we had THEE best weekend EVER! we celebrated our boys with friends and family literally all weekend and even better, zach is now on summer break, so we kicked off these long days the right way.

i also took the weekend to unplug a bit and really be in the moment, which means after friday, i really don’t have a whole lot to show for the weekend…but party pics coming! after lila asked me last week to put my phone down and play, i did a little self-check at just how often i try to ‘freeze’ moments or capture that perfect shot, missing out on all of those tiny moments. one of my favorite parts of blogging is that it’s been a way for me to document all these little moments and i have more pictures than i know what to do with…but i also think it’s important to just be in the moment… so, that’s what i did! i asked my dad, who graciously accepted to take pictures at miller’s party on saturday, and i have a handful of shots…but for the most part, it was a much needed break from my phone!

friday

gah, friday was SO MUCH FUN! my dad + stepmom, lisa {grandma + grandpa} gifted us season passes to kings island for christmas, with meal plans, making for the easiest and most fun day trips. we went a handful of times last year when i was VERY pregnant and then also when mills was just a newborn…and while it was fun, it was A LOT of work. like, a lot. so when lisa asked me if i wanted to take the kids to kings island for a date day with her, i said of course, not knowing exactly how it would turn out. the weather wasn’t looking great all week but we decided to go for it hope to get in a couple hours of fun before the storms came in.
i am so glad we went for it because we seriously had the best time. the girls are older + taller this year, meaning they doubled the amount of rides we could take them on…even the bigger ‘kid’ roller coasters and THEY LOVED IT!!
nothing but smiles, giggles, full on belly laughs and pure joy.

mills even got in on the action and he was h i l a r i o u s!
he giggled and clapped the whole ride and then screeeeamed as soon as it stopped and cried getting off until i could distract him and find something new! he might be the biggest thrill seeker of them all!

a little reminder to myself to take these group shots when we ARRIVE rather than when we’re leaving, ha! mills was still crying from getting off the ride, lila being goofy and piper telling miller to stop ‘cwying’. we headed out about nap time {moods.} and while i was hoping for everyone to catch a nap in the car, mills was the only one who complied until we met zach at sam’s club. we switched out cars and he headed home to get the kids all settled, rested and then ready for dinner!

friday night, my mom + stepdad treated us and mark {my brother-in-law} to a birthday dinner for this handsome guy! while his real birthday is today, we took the chance to let the kids play at the kids clubhouse, while we chowed down on some steaks + moscow mules.
good food, good company.
we headed home way too late, threw the kids in bed and then it was party prep time! i got to bed entirely too late and dreaming about coffee…

saturday

party day!!!
woke up about 445 for the first cup of coffee and getting my act together. chose to do all the fun things on friday, meaning i had the morning to set everything up for 2 parties in one day! miller’s actual birthday isn’t until next weekend but my side of the family could only attend this weekend so we moved his birthday party up a week so all of our family could attend. i ran around with my head cut off, snagged a shower and picked up the cake before heading to the local airport to celebrate our sweet baby boy with the coolest party in the world. i’m totally into the morning parties and it was the perfect time to have fun and still be back home for afternoon naps.  i can not WAIT to share pictures and all about the party, but the stars aligned and we had the best time. i asked my dad to snap all the pics for me so i could just be in the moment and the sneak peaks he’s sent have been amazing….

the big kids played and played and played…rosie cheeks and all.
birthday boy was as sweet as he could be the entire time, partied hard, and finally passed out with some aunt ebby snuggles… one of the only shots i got all day and it’s my fav…

after miller’s party, we got the kids home for a nap and a frantic clean up of the house before some family and friends showed up. the only thing zach asks for every year is a cookout + bonfire for his birthday and the weather was perfect!
we spent the evening grilling out, having water balloon + squirt gun fights with the kids, eating s’mores and staying up entirely too late, celebrating this guy and the wonderful man he is.

sunday

after some iced coffee, breakfast and some play time with the family/friends that camped out in our backyard, we spent the day slowly cleaning up, staying in our jams and simply playing outside. the best kind of sundays, just loving on each other and recapping the magic of the weekend. we’re SO blessed to have a family that loves us so fiercely, friends that are basically family and so much joy in our hearts.

the happiest of birthdays to our bug catching, tea party drinking, squirt gun fighting, superhero tickle monster… 34 never looked so good, babe.
we love you SO very big.