party.

for parker’s third birthday, we decided to have his party at doug’s work. for those of you who don’t know, doug is a helicopter pilot for the city of st. louis police department. probably one of the coolest (if not coolest) job around. which makes parker a very, very lucky little boy. can you imagine how cool show and tell will be one day?

we had bbq, cake, balloons and even a little helicopter show put on by daddy. the kids went crazy. they sat in them, asked lots of questions and had fun just in general.

i wouldn’t change a thing about the day. it was hands down perfect. a big thank you from doug and myself to everyone who came. family. friends. we were surrounded by a massive amount of love.

see them all here.

dear baby jesus.

last weekend carter found jesus. and by found jesus, i mean he was baptized. in the church doug grew up in. in the church doug and i were married in. in the church parker was baptized in. all by the same man. msgr. bommarito. carter even wore (albeit a tad snug) doug’s baptismal gown that parker too wore. we could not have asked for a nicer day. sunshine. family. fried chicken. cake. it’s how we catholic’s roll.

a huge thanks to mom and dad r., god mommy (“aunt” mary mo) and god daddy (cousin danny), friends and family. carter is so loved and we could not ask for anything more.

see more here. enjoy.

2.

last saturday we hosted parker’s birthday party for roughly 60 of our closest friends and family. in february, when i booked the party, i didn’t think than on april 16th it was be a tad rainy and a bit chilly. but. that didn’t stop us. we pushed on. and it was a success. the kids played. the adults snuggled up under blankets. we ate some incredible food. and we sang happy birthday to my sweet man.

despite the weather the day was amazing. everyone coming together for parker meant the world to both doug and myself. i still cannot believe i am the proud owner of a two year old. time is flying by and i can’t seem to keep a tight grip on it. i drink life in each and every single day because parker is my living example of just how quickly it all passes me by.

happiest of birthday’s to you, parker. we love you tremendously.

and to everyone who bared the elements to celebrate, thank you. doug and i love each and every single one of you.

*if you wanna know who made his cake, just shout. i’ll give you the info.

up close and personal.

over the weekend my husband got the call. the call to do something that not everyone gets the opportunity to do. now if you know my husband you know that since he was small he has been infatuated with planes. with jets. with helicopters. with flight.

the blue angels were coming to re-fuel. at his airport. and we, we were going to watch. my husband was so excited. like a kid in a candy store excited. we pulled up to his hanger. punched in the password. the gate slowly rolled open as the anticipation quickly built. in we drove. we didn’t see anything at first, but then, like out of movie we came around the corner slowly. there they sat. all seven of them spaced perfectly apart. the sun dancing on the prestige paint that drenched each jet. a chill went down my spine and thousands of goosebumps made their home on my arms. it was an amazing and beautiful sight. a sight that not too many people can say they have ever seen.

we just stood there in awe. watching. watching them do absolutely nothing. but yet we could not take our eyes off of them. the sun was setting. the pilots were making their way across the tarmac. as they walked i watched. i don’t remember exactly what i was thinking. i just know i was amazed. when the pilots approached their jet i watched them walk around each and every single one of them. checking. checking. checking. they checked their jet as though they were checking on their child. they finished. they climbed in. they strapped in. they put their helmet on. they closed their canopy. and then with the flip of a switch the engines roared. the ground shook. the temperature rose. two by two they rolled slowly in perfect formation as they made their way to the runway. they sat. they waited. once cleared for take off the smoke rose. it billowed high. it billowed thick. and all i could do was watch. wait. and then it happened. in the blink of an eye they passed right before me and were gone. just that fast.

incredible.

birthday extravaganza.

today someone very special turned six. my nephew. brodie. six whole years old. when i first met brodie he was on the verge of turning two. i was meeting my now in-laws for the first time. i’ll never forget the moment doug and i walked into their backyard and there brodie sat. in his turtle shaped sand box. he was a bit shy at first, but once we got better acquainted in his teenie tiny voice he called me ”kuddie”. since then his accent has come and gone as well as the last four years.

in celebration of their baby turning six, brodie’s mom and dad threw a backyard bash. race-car themed. indy specifically. checkered flags. race track inspired cake. the works. mix that with about twenty kindergarten aged littles and a lot of sunshine. viola! instant hit.

up the driveway and to the fun. so many bright and vibrant colors along the way. flags blowing in the warm breeze and sugary treats to devour once you made your way to where the fun was had.

on a hot summer day what a better way to cool off with a balloon race? which turned into a balloon fight. i can still hear all the littles laughter fill the air. the screams. the giggles. running around the yard trying to avoid being hit by the water bombs. soaked t-shirts. soaked pony-tails. smiles from ear to ear.

then it was time to open the gifts. some of the sweetest wrapping and curled ribbon i have ever seen. what was even more sweet were the birthday cards. most of them were hand-made. the time and thought that went into those little works of art were enough to melt your heart.

this card made me smile. it’s from grace. she is brodie’s ”girlfriend”. she is the sweetest freckled face little girl i have ever had the pleasure of meeting. don’t worry, you’ll meet grace below.

i almost sobbed when i saw this little wonder. if this isn’t the most amazing card i don’t know what is. i love the purity. the sincerity. the genuineness. this is what makes me believe in all things good. it makes me believe in santa. the easter bunny. the tooth fairy. it makes me believe that the outside world hasn’t quite touched the lives of these little souls. it is so sweet. so honest. so beautiful. we should all be so lucky to have a friend like this.

this is grace. and that’s her little brother, pat. funny story about pat. they (grace’s family) call him bubba. they call him bubba so much that at times he thinks his name is bubba. he’s even corrected them for calling him pat. and it’s not just him that’s a tad bit confused. even grace’s friends for quite some time thought his real name was bubba.

there is no better way to eat cake than with your fingers in my opinion.

needless to say the birthday boy was eager to start breaking out and breaking in his gifts. can you blame him? i remember being his age. birthday. christmas. you cannot possibly ask a child to “wait” or say “we’ll do it later”. the excitement. the anticipation. it’s now. and only now. there is no waiting when you are six. it just doesn’t happen. and that’s the way it should be.

this blondie was darling. came right up to me as i was taking pictures and jumped right  into my frame. and this is what i caught. how can you not smile? that grin. those bangs. the pink frills on her sleeves. to die for.

and what kind of mom would i be if i didn’t include some shots of my little man? he had a fantastic time. running around with the big kids. going for a swim in the pool. and eating up all the attention (and sugar) he was given. needless to say someone was very tired, very stinky, and very easy to put to bed. i bet he’s dreaming about race-cars and swimming pools as i form these words.

happy birthday, brodie. you are an amazing little soul who has touched more lives than you will ever know. i wish nothing but all the wonderful things this world has to offer. and i know as you grow up you are never, ever going to stop ceasing to amaze me.

all of my love,

aunt “kuddie”

finally.

i am proud to announce that my dear friends, mark and tara, welcomed their first child into the world yesterday (after nearly 42 weeks of pregnancy mind you). aiden mark was born at 12:59pm weighing in at 8lbs 3oz and 20in long. he is beautiful.

i am beyond thrilled for the two of you. you have turned the page on this new chapter in life and i wish you nothing but happiness during your journey. parenthood is so hard to explain other than simply being the best job you will ever have the pleasure of holding.

welcome to the world baby aiden. aunt kelly cannot wait to squeeze you and teach you rotten new tricks.