Kate's Baptism

It's been a busy few weeks since I last posted. We've had family in town for Kate's baptism, Robb's cousin's wedding, Robb's mom has been visiting the last three weeks and work has been super busy for Robb and myself.

So here is a quick catch-up on the family.

Jeanna and family came up for a visit and zoo trip the last weekend of May. It was so great to see her and all the boys (and of course Tony!!). It was a beautiful day. The kids had a great time. But of course....my battery died two pictures in to the day. Here's Miss Kate in her sun hat!

Kate's baptism was the first of June. We were blessed to be surrounded by our entire family as Kate was baptized. It was a wonderful ceremony. Father Fitz, who also baptized Luke, presided over Kate's ceremony, too. Geoff and Nikki are Kate's godparents. They were so thrilled to be asked and included! And thank goodness Geoff is Kate's godfather...because his height was a great help during the ceremony! See pictures below. All in all we had 41 friends and family celebrating the day. Luckily we had great weather and some even better tents were able to set up in our backyard so most of our guests could sit outside and enjoy lunch.

Did I mention Kate's baptism gown was made out of my wedding dress?! Yep...my beautiful wedding gown is now about 2 1/2 feet long! My friend Amy Morra told me about this great lady who takes wedding gowns and makes baptism gowns. It turned out great!!! After I saw it I had no qualms about what we did. I love it and it will make a much better heirloom as a baptism gown.

She really did use all the parts of my dress. The bonnet is made from the bodice. She also used my original bodice in the bodice of the baptism gown! How cool, huh! The skirt/train is also made out of the original skirt. But it's the back of the baptism gown that is so great....

She used the loops that laced up my dress as the button loops for the baptism dress! How great. She also kept my original dress tags sewed inside Kate's gown. I'm really glad we made the decision to do this....it really made the day all that much more special!

Here's Robb & Kate with his niece Madi, stepmom Trish and his dad Bob.


Right before the the holy water was poured on her head...she knew something was up!


Remember me mentioning Geoff's height? Yep...here he is on his tippy toes trying to light Kate's baptism candle!

The kiddos with PaPa and Ma. I love this picture....we have one that is almost identical when we had Luke's baptism!
Kate with her godparents & Father Fitz.
All the grandparents.
Our family...it seemed every picture of the four of us..someone had their eyes closed or Kate was looking the other way...you know the drill!

Three of the 5 grandma's! (L-R: Robb's mom Barb, Grandma Ollie and my mom Terrie).
One of my favorite pictures from the day...me, Gma Ollie and Mom.
Kate's adorable cake!! Funny thing....no one would cut a piece of Kate's face! All day long people cut around her face...even after a week..no one would eat the face!

All in all a great day. After the baptism everyone came back to the house and we had a big taco buffet. She got a lot a great presents. Robb's own godparents even came. They bought Kate a beautiful rosary bracelet and cross for her room.

More to follow....TTFN!

Memorial Day BBQ

I love three-day weekends. We should have them every week. One day to clean, run errands, do laundry....and then two days to recover and hang out!

We rarely have a chance to hang out with friends en mass. They are so great. Yeah friends!

Robb and Sarah...

Cheryl, Kate and Nikki...
Geoff and Luke...

Luke munchin' on squashed strawberries...yummy!

Miss Kate....looking pretty!


Great day!! And very little rain! Yippee.

Cover Girl

Work it girl.
You're fierce!
Do your thang....

Such a diva in the making (oh gosh...I'm kidding...I hope not!).

Going to the chapel.....and Richad & Nancy got married

This past weekend my cousin Richard got married to a great girl...Nancy. We love her! She's great. I call her "Nancy Poppins" because she so wonderful and absolutely adores Luke & Kate.

The wedding was fabulous! And they looked great.

Both of the kiddos were in the wedding. They were so great! No tantrums, no screaming fits. Just perfect and smiley!

Here are Luke, Kate and Mommy before they went down the aisle.

Right before the kids went down the aisle....

My Aunt Jill and the beautiful bride...

We had lots of family in for the wedding...including my Uncle Greg and Aunt Laurie from Chicago and their daughter (my cousin!!) Bryne in from Chicago.... (My uncle is a Master Sergeant in the Arizona National Guard...he's an ammo specialist for all the fighter jets!!! How cool is that!)


Katie Bug in her wagon! Nancy decorated a wagon and the boys pulled her down the aisle....

One last one Kate and her Uncle Ryan...

It was a great day! We had so much fun seeing family and spending time with the kids. I couldn't have been more proud of the kids. They were so well behaved....even at the reception. In fact, Kate was a happy camper till 9 p.m. and then Ma took her home for the night. Luke stayed till the very end. He entertained us with his "breakdancing skills". Yep...Luke was gettin' down 80's-style. It was hilarious, entertaining and surprisingly very good!

Congrats again Richard and Nancy! Now it's time to get Luke & Kate a cousin!!

Tubby Time Ala Luke

As most of you know, Luke is a GREAT big brother. Like, love on his sister, give her kisses, cover her up with a blanket when she's cold, talk to her in a baby voice GREAT BIG BROTHER! We are so fortunate...you hear horror stories about siblings not getting along...but so far...our house is a big o'pot of love!

The other night I asked Luke to help me with Kate while she was in the tub. I got up to grab a towel and the next thing I know he was giving her a bath.

He washed her hair (and he didn't get one soap bubble in her eyes at all!).

Before I knew it he had her all clean!

We are so blessed! They love each other so much.

Check back in 10 years...I may have a different story!

His Rookie Season

It's official....Luke's baseball career has begun.

Monday, May 4 was Luke's first t-ball game. He's playing in our church league. It's all 4 & 5-year-olds.

To say he's a bit more skilled than his teammates is saying a lot! There were kids picking grass...there were kids laying in the grass....there were kids standing away from home plate...and then there was even one who refused to play.

Here they are lining up after they got their "jerseys". He's on the "Green" team.

Ready to start...time to get his "game-face" one!

Time to take the field. He started at third base.


Bottom of the first and waiting to bat.


First at bat...


Look at that determination!


Back out in the field....here he is fielding his first ball.

End of the game. "Good Game" high-fives to everyone!

So this is what we'll be doing every Monday at 6 p.m. until the middle of July. Second game was tonight. He had a HUGE hit to center-right. Too bad they can only take one base at a time! I asked Robb tonight if they have select t-ball?! Oh well...that will all come soon enough!

Earlier in the month we went to our friends Dan and Amy's kids' school trivia night...did you get that! We've gone every year...it's a lot of fun and I love going to a trivia nights that I don't have to manage!

One of the great things about trivia nights....auctions! Tons and tons of great stuff. And all for a good cause.

So while I was off perusing the silent auction items, the first live auction started. I came back to the our table and everyone was laughing. It seemed while I was gone he started bidding on some Cardinal tickets...well he won...no biggie. Problem was, the tickets were for the same night I was already working an auction. That meant Robb was taking both of the kids solo!

It was still a bit chilly....so everyone was bundled up.

This was the kids first game of the season.

They had great seats...just 15 rows from the Cardinals' dugout.

We wrap up the auction the first pitch bottom of the seventh, so I got to join them for a couple innings. Yep...we stayed thru all 9 innings and the kids didn't make a peep. By the time I joined them, Kate had completely charmed girls a few rows back and Luke had made friends with the couple down the row. In fact, after many foul balls, but none caught by Luke, the couple in their row bought Luke a baseball! My boy's a charmer!

The couple...ya...the coach was a baseball coach. Robb said he wrote down Luke's name...just in case he needs tickets in the future!