Way Back When-esday: 4th of July edition

As we prepare for 4th of July barbeques this weekend, I couldn't help but look back at pics from years past. These are from Cindy & Anthony's BBQ in 2007. I was about 32 weeks pregnant with Max. I was going to choose just one photo but loved these. Especially seeing how big the cousins are now.




Here is our family of almost 4~

Wow-we've added five more cousins to the mix with Max, Allie, Rachel, Noah, and Benjamin--can't wait to see how many more are added in the next 4 years!!

I'm linking up with Cheryl at Twinfatuation. It's so much fun to look back through the years!

Tales of a Three Year Old...Arrr--Matey!

I cannot believe that exactly two months from today my baby boy will be 4 years old...Ahhh! I just signed him up for Pre-K today and I have to admit I got a little teary eyed!

When I asked Max what kind of party he wants to have he said Jake and the Neverland Pirates. He is so excited(and so am I)!! He's really into pirates right now. He loves to play with his Mickey Mouse pirate ship and Lego pirates, and of course watch Jake and his pirate friends. His other favorites are knights and castles, and Scooby Doo. Thankfully, he's not into the scary pirates. (I'm not either and won't let him watch Pirates of the Caribbean.) We took him on the Pirates ride at Magic Kingdom but I think he was still a little scared of those "real" pirates. So our party will be a preschool appropriate one. Unfortunately, I've looked online and in stores and there is no Jake and the Neverland Pirates partyware. But I have found some other ideas and will be making some things and have already bought red and black party plates and napkins. They were on sale at Walmart for .75 a pack--score! I love planning a party! We are going to keep it simple and have it at our local park that also has a splash park. I found some cute invites on snapfish that I plan on ordering and the disney junior website has some cute ideas for things that I cannot wait to start making. I figure I will spend some time next month getting things ready because once school starts things start to get hectic and unfortunately his birthday usually falls the second week of school...right in the middle of the craziness!

My mom got these pirate bandanas from a press event she worked at Disney when the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie came out. When I was cleaning out toy bins and baskets last week Max couldn't wait for me to put the bandanna on him. He told me that now he just needs an eyepatch...silly boy. He was pretending he had one in the second pic. He loves wearing it around the house and has even been known to take a nap with it on his head!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy 53rd birthday to my mom!! We celebrated as a family on Sunday. My sister and brother in-law hosted us at their house. We had delicious steaks, baked potatoes, salad, and other yumminess. I decided to buy the makings for ice cream sundaes for dessert(along with cake of course) and they were so tasty!

It's always so much fun to get together with everyone! Here are a few pics of the birthday girl!

We love you Mom/Gram! Hope your birthday was terrific!

We had a fun time celebrating with you!

Mommy to-be Monday

I didn't really get any pics of me with my kiddos over the weekend but I did get some of a very special mommy to-be! We celebrated our friend Cathy's (and her hubby Jon's) baby to be. They are waiting until that sweet baby arrives to find out if it will be a boy or girl. The suspense is killing us all but it will also be such a fun surprise. They are also keeping the names a secret too!

We have know Cathy and Jon for about six years or so. Damian has actually known Jon a little longer because they used to work together. I first met them at a work Christmas party years ago...back when they were still dating. Then when Jon worked for a golf course in St. Thomas, USVI, Damian and I went on vacation and had an awesome time with them! That was where I first really got to know both of them.

They LOVE our kids! Cathy always jokes that if she were 6 or Emma was in her 20's they would be BFF's. Nothing warms my heart more than spending time with friends who love our kids like we do. We've gone to Disney together, the beach, boating, spent the weekends, and tons of other fun stuff with them. Damian and Jon are both Superintendents of golf courses and I'm pretty sure those guys talk on the phone several times a day...which is more than I talk to my hubby on the phone!

A little over a year ago, they lost their sweet baby girl Alison. It was a tough time but they have dealt with their loss with such grace. I cannot even imagine what they have been through. Although they are expecting another baby, their precious baby girl will never be forgotten.

On Saturday we drove over to their home by the beach, about a 2 1/2 hour drive--(way too far away--wish they were closer)--to celebrate their newest addition. Emma and I drove Cathy to her sister in-law's house while Damian and Max went out boating with the guys for the day. I didn't get many pictures because we were busy talking, eating yummy food, and watching Cathy open gifts...I love baby gifts...so sweet!

Cathy and Emma

opening gifts
Cathy and her sister in-law Stephanie
(Steph did an amazing job with the decorating, food, and all the details!)

I loved the diaper wreath!

Cathy and I(she seriously has THE cutest baby bump I have ever seen!)

I can't wait to get the call when that sweet baby arrives. I put my guess in...July 17th, we'll see if I win the baby pool. I also think it's going to be a BOY weighing in at 8 lbs, 4 oz, 21 1/2 in.

We also celebrated my mom's birthday on Sunday~so there are more pics to come from our fun weekend!

Tales of a Three Year Old

My boy...he makes me laugh so many times throughout the day. I couldn't let this day go by without sharing these silly pictures from a couple of weeks ago.

My boy prefers to sit on the steps of the pool and doesn't want to jump in or swim like his big sister. Hopefully that will change as soon as I sign him up for swim lessons. However, he loves to walk around the house with his new goggles and Cars arm floaties.

"Look Mom, I'm floating!"

adjusting his goggles
ready to dive in the water

just being silly

As I was doing dishes tonight, he comes over to me and just gives me a big hug and kiss...love those! He also looked at me and said "Mommy, some boys don't listen to their mommies, But I'm a very good boy and I listen to you!" Total randomness but I love it! Another thing I want to remember about my boy. When he was using the bathroom the other day, I heard this sweet little voice say..."I have a pwoblem in here!" He says this all the time probably because we laugh and he loves to make us laugh!

Father's Day 2011

This Father's Day was a day full of family and fun! We started our day by all going to church together. Hello...Robbins family of 17! Then we headed to my brother and sister in-law's house. They hosted a backyard bbq this year. Although I have to admit it was miserably hot outside and I spent most of the day in the ac inside--holding babies of course!

The cousins had a blast together...as usual. We ate some yummy food, watched Hannah and Rachel perform their dance from the recital. (It was supposed to take place the weekend we had to go to Indiana for my grandma's funeral.) It was adorable & their costumes are precious!!

The kids also sang their VBS songs from last week...too cute!! I told everyone I think we need to have the kids perform at every family function...it was a hit. The kids also had fun in the pool and bounce house.

Emma and Hannah LOVE the babies and are so helpful!
The boys...and Brooke

I was in baby heaven with both Noah and Benjamin there!

We celebrated all the amazing dads/grandpas/uncles/godfathers and had a fantastic day!

I am so thankful to have these guys in my life!

Six Year Old Saturday

I have enjoyed every stage of motherhood...from having a newborn to now a school age...first grader! I can honestly say that each stage keeps getting better and better. I sometimes miss those toddler days but I love where we are now. It's nice to see your child gain independence and gain so much knowledge. Plus it's so much easier to do things and go places now. I am so blessed by having my little girl. Those big blue eyes and curly hair just melt my heart! I love watching who she is becoming and I just beam with pride when I look at her. She is not only a great daughter but an awesome big sister!

She has another loose tooth and rode her bike without training wheels yesterday. There's nothing I can do to stop my little girl from growing up...sigh...sob!

She has been reading stories that I never imagined she's be reading at her age and she LOVES to write stories. She has continued to keep a journal about her days and I love that she shares these with me. I know there will come a day when she won't. Since we were at the beach she hasn't had much time at the house but she has been begging me to do some arts and crafts. It's definitely on the agenda for next week. We also plan on doing some baking too. Not to mention playdates with friends and cousins, playing outside, and a lot of swimming. My little fish can't get enough of the pool!

Fun Friday

I decided to take the kids to the local splash park this morning. We met up with our friends Jolene and Payton and ran into Max's buddy from school Brody and his mommy Jessi and baby bro Connor. All the kids had a blast! Looks like we'll be doing this at least once a week during the summer! We had a picnic in the park and the kids played on the playground too!

time to get wet



this is my fav pic-Emma got soaked!

blowing bubbles with Payton

cute kiddos

Payton & Max splashing around

Max playing with Brody

Emma loves playing little mommy to Connor

silly boys

the Brodster

boys being boys

Sweeties

fun at the park

We Love Fun Fridays!!