Weekend in B'ham + Rhodes 4th B'day Bash

We spent last Thursday through Sunday in B'ham and had a great time visiting family.  Ella Kate and John got in lots of cousin time.

We headed to B'ham right after Ella Kate got out of school on Thursday and met up with lots of family at Wanda's house. 

 Sweet Marlee Reece

It was hard to get Ella Kate to stop for a picture.  She was having a blast running around with six other little girl cousins.  I so wish I had gotten a group pic of them all.

 Ella Kate and Nana playing in Lexi's room.

Next stop, Wanda and I took the kids to the zoo on Friday morning.  We had so much fun just the two of us with our kiddos.  Great Day!  Friday night we met up with Uncle Ken, Aunt Helen, Wendy, Presley, Marlee, Whitley, Uncle Don, Aunt Nancy, Logan, and Nana for a fun pizza dinner. 

 Lexi and John checking out the animals.

 Lilly and Ella Kate!  Sweet sweet cousins.  Wanda and I have always been the best of friends and I know Lilly and Ella Kate will be too.  They are almost exactly 9 months apart just like Wanda and I.

 Sweet kids.

 Best buddies.

 Quite serious about this tracker driving.

 The two little mischevious ones.

 Really really wanting to ride the carousel.

 I love this picture.

 Thanks to Wanda the kids got to feed the birds.  They both loved it and Ella Kate even let the birds land on her arms. 

 Oooops.  She drooped one. :)  Don't worry no birds were hurt they were obviously used to kids and flew right off.

 John loved this and did great!  He was so gentle.  I could not believe it.

 So proud of my big boy!

 Breakfast at Nana's.

 Life at Nana's is easy!

Saturday morning we dressed up in our Auburn gear to cheer on the Tigers.

 These are my favorite types of pics!  The moments I always want to remember.

 Love these two.

 We visited Uncle Tom on Saturday and took him out to lunch at Cracker Barrell.  We had so much fun sitting in the rockers after lunch and hearing all the commentary by Alabama fans telling the kids how cute they were and they were sorry their Mom dressed them in such ugly colors :)

 John was serious about his candy corn :)

 All ready for church Sunday morning!  Most of our pics are taken on Mom's stairs b/c that is the one place that John will actually be semi still :)

 Love this crazy boy.

 He looks so grown up here.

 These two love their Nana.  We sure did enjoy our visit.

 Love how John is looking up at his Sissy.

After church on Sunday we hopped in the car and headed back just in time to celebrate Rhodes's 4th Birthday Party.

 Our sweet big girl rode the horse and pony.  I was so proud of her b/c she stood in line all by herself while I chased her crazy brother around.  So proud and thankful for our good girl.

 John loved petting the rabbits.

 Ohh how I love Pres.  Everytime Ella Kate slid he insisted on catching her. 

 Ella Kate and her buddy + classmate, Bella Claire.

 The boy can always spot a truck.

Such a great party and wonderful end to our weekend!!!  We had a good trip but definetly missed Daddy :)

Happy Birthday Dave

Happy Birthday Dave!!!  Today is Dave's 33rd birthday and we celebrated on Saturday with a cookout.

 Singing Happy Birthday to Dave!  We love you Dave and hope you had a great birthday.

 Love this picture of the little dawgs with Papa and LeLe.  So sweet.

 Our sweet little cheerleader.

 Happy Kids.

 Ella Kate playing football with Daddy.  She was very serious.

 So glad sweet baby Kaleb came over.  He is so handsome.

 Ella Kate showing off her fancy crocs that change colors outside.

 Tag your it.

 Our little football player.

 Papa with his youngest grandson.

 Brooksie Bear, Ella Kate, and Kaleb.

 The kids table on the sun porch. 

So impressed with baby Kaleb standing/eating at the table with the big kids.

 Mary Cobb, Tommy, John, Brooks, Ella Kate, Lawton, and Kaleb.

 Sweet boy.

 Brooks looking for pirates.

 When we originally ordered this playset for Ella Kate's 2nd birthday we agreed on just ordering the basic set that did not include the big curly slide.  Well, a few days after we had placed the order Dave could not stand it and called Playnation and had them add the big curly slide onto our order. Dave has always loved the big curly slide :)  And honestly it is Ella Kate and John's favorite part too.

John really liked the cake.

Below are a few pictures from last week.

 What John and I do on Tues/Thurs when Ella Kate is at school.  Sweet boy is talking up a storm these days and some common phrases are
1.) "Mon Kate" = Come On Ella Kate
2.) Just in the past two weeks he has started saying "Ell Kate" and calls for her anytime they are apart.
3.) John is like Ella Kate and they are both good at playing independently but I love it when he tells me "Sit Momma"
4.) Every time he does something he is proud of like going down our big slide on the playset he says "I did it"
5.) We have been really working on manners and he is getting really good at saying "Pweease", "Kank You"
6.) He also now refers to himself as John. 

 My big girl all ready for school.

Our baby girl is growing up so fast!  Love our little school girl.  And I love that she is enjoying school however by Thursday this sweet girl is usually exhausted.