A mini vacation with best buddies

What? Not a party post, you say? Really?:) Don't worry, I

 still have another one of those coming up soon.:)

No, this is yet another lake travis post. Do we go anywhere else? Not really.

This time was fun though, cause we got to go with some really cool, super fun friends.

Seriously, they're super cool, and super fun. I'm not lying.:)

We spent all day on the lake, cause what else would we do. and we stayed up WAY too late at night playing games and hanging out without the kiddos. That was fun. Like, super fun.:)

We also ate, and ate and ate and ate. Some VERY yummy, VERY unhealthy foods. Oh, but it was SOOOO good! Don't worry, we were also all teammates for the summer of seals competition, so we worked out a little bit too.

We basically lived in our swimsuits for a weekend, as did the kids.

And I think it was pretty rare to not see smiles stretched across everyones faces. Unless they were crying, cause kids can do that sometimes. But I'd say there were far more smiles than frowns, for sure.

Everytime the wakeboarder switched, the boat would empty as children jumped into the water to cool off.  It was always fun trying to round them back up and onto the boat for the next person to be able to go, but what's the point of being on a lake if you can't get in all. the. time.?

and when we weren't on the boat, we were on the boat dock.

Now, I have to expain this next picture. See, I thought Halli had an imagination. I didn't know Maddie all that well yet, but let me tell you, that girl is going to be an engineer or something. She not only came up with crazy ideas, they totally worked!!! I was amazed. Maybe a little shocked at just what she thought up, but you can't be shocked for too long before you're in awe that it all worked out great.

Take this next photo for example. You may ask yourself, what in the word is Halli sitting in?

Well, let me show you.

Yes, they tied the blankets onto the two bunkbeds to make really deep hammocks. I was a little, "WHAT??" when I saw it, but it was fine. Besides having to make them take one down, because there were two and the sides of the bunkbed just couldn't quite hold it, it all worked great and held them all. not only that, but they put some pillows underneath in case it didn't work. Safety first!

See what I mean about living in our swimsuits? I love little girls in their little swimsuits, so adorable!

The little man may not seem excited here, cause he probably wasn't. He likes the boat, but he loves it when he's not being held on the boat. He can get a little grumpy when people don't let him play with the steering wheel.:) But even grumpy, he's so cute!

I didn't get any pictures of the two teenagers, they were awesome and the kids, especially the little ones just love them! I was typically in the house giving JJ a morning nap, so missed the mornings when everyone went out on the boats. But even without pictures, we loved having McKenna and Jake there to play with!

I did get a bunch of shots of the gang of younger kids. These guys were like a wild pack that ran around everywhere together. They all played SOO amazingly well together, it was a blast!

Jason brought up his kids wakeboard, and Halli learned how to do it that weekend. She was on cloud 9, and we are so proud or our talented little girl!

She's still learning!:)

Sweet Peyton loves to swim in the water, and she loves the jetski, but tubing is not her favorite, so she'd basically go on the boat for the ride, love that girl!

The whole gang cooling off during a trade.

Izzy amazed me with her fearless attitude. That girl is adventurous and far more fearless than Lexie who will not ever put her face in the water. Izzy will go clear under with her dad.

Not this is where the J man likes to be. Playing with the controls.:) He's got a slight obession with steering wheels. They make him happy!

Some more of the gang, such cute and fun kids.

Yes, even the moms get out there and do our thing. Go Jen!

Lexie was quite the helper and blocked JJ from going off the boat dock. Such a great big sis. Don't mind that JJ is probably screaming his head of at her for not moving.

Really, who wouldn't have a smile streched across their face with a weekend like that?

Maybe we need to make this an annual trip, we had so much fun, I can't wait to do it again soon!

A "J" Birthday Party

Alrighty, it's another party...sorry! We're in the middle (almost the end) of birthday season in the Williams household.:)

Our little man turned one, (about a month ago, but it's been a kinda busy summer and I'm a little behind on just about everything!:) and we are just so incredibly in love with our little guy!

To honor mr. JJ, we did a "J" themed party. You have no idea how hard it is to think of different foods/treats that start with J, I had to enlist the help of some creative friends to come up with different names that would work.

So, there's not much to say about it all, except that it was fun to get together with family and some close friends and celebrate our handsome cutie. Also, I kinda love orange and blue together, it seems to be the colors I choose for most boy things. What can I say, I had a slight obession with orange in high school, and I don't think it's ever quite ended!:)

Look at these cute kids, so excited for some yummy cake! Don't mind that it was the third cake that week. We had a cake smash cake for his pictures, and a cupcake on his birthday, then this one. We were a little cake'd out by the end of the week!

JJ makes us all smile and laugh daily, I am in love with him, and this is by far my favorite age so we're just trying to soak it all in before he gets too big!

School's in session

Two weeks ago, yeah, I'm totally on the ball, School started!

Halli gets to go to a brand new elementary school that is now within walking distance. We love this school, and her teacher seems great, and the principal is awesome so far. We're looking forward to a great year in the 3rd grade!

I just can't believe how old this girl is getting, and looking.

She's the only blond in her class. I snapped this after dropping her off, and she kinda sticks out!:)

Two days after Halli started, we sent Peyton off to her first day of preschool! She missed the cutoff for kindergarten by 4 days, so we get to do that next year. For now, we're looking forward to another fun year of preschool.

I just love this sweetie, and an having so much fun with these kids getting bigger, someday's I can't believe how lucky I am!

Here's to a fun, educational and quick school year!

swim team wrap up, a little late

Way back at the end of June, we had the divisionals meet for swim team. This was at a super crazy time for me, and I just hope I haven't forgotten too much of it since I'm writing this so late.

We had just had Lexie's birthday party the night before, and Kevin had left early in the morning for a week in Arkansas for high adventure with the young men. Lucky I had my sister-in-law and brother in town and they watched the two little kids, so I just had Halli and Peyton at the meet.

That was very much appreciated!

It was an indoor meet, in a much bigger pool (slightly longer, and more lanes) than the kids were used to swimming in.

Halli was only competing in three events, the backstroke, freestyle and butterfly. She was super close to qualifying for all-stars in the freestyle and this was her last chance.

And I'm proud to say that she pulled it off, and qualified. She was SO excited when she got out of the pool and they told her her time. She wanted more than anything to call her dad and tell him good news, and she got to do just that.

I had a hard time this year trying to find that fine line between pushing your kids, and letting them just have fun with it. Halli was having fun, and she's still young, but I knew she could be doing better than she was. I just didn't want her to be disappointed and not enjoy any of it because she didn't make a certain time, but I also want her to have a sense of accomplishment from doing this.

I know when she's older it'll be easier to really push her, but at only 7 years old, that's a tough call. Ultimately though, no matter what you do, it's really up to them.

She's become an old pro with swim team, we have SO much fun with this sport and are so incredibly happy that we were able to start when we did! It requires alot of time, but is it so very worth it all!

Peyton did awesome for her first year of swim team. She swam the whole length of the pool without holding onto the lane line, and that's huge for a 4 year old. We're so proud that she did it, and can't wait to see her improve in the coming years.

Divisionals was a little tough for her. Another girl false-started, and it freaked her out, so she was crying when she started the race, and I think the whole thing just intimidated her. But she finished, and looked cute doing it!

I didn't take any pictures of the all-stars meet, Kevin was still out of town, and I had all four kids with me this time, so the last thing I needed was a huge ol' camera to lug around too. Halli was able to do her freestyle as well as one of the relays. She did great, and it was in the same pool as divisionals so that helped a little bit too. We loved being able to watch her this year, and can't wait to do it all again next year!

Brittany's {Born to Ride} Baby Shower

Brittany is my little sister. Two years ago, when she was pregnant with her daughter, my sister-in-law and my mom and I threw her a baby shower. Jill and I flew out to California just for her shower...her water broke the morning we flew out there.

Here it is two years later, and we decided to throw her shower a little earlier this time to avoid the whole water-breaking-having-a-baby-shower-in-the-hospital thing. Unfortunately baby boy didn't get the memo, and her water broke three days before the shower.

Everything worked out fine in the end, her son Mason was a preemie, born at 34 weeks and after two weeks in nicu came home healthy and happy. So before my mom flew back home, we put on the baby shower a little later than intended, and with a special baby guest in attendance.

Brittany's husband rides dirtbikes, so it was only natural that we had a motorcycle themed baby shower.

I had so much fun with this shower, and the fact that it was done right around the fourth of July made the color scheme pretty easy!

We had some super fun and yummy motorcycle chocolate molds. These were a hit and my kids especially loved them. One of the perks/downfalls of being the hostess, you get to keep all the left over sweets at home. My kids love that part, my waistline, not so much.

How perfect was this sign that I found at hobby lobby? We'd actually already decided on the colors when I found it, so it was just meant to be!

The little guys stats from when he was born, he was a pretty big boy for only 34 weeks!

No laughing at this next photo, alright?

These are my very sad attempt at chocolate covered oreos. In case you can't tell, they're supposed to be wheels. The did not in any way turn out like I had pictured them in my head, but they still tasted great!

The dessert table, with some photos of the man of the hour. Such a sweet little guy!

I made some bags to take home sweets in. You have to make them nice and big so people can load them up with lots of goodies.

Mason's banner, made in the shape of they Harley-Davidson sign.

And some more decor for the party.

When you have a motorcycle themed shower, you have to have root beer and pretzels, chocolate covered of course.

This photo actually shows the wrapped nuggets, but the pretzels were on the other side.

My sister-in-law came up with a fun game of guessing the motorcycle throughout the years, it was way harder than I thought it would be. But those are some pretty cool looking bikes!

I took the pictures too early, and thus, none of the new mom. But she was beaming and happy to finally be home and relaxing with her new baby boy. He's a doll, and we love having him here!

Fathers day

I'm going to jump back in time a little bit here and try to catch up on everything I've missed this summer. I've been a bad blogger, and I'm blaming summer fun, and summer of seals for my laziness!:)

Way back in june, we got to celebrate one amazing man.

Dad, or Kevin, or Daddy, or whatever we may feel like calling him that particular day.

We had a delish breakfast, but it was quick cause he had meetings and had to get out the door. The kids all made him cards, and I made him a book that the kids all helped me fill out.

He didn't open it when I first gave it to him, and when I asked why, he said that it was because he thought it was just a book I bought at the store. I'll take that as a compliment.:)

We had so much fun filling it out and answering the questions. Such a fun and easy gift!

Halli wrote her own answers, bad spelling and 2nd grade handwriting, I love it.

We also got each of the kids handprints.

I loved Peyton and Lexie's answers, these kids are such crack ups.

Even JJ had a little page or two.

The best part was that shutterfly had a sale, so I got the book for free, and just paid shipping!:)

We adore that man of ours, and wish he could be home lots more so that we could just play with him all the time. For now, we'll just have to soak up what we can get though, and take lots of pictures to remember it all.

One

Somehow, it actually happened, and I can't believe it.

Our little man turned one. You'd think I'd be used to this, we've done it three times. But it still felt like it snuck up on me.

We celebrated all week. We had cake for pictures, we had cupcakes on his birthday, and we had cake yet again at his birthday party. We like our sweets around this part!:)

He is such a happy, squishy, huggable little guy. I just don't know what we'd do without him.

He took his first steps about a week before his birthday, and this past week, at 12.5 months, he's officially walking everywhere. Such a bittersweet time. I love watching my babies grow up, and get more independent, but I hate it all at the same time. Watching him waddle around the house made me kinda sad that I won't see him crawling anymore, and I've NEVER been sad to see the crawling stage end.

He gives sweet, slobbery kisses. He loves anything with buttons, he LOVES to be held, (and at 25lbs, that gets old quick), he adores his sisters, and when he gets really happy he smiles and squints so much that his eyes are basically closed....sweetest thing ever!

Happy birthday little JJ, we are so incredibly in love with you!