July 4th and Nick's B-day

We had a few friends over for a BBQ on the 4th. Nothing like inviting people over to get your hubby to do a lot of work around the house! Me and the kids helped a little too, but Nick was awesome in the yard all weekend. He decided that for an early bday present he'd get a new gas grill. Well, we went to Lowe's and were sickened by the prices! So he settled for a charcoal grill, which he's been wanting for awhile anyway. We have been cooking so much on the grill and actually like the end result better than gas! Imagine that.


Ava and Josh wanted their daddies to sit by them at the kid's picnic table. Too cute!


Maya LOVES Hailey. She is so sweet and will do whatever Maya wants to do.


All of the kids had fun pelting Nick with water balloons. Josh just liked stomping on them.



Our sweet girl. I was telling her earlier in the day what Independence Day is all about and when she saw Nick in the backyard working she ran out and said, "DAD!?! Did you know we live in a free country!?!?!"


The older kids were excited to light the fireworks so all the parents got to sit back and relax. It was a fun night! Thanks for coming guys.

Three days later was Nick's birthday! He had to work but we tried to make it special when he got home. Maya and I decorated the living room with crepe paper and balloons, and we went to Costco to pick up a yummy carrot cake. They have the best cakes! For dinner I was going to make him some grilled chicken on the gas grill (not sure how to do the charcoal yet) but when I tried to start the BBQ it flamed up and burnt all of the hair off my arm! I was so freaked out that I made him cook the chicken when he got home from work. Then we just opened presents and hung out.


Getting birthday loves from the kids.


Playing with his present from Josh.

A few days before Nick's birthday I took the kids in the backyard to get some new pictures of them. I had this really plain looking black frame for their picture...so Maya decorated it with bright foam glitter stars and it ended up looking so nice. Here are some of my favorite pictures from our little photo shoot:


Josh being Josh, refusing to smile and folding his arms in protest.




The Winner! It's a miracle that I got one of them both looking at me and smiling.

July has been so fun!