Happy 2nd Birthday, Beau...among other things...

Well, we made the trip to Nashville last week for a long overdue visit with family and friends, as well as to celebrate Beau's turning 2. We had a great time catching up with everyone, along with an unexpected extra trip within a trip to Johnson City due to an unexpected death in Toby's family. The silver lining to that was getting to see lots of family there that we very rarely get to see or spend time with. Toby's cousins have the sweetest kids, and our kids have the best time with them. It is always good to see them no matter the circumstances. The kids and I will be coming back the first week of June for more visiting. Thanks to everyone who took the time out of their schedules to make time to see us and to come to Beau's birthday. It was so much fun, I got a little melancholy about coming back. Just 2 and 1/2 more years, right? (But who's counting...)
Beau playing around in our front yard prior to the trip. Toby was watering the yard, and Beau can not resist playing in the water. Playing with their cousin Will. They both adore him and will hardly let him breathe when they are around him. Can you tell?

Austin, Beau, Lola, Will, and Abby all swinging in the hammock in Mee-Mee's backyard. They just loved that, especially Will.

Austin and Abby roasting marshmallows and making smores.

Abby posing on Mee-Mee's back deck.

Austin and Abby practicing their climbing skills.

Sweet Lola playing in the back yard at Niki and Troy's.

The kids put on a concert for us at Niki's. Abby sang lots of High School Musical songs for us...a recent favorite much to my dismay.

Abby was so tired after our trip up to Johnson City she actually fell asleep just like this on Aunt Jody's legs. She slept like that for close to an hour before we finally put her to bed.

All of Abby and Beau's cousins on that side of the family minus Beau who was way beyond cooperation at the time this picture was being taken.

Toby and Jody

I'm thinking about what I can get into next.

Abby and her cousin Beth. Look at that face...

Another masterpiece by Aunt Ann.

Uncle Berry helping Beau in the bouncy at his birthday party. A big thanks to Aunt Ann and Uncle Berry for providing the awesome cake and the big bouncy.

Papaw and Mee-Mee

Cutler, Emily, Niki, and Jaden. Happy 1st birthday to Cutler last week, too!!

Beau clowning around with his uncles.

Mommy and her birthday boy.

Big sister at the party.

The birthday boy swinging, one of his favorite things to do right now.

Singing Happy Birthday. Beau dug his head in my arm the whole song. I guess he was embarrassed to have all that attention on him?

Enjoying cake and ice cream.

Riding his new bike from Papaw with a little help from Uncle Michael.

Everybody hanging out in Mee-Mee's jeep.

Beau playing with his wheelbarrow - a gift from Mee-Mee. He LOVES that thing. This was taken after everyone was gone. He pushed that thing all around the empty park, putting things in it and telling them to "hold on tight"!

Our (now green) house. Toby is working on the door, sanding it and about to repaint it. That is why the left side of the door looks funny if anyone was wondering. Toby has done SO much work to the house already. He is currently laying tile in the master bathroom and putting in pedestal sinks (in all of his spare time - ha!). I am so lucky to have married such a handy man!

Toby performing surgery on Flat Stanley (a school project of Toby's cousin's little girl, Sydney.)

Abby modeling her dance costume for her recital. She is a yellow flower. The recital is May 31st - more pictures to come of that I'm sure...

Abby before her 1st T-ball game.

Taking a swing.

"There's no crying in baseball!!!!" My, my...what would Billy D. think?

Abby's extravagant bathtub art.

Beau participating in the field day festivities.

I liken this to the three legged race. Pretty cute. Abby was teamed up with her cute little classmate Avery.

Ok - I had to include this picture because obviously my child did not understand the concept of tug of war. She is totally pulling the wrong way, and I was laughing too hard to get her turned around.

Abby and Beau with Hudsen and Curran, my neighbor and good friend Serena's boys. They were enjoying a wagon ride compliments of Duncan (their dad) and Toby around the neighborhood last night.

And...I'm sewing again!!! Thanks to my mom sending down her awesome machine and for my husband allowing me stay home with the kiddos, I have decided to start sewing again. (We'll see how long it lasts...) I am enjoying myself a ton this time around, and am so excited to do more. I am going to try and figure out how to applique and how to use the monogramming machine she also sent this month. I made this jon jon for Beau this week, along with the 2 below matching for my neighbor's boys. They are far from perfect, but I still enjoyed making them and am excited to do more!!