Wedding Weekend

The second week of June was busy for us with weddings! On Friday my friend Michele married Cody, both Kylie and I were in her wedding down in Temecula. And the next day our friend Liz married Dave, out in Dinuba. With the rehearsal dinner and all the travel, it was a wild weekend.

The day could not have gone better! Kylie woke up at 5:30, we were on the road by 7:30, got to the hotel and Craig, Kylie and Coop played and played. At 11am Kylie decided she was ready for a nap! Craig, Kylie and Coop all took a nap. Once they woke we were all ready to go for photos, so we got Kylie in her dress and headed to the venue. She ate an awesome lunch while we drove and she was ready to go when we got there. She smiled and participated in the photos, she did amazing! When it came time for her big entrance, she totally walked and tossed her flowers (granted she and Harper did not have their shoes on, but whatever). She came straight to me, looked down at her basket and realized that she had not tossed all her flowers, she decided to just dump them out in front of me. Then she asked if she could change out of her dress, Michele had not even walked down the aisle yet :o) She played with Craig through the ceremony and we let her change pretty much right away. But we were SO proud of her, she did such a great job!

 Rehearsal dinner.

 The flower girls and the beautiful bride.

 Michele got Kylie her very own lip gloss, she was so excited to put it on.

 anything in here for me?

 The Bridesmaids.

 Getting ready on wedding day.

 After Michele's wedding we drove to Redlands, picked up Uncle Kyle and headed to Portorville.
Kylie and Cooper enjoyed the kids table during some arts and crafts time :o)

 That afternoon we headed to Liz and Dave's wedding, it was triple digits, but it was a beautiful wedding!

 They set up a "kids table" with crayons, mason jars, bags of candy...Cooper was feeling on top of the world when we let him sit there for a bit.

 Keeping entertained during the ceremony.

 Coopie got to learn how an old-fashion cell phone works, thanks Papa David for the lesson :o)

 The next day we went to church with the family. I hung out with the kids in the sunday school rooms. Cooper had a great time playing with all the new toys and Kylie actually stayed in the big girl room and had a great time. It helped that the rooms are pretty much connected with a big window, so she knew i was right there if she needed anything, but she really enjoyed playing, doing the arts and crafts and having snack time. It is the only organized "preschool" type activity she has done without me there. She had a really good time and totally participated in everything, even though I think she might have been the youngest one there, not the smallest, but the youngest :o)

 Coopie does this often...grabs a book and finds a comfy place to sit.

 Uncle Timmy and Auntie Tay TAy hung out after church, thanks for the story time.

 Hey there's a monkey on your back!

 A few photos I got at the wedding...

 Cooper was IN LOVE with this little doggie. Poor thing is around 18 years old (i think) and almost completely blind and def. Cooper just could not get enough, so glad this sweet dog survived all the Cooper love.

 I was taking photos of Liz and Dave...when I thought I was done, Kylie said "now it's time for my photo shoot." She had picked out a couple places she wanted her photo taken, so how could I resist.

 At the kids table.

 Every once in a while we get a photo together, love this guy!

 Aunties are the best!

 Our attempt at a family photos, Kylie was over it, understandably.

 Cooper and the doggies. He would get so excited every time he saw Dolly, he has NO fear.

It was a wonderfully busy weekend. Both weddings were beautiful and the kids really did a great job at both. We will be traveling back up there soon, for a not so happy occasion, but we are eager to see everyone again, and very excited that Beach week is just around the corner!
Good night,
Natalie

Happy Birthday Cooper and other fun times...

After, once again, promising myself I would write more often, I find myself in the same sad boat.So very many fun things have happened in the past couple weeks, here is my attempt to remember it all...

Cooper's celebrated his first birthday in a bar :o) The Brandin' Iron hosted us on Cooper's birthday. It was family day, with an all you can eat buffet, good music and dancing. Auntie Lala, Doe and Papa David came down for the festivities. We made lots of mini cupcakes... 

 We gave Cooper a chance to smash his little cake, but he was not interested (Ama has more photos, I think).

 Kylie loved dancing with us. She asked if we could come back and dance again sometime :o)

 Also I got to teach a dance while we were there. I have never taught on family day, it was different but fun. A lot of people came to celebrate with us, Oma and Buba came too!

 Cooper likes to find new and different ways to play with his things.

 Our house in the process of being painted! It took us a little while to pick colors, but we ended up going with a grey, charcoal, white and coral front door.

 Playing at Ammy and Papa's house.

 We went to the Inland Center Mall for some good play time. After lunch Cooper decided it was nap time, don't mind his feet on the table ;o)

 One day I came home from work and found this little one fast asleep and swinging. She used to fall asleep in the swing all the time, now it seems like she is a little too big, but it didn't seem to bother her.

 Preschool field trip to Uta's backyard to visit all the chickens.

 Finished front door.

 Overnight kylie decided she was going to start drawing people...the interesting thing is that she likes to draw them upside down and the emphasis is on the big nose. For a while many of them didn't have a mouth at all, just eyes and a nose.

 When I am home alone and Kylie doesn't take her afternoon nap, I am often pushing her in the stroller and nursing Cooper in the ergo. This particular evening I was out walking at 7:20 and both kids were asleep by 7:30, victory!

 Kylie has learned how to use the new coffee maker. Every morning we would make coffee for the painters and a cup of decaf for mommy.

 Above is my view of Cooper when he falls asleep in the ergo.

Below, we went out to lunch with Oma, Buba, Emily, Liam and Declan...so fun.

 When Papa David was here for Cooper's birthday, he offered some piano lessons, Coopie caught on quick.

 Happy Birthday Buddy!

 And a new baby too.

 This is how I found the kids watching Sesame Street, not sure how many brain cells are being destroyed ;o)

 It has been hot (102ish) so we went swimming at Kerry and Kyle's pool!

 Cooper insisted on falling asleep with his little pig and nursing piglets.

 Cute kid in overalls...

 Thank you for making the trip for Cooper's Birthday!!!

 Kylie and I wearing our babies leaving breastfeeding group. She was rocking her ring sling with a baby on the front and back!

Cooper and Kylie, you are both such a joy! Some days are long, but the years are flying by way to fast! Your daddy and I love you sooooooo much!
-Mommy