Growing Up

O.K. So, last night we had some friends over for dinner - just a cookout, but with something a little different - NY style hotdogs! Now, you can't get these hotdogs anywhere - just in NY and from the area I'm from. They have a different smell, look and taste - but they are FANTASTIC! Anyway, this has nothing to do with this post, but I just had to throw that in. Anyway, we had friends over. And after they left, we were trying to get Cole to smile. He's starting to smile more on cue now - a sign of growing up. Well, this is what I got.

Cole after I told him to smile the first time! Not really what I was looking for, but still a cute picture.

This was just after I told him to smile the second time. Much better and getting cuter.

And this is what I got after I told him to smile the third time just after he got rid of all the gas in his belly. Must be a boy thing to think it was funny!

Pictures

Well, since I had a few minutes tonight to sit down, I figured I probably should get some pictures on here that I've taken in the past few weeks. A lot has happened lately. Of course, the birth of Cole, Maggie's 4th Birthday, my parents visiting and a new deck being put on. So, I thought that I should get some pictures put on here to show the different events. Emma's room is almost done, too. Just the chair rail and base molding to put up and then we're done! Yay!!! But then it's on to Cole's room. Anyway, enough of that. On to pictures.

Daddy and Cole

This is the way Cole always sleeps when he's on his back. The arms are always up above his head. Looks a little uncomfortable to me, but now that I think of it, my dad, Marc and my brothers all sleep this way. Must be a man thing!

Bright eyed

Mimi and Cole. She's trying to get him to burp for me.

Papa playing guitar. The girls always love it when he plays. Actually, I love it, too!

The decorations for Maggie's birthday.

Her chair

Maggie wanted a poodle party. I think we did pretty well!

Happy Birthday to you...

A new dress

Happy Birthday, Maggie! We love you so much!

Mimi reading her card

One of Maggie's gifts from Mimi and Papa was a red Adirondack chair that they had made for her. Red is her favorite color. She now uses the chair all the time!

One of her gifts from grandpa and grandma. I have a sling that I carry Cole in. Maggie wanted one to carry her babies in. Grandma made it for her.

My dad working on the deck

Still working...

The almost finished product. We still have to work on the handrail for the stairs.

We LOVE our deck! Unfortunately, we haven't been able to use it much because of the rain. But we use it whenever we can! Thanks dad and Marc for all of your hard work!

Family Visit

I will post pictures soon, but for now I just wanted to write. My parents were here visiting us this past week. And we had a great time together. But needless to say, it was definitely a working vacation for my dad. My dad - he's such a great guy and I love him so much. Marc and I wanted to build a deck off the back of our house. But we really didn't know how to start this process. So, we decided that since my dad was coming for a visit, we'd ask him to help us. Now, for those of you who don't know my dad, he's a perfectionist. And that's someone that you want working on these types of projects. Anyway, Monday afternoon Marc came home early from work and he, my father and a friend of ours started on this project. My dad then got up every morning and started working on it whether Marc was home or not. By the time my parents left, the deck was 98% finished. All we have left to do is finish the handrails for the stairs. My mom also helped when my dad needed it. But she was more of a help to me. She helped keep the house clean and watched the girls when I needed to take care of Cole. And she was also more than willing to hold my son during some of his cranky times in the evening. And yes, I love my mom, too.

Since they came out so close to Maggie's birthday, we decided to celebrate with them. Mom and Emma helped me decorate the kitchen while Maggie was down for her nap. When she woke up, Maggie was so excited to see her "Poodle Party". We had a great time. Mom and dad got her the cutest little sundress. But the best was the little Adirondack chair they had made for her - painted red - her favorite color. Now that chair is on our new deck and she LOVES it!

It was great just to sit and talk with mom and dad. That's the part I miss the most. I don't get to do that very often anymore. Not when the visits are few and far between. But the best is yet to come. It looks like both my brothers and their families and Marc and I will all be going to my parents house for the same week in August! I CAN'T WAIT!!! I am so excited to spend time with all of them and just have a great "Winters" week (for those of you who don't know, my maiden name is Winters). I sometimes think it's so funny that a family who adores each other live all over the US. But there are so many families who can't stand each other that live in the same town. Do we wish we lived closer together - oh yes. But we all know we are exactly where God wants us to be. And even though that's hard, it seems to make our times together so much sweeter. So, I had a great week with my family here - the girls did, too. The adore Mimi and Papa. And I'm looking forward to our time together again soon!