The 4th, a birthday tri-fecta and goodbye

 The 4th of July

Our 4th was uneventful this year...with our state burning up, all fireworks were banned and local shows cancelled. Our air was full of smoke from the fires and the thermometers topped off near 100. So we took the day to do some house stuff and buy Mason a new dresser so we could move his (with changing table) to Max's room. The evening gave way to BBQ and the ice cream man, who had SPIDER MAN POPSICLES!!! We watched the televised Macy's fireworks and felt grateful to live Free in this awesome country we call home...

We have a lot of July Birthdays and last weekend we had three in a row!!!

Party#1 

We started Friday with Cormic's. He turned 3! We went to a local place called BIG time Trampoline for some energy burning fun.

These three monkeys had a blast on the ropes, trampolines,

and slides...so much fun to watch them play together!

Than we headed over to Beau Jo's for a slice, man they have the best pizza EVER!

Cuz'ns Hugg'n

Future Olympians and because this is my blog and that is my kid I might have to say "Special" Olympians:-)  

Our birthday Policeman 

If you are an Armstead grand kid and you have a birthday all the other kids there get gifts too! I have gone toe-toe with my Mom on this and finally given up! Presents for all...woohoo.

Party#2

Saturday was my Hubby's birthday, he is our lucky charm 7/7!

And per usual I did a bad job with the picture taking because I was entertaining...

 

but I did manage to take a few....like this lucky 88-year old with my beautiful sister-in-law

And this crazy group and my oh so creative fruit pizza...it was a nice dinner party of close friends and family and RAIN, which I loved! Happy 31st Birthday to the funniest, sexiest, hardest working guy I know.

Party#3

Sunday we headed over to Jack's 3rd birthday at Rolling Hills Country Club

And Matt got in on some diving board action

and his mini-clone did too! Mason has been dying to go off a diving board and the pool we do lessons at won't let him because he is not a strong swimmer yet...so he went off this one about 150 times....

The birthday was lovely and my sweet friend Ruthie (Jack's mom) let all the kids sit down and open Jack's gifts. We were a little worried how this would go but you have to know Ruthie and her demeanor to know it went off without a glitch...love that girl!

GOODBYES....

after Jack's party we decided to head up to my parents for some more cousin time. The kids and Emily were heading back to PA the next day.  We thought we had them back in CO for good but unfortunately the new job my brother took didn't hold up to their end of the deal. I am a professional so I am not going to bash this company's name but I have never heard of an individual being treated as poorly as my brother and his family were after all the promises that were made to them. Too make a long story short this company sent Cade back to PA for a job a few weeks after they got here, while Em and the kids tried to do their best living out of a hotel and with family, uncertain of what the future held for them. After a month and some seriously unprofessional things happening to my bro, they decided it was best to bring the kids back to PA to re-group and decide what is best for their family. Poor Emily had to pack the boys back in the truck for the long drive only a month after they drove out here!  I am crying as I write this because it was so much harder to say goodbye this time and Mason took it really hard. They are hoping to be back by December and all we are doing is asking God to do what is best for their family....

7 months and 80 years young

Its hard to believe 10 weeks from today (when this picture was taken) Max will be arriving. I am huge, I just have to accept that is how I do pregnancy:-) I feel good. I am sleeping well. I am working out. I am getting indigestion every now and than. I am swelling every now and than. The heat is not my favorite but honestly it hasn't been unbearable. So the next 10 weeks are like doing any long workout...a marathon if you will and that requires mental toughness to get your body through...so here we go 3rd Tri, Lets do this!

We decided to host Grandma Bert's 80th at our house on June 16th and I knew I would be tired after all the GO GO it takes to throw a party this size. I was seriously wiped the next day....that is one thing that frustrates me about pregnancy:-) Thank God for my Sister in Law Angie and Aunt MJ and of course the guys (Matt, Nick and Uncle Charlie)...we worked our tails off and the party was a hit. 

It was a neighborhood event! People who have know G and G for 30+ years. It warms my heart to think of all the people who came to share in her day. People bringing delicious food to accompanying all the food we already had...people sharing stories of the house we live in and childhood friends of Grandma's sharing bits and pieces of a young girl we never knew. It brought us back to a simpler time that we don't see a lot these days...and reminded us again how blessed we are to live in our own personal "Mayberry!"

Here are a few photos from the day.

 

I made this guy from Martha Stewart template

and hung a series of photos and quotes over the buffet line

Angie and Nick made a special Summer Beer...I hear it was delish

I made some sugary treats. I have finally found a seriously good chocolate cake recipe and I like Barefoot contessa's white cake in the box so I made cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Whole foods made some fun sugar cookies. Our neighbors, The Lufts, made homemade ice cream.

Friends, neighbors, and family

Husbands of 60+ years

furry kids

and the kiddos who call her GG

all came to celebrate this beautiful lady (right)! She has touched so many lives in her 80 years with her loving and wild spirit...we are so thankful to God for giving us our sweet Bertie Jean!