truth be told we were so tired from being at the pool all day that we were more than happy to stay in our comfy clothes and watch a great show without fighting any crowds. Easton, Ben, and Grayson stayed at my parents house with Brian. He was more than happy to take up a spot on the couch and rest while our boys played and Grayson slept.

Crazy Cousins

 Benjamin loved getting into Graysons snacks (of course) and had a bit of a hard time when I would hold my little nephew. At once point I had Grayson standing up singing to him and playing and Benjamin crawled right into my lap to get btw me and Grayson. He just hugged me and made it known that I was his. It was hilarious (and super sweet). Apparently he will be the jealous one of my two bc if Easton is sitting in my lap he does the same thing only a bit more rough. He literally tries to push Easton off my lap. He has no trouble sharing toys but sharing his mommy is a whole different ballgame.

Oh these are your puffs? Grayson is a calm kid but don't mess with his snacks Benny

Seriously cutes baby ever! 

Ben played hard...climbed on the chair and crashed before the fireworks show

 To finish off our fun filled weekend I took Easton on a little date. We went bowling (which is LOVES) and then played in the arcade a bit. He beat me both games so he was thrilled. I love watching how seriously he takes it and how excited he gets every time he gets a "stripe" (strike).

Hope everyone had a fun and safe 4th of July. Now fingers crossed that the loud booms can start to dimish.....my kids need to get back into early bedtimes again. <3