Happy 4th of July!

First, I can't believe it has been three weeks since my last post...wow. I'll just skip to the most recent weekend so i won't bore you guys! Ha!

Addie and I put flags around the house for the 4th! Addie thought we were getting ready for another party at the house! Ha! She loved it.



And of course what is the 4th of July weekend without a trip to Fernbank to see dinosaurs.....




Addie has really been into dinosaurs lately so I thought she would enjoy seeing how big they actually were in comparison to her tiny size! I don't think Addie believed me when I told her they used to be real. Their foot was bigger than the two of us combined! Huge!



Waaaay above Addie's head you can see the head of a dinosaur! Addie looks so tiny in this huge atrium.

Addie was a little startled by the topiaries at first!

Then she did her usual staring contest with the dinosaur just like she does with all new people! I think the dinosaur won this staring contest!

Granddad and Addie! Oh No....the dinosaur is biting their hands!

I think Addie's favorite part of Fernbank was the dead bee we saw outside the center! Wow...so glad we traveled to Fernbank for that bee! Ha!

Saturday morning we got up bright and early and headed to grandmammas for a parade! Addie was anxiously staring at the street wondering why we had chairs out on the street watching cars go by.

Finally her patience paid off and we had a ton of candy thrown our way, saw bands, really cool cars and of course...cross-dressers....Wait...cross-dressers??!!!

Four Generations!

Grandmamma's hydrangeas are unbelievable! Gorgeous!

After the parade, and a great afternoon with the family, Addie and I hung out with some of my friends! They also have a daughter named Addie!

The Dora sleeping bags were a hit! Thanks Lisa!

This was Addie's first reaction to the fireworks!

She eventually warmed up to them but this was after she sat in my lap with not only her ears covered but her eyes covered as well! This was the latest Addie has ever stayed up with me before. I couldn't believe she stayed awake until almost 10:30. She normally goes to bed every night at 7:30. I was a stickler for her bedtime until she turned 2...now I am learning to loosen up a bit! I think Addie would have lasted longer but she fell asleep in the car on the way home. Of course the juice boxes......sugar cookies....and potato chips helped her stay awake too!

Little Crafter!

Addie and I had a great weekend! We started out at the Kid's workshop at Home Depot where Addie and I got to build and paint our own toolbox courtesy of Home Depot. They supply all the tools. It was so much fun. As you can see....Addie enjoyed herself too!

Addie would have been happy just standing on the bucket.....she loved that! We don't stand on buckets at home! Ha!

She loved the painting part of course! One thing they do not tell you....the paint is not washable. Why Home Depot would have a kid activity without washable paints is beyond me. Luckily I was able to get it out of the dress with some work! Live and learn for next time!

Addie is proud of her toolbox! It is so cute.

Addie and I went to the zoo with Kat Kat and Cole! It was a perfect day. Not too hot so it was nice.

The flamingos


The new parakeet area. The parakeets actually come down and land on you. Addie kept saying "want to touch it" and we had to explain that the birds were allowed to touch us but we couldn't touch them. It was very hard for a 2 year old to understand!

I love this picture because Kathryn has a bird right there on the stick and Addie and Cole are not even paying attention! Cole wants to jump over the railing I think!

You can see the blur of the bird that Kat had on her stick. I think Cole might have reached for it...I can't imagine why it flew away!

This of course was just a statute of the "Dragon" but Addie loved the real thing. I think the dragon and the goats in the petting zoo were Addie's favorite things.

Addie having a staring contest with the alpha goat!

I love the next set of pictures. You can see how Addie was a little hesitant touching the goats at first. Then she found them increasingly more hilarious every time she touched their ears. So funny.

I wish I had a video of her laughing so hard but the one below is cute too. She was so fascinated by the goat's ears for some reason.

This of course was Addie in the parking lot before we even got out of our parking space! It was a blast! Can't wait to go again!

Our Little Lady's Birthday Bash!

We celebrated Addie's birthday again this weekend with some family and friends! As you can see the theme for the party was ladybugs! I know I had a blast and I think everyone else had fun too! Thanks to everyone who was able to come and help make this day so special for us!

Little flower arrangements!

Addie and I kept with the ladybug theme with her outfit and my necklace!


More decorations!



I know it is too far away to see but it says "Happy Birthday" with ladybugs on each end!



Addie with Aunt Winnie!


Kat Kat and Cole!


Taryn and Cole! Contrary to what I have heard about children's birthday parties....the kids played really well with each other.......we only had a few "sharing" tears!


Madison and Mckenna


Addie's Great Grandmamma, Granddad and Aunt Winnie
Four Generations!


Paige and Cole


After everyone arrived it was time to decorate cupcakes! Mmmmm....Yummy cupcakes...with ladybug cupcake toppers of course!

We had to have a "2" in there somewhere! She needed a candle to wish upon!

This was Addie's cupcake! She dumped the whole bottle of green sprinkles on her cupcake! Oh well...if it is your party I guess you can do what you want!

Addie was more interested in the bowl of Kit Kat candy! I don't even think she ate her cupcake.

Now Taryn on the other hand thoroughly enjoyed her cupcake! Soo cute!

Paige enjoyed throwing hers against the wall! Ha! I don't think she liked my cooking!

So fun!

At this point Addie had decided to make the bowl of Kit Kat her own and she is now eating straight from the bowl! Ha!

After cleaning up icing from faces, hands, hair, the wall, the floor, the ceiling.....it was time to open some presents!

Addie opened some adorable clothes. As you can see...she likes to get a "new dress"!

Thank goodness it was a nice day because the girls were able to play Bridge outside! Well...we can at least envision them sitting around a table playing Bridge and Mahjong someday!

The kids enjoyed the bubbles too! Thanks Ya Ya and Granddad!

Addie and Emma are best buds!



At the end of the day Addie was exhausted! She really enjoyed her birthday this year and really knew what was going on and had a blast. Now if we could just get her to understand that we don't celebrate like this every weekend. She is still saying "birthday......coming up". Ha!