Always a Bridesmaid - FINALLY a Bride

My Little Erin Ree finally got married!  I couldn't be any happier for her!  She has loved Andy since middle school (I really wish we still had the diary to prove it!).  It was a beautiful wedding!  Lyla was  her flower girl and I was a bridesmaid.  

They got married at the beach.  There were lots of complications including a location change the night before, travel arrangements getting messed up, the bar closing an hour before it was supposed to...  but really, years from now those are not what anyone will remember. 

Everyone will remember that it was a beautiful summer day on the beach.  We will remember that Erin not only had her dad walk her down the aisle, but Kozmo was there too!  We will remember how proud we were of the kids for walking down the steps together and holding up that sign!  We will laugh about how Jamie forgot the ring and how Andy couldn't stop laughing during his vows.  We will never forget how amazing Jesse was playing on the beach for 20 minutes nonstop.. just waiting for the girls to get down there or how awesome he did playing Erin & Andy's first song to dance to.  

We will remember the joy.  We will remember that it was the day that Erin officially became a Jinkens!

Heard Around the House #25

Lyla was playing in the bath tub and she asked me if I could get some of her little people to play with.  I  brought her in the princess and a pony.

Lyla:  I need more people.  I need a Mommy.

Me:  Just use the Princess as the Mommy.

Lyla:  NO.  A Princess can't be a Mommy.

Me:  Well why not?  I can be a princess and a mommy.

Lyla:  No you can't.  A Princess carries a wand and a Mommy carries a purse.  You have a purse so you are a Mommy and NOT a Princess.

I laughed SO hard and she was SO serious.... really popped my bubble and any princess fantasy I ever had!

Oh What a Busy & Fun Filled Life I Lead! ;)

Let's see here... It's been about a month since my last post...  Let me try and give a little recap of what all has been happening!

Erin's Bachelorette Party

For Erin's Bachelorette Party we started out with a painting class which was so much fun!  Plus you got to bring your own wine!  After that we did the normal bar crawls, good time had by all!

Bruno Mars Concert

Ashley & I went to the Bruno Mars Concert.  By far THE BEST concert I have ever seen!  I loved him before and now I'm totally obsessed!

 

 

4th of July at Em & G's

The Saturday after the 4th of July we went to Em & Gerald's house to cookout and swim then we went to see fireworks at the park by their house.  This is the first year that we took Lyla to see fireworks and she loved them!  Pappy even bought her a glow stick necklace so she was a very happy little girl!

Pig Roast

Ashley's parents have a big party / pig roast every summer.  Its always a good time. 

I had gone in to the house to use the bathroom and came back out to Lyla doing a full on show for everyone!  I grabbed my camera, but I missed the good stuff.  The most I could get was some spins!

Daycare Spirit Days

Daycare keeps sending home these calendars with different "Spirit Days".  A couple recent ones were dress up (well they called it "Business Casual"?  Amanda and I took that to mean dress up) and Crazy Hair day.  Well Lyla's hair is always crazy so we had that in the bag!  lol

 

 

Wings for Cassie Walk
Today we participated in the Cribs for Kids - Breath of Life Stroll in honor of Cassie.  It breaks your heart to look around at all the groups there and realize that they have all lost somebody so young and so special to each of them.  I was happy to participate and try to raise more awareness.  And Amanda did great and bypassed her goal by raising over $2,000!

Next up in this crazy life of mine - We leave EARLY Saturday to drive to the beach.  Erin & Andy's wedding is a week from today, then a week at the beach, followed by Ashley's Bridal Shower the Sunday we get back.  Thing are for sure CRAZY but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Wings for Cassie

As you all are well aware, one of my best friends lost her baby in January. 

I would like to share Amanda's post with all of you:

Our daughter, Cassie, died of Sudden Unexplained Infant Death in January 2013. Cribs for Kids is an organization that supports education and research on safe sleep for babies. The organization also provides bereavement services to families grieving the loss of an infant.

The 5th Annual Breath of Life Stroll is a walk in remembrance of the babies that we’ve lost. The event raises funds for the Cribs for Kids organization.

Please consider walking with us and/or making a donation in Cassie’s memory. Visit our team page for details. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of our page to find our team’s yellow donate button rather than the pink donate button at the top.
Thanks for your support!

Here is the link to their page:

Wings For Cassie

Remember, if you want to donate, use the yellow button so it goes to their team!

Amanda set a goal of raising $1,000, she is currently at $675.  Please lets get her to her goal, this is such a wonderful cause and a tribute to a sweet little girl who we won't ever forget.  Let's help keep Cassie's memory alive and help prevent another family from having to go through this.

She's Not a TOTAL Girly Girl

Sometimes Lyla likes to watch Handy Manny or Bob the Builder.  If you are not up and up on kids tv shows, both of these are cartoons about handyman kind of guys who go around fixing things. 

So on Saturday first Lyla was "helping" my clean using her vacuum.  Then the next thing I know... it must have broke!  Exhibit A:

I really need to get her a tool kit!

So she might not be a total girly girl, but she is pretty in to herself.  She quickly caught on to the fact that I was taping her and said "Mommy Mommy tape me again while I check the tires!"  Exhibit B:

She also likes to tell me that her Daddy and Pappy can fix ANYTHING and usually when something is broke it needs batteries.  :)  Love her!

5 Things Friday - Favorite Concerts

Anyone who knows me knows that I have been to A LOT of concerts over the years.  My sister likes to give me 5 Things topics to use.  Her FAVORITE singer of all time is Kenny Chesney.  She is going to his show tomorrow, so in her honor, my 5 favorite concerts:

1.  Counting Crows & John Mayer
     Starlake
     August 14th, 2003

Not because its the best show I have ever seen... I really didn't see much of it actually!  But its where Gary and I met, most important night of my life, therefore a favorite concert!

2.  Britney Spears Circus Tour
     Consol Energy Center
     March 27th, 2009

I love Britney Spears, I don't care what anybody says!  And her Circus tour was phenomenal.  Truly, such an amazing show from beginning to end.  And it was a "show"! 

3.  The Clarks
     123 Pleasant Street
     June 2004 (rough estimate)

I have seen The Clarks more times than I should really admit.  hahaha  But I think my favorite place to see them is this little bar in Morgantown.  I saw them there a few times but one of them all my girlfriends from home came down and we were right up front leaning on the stage.  And we got lots of pictures with them afterwards.  It was really awesome!

4.  Farm Aid
     Starlake
     September 21, 2002

This was absolutely one of the coolest experiences of my life!  If you don't know about Farm Aid, please check out their website (www.farmaid.org)  but the main people in charge are Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews.  Well first of all, I went to a Toby Keith concert at Starlake Friday night, went to work early Saturday morning, left work in time to get back out to Starlake Saturday afternoon to go to Farm Aid!  Oh to be 19 again... haha   So those four guys all perform, plus other people who want to come out and support the cause.  Awesome Cause.  Awesome Event.  And I just adore John Mellencamp so so so much! 

5.  Jamboree In The Hills
     Belmont, Ohio
     July 2004

My Dad always wanted to go to Jamboree in the Hills, so in 2004 Stef and I decided to take him.  Well it poured down rain and everything was a big muddy mess.  But we were all still there to party and having a good time.  My Dad couldn't wait to see ZZ Top.  They were going to be the last act of the night.  Well I made some new friends and drank too much of their cranberry juice with vodka and got sick.  Dad had to carry me to the car and we missed ZZ Top.... He reminds me of that all too often!  I think I made it up to him though when we got him ZZ Top tickets at Starlake a few years later!

And Then She Was THREE

My little girl is officially three years old!  Her birthday was so much fun this year because now she is old enough to totally understand what it means for it to be your birthday.  She was really excited! 

The three of us spent the night at my mom & dad's Friday night then Saturday we had a birthday party for her there.  She had her mom and dad, Grandma & Pappy, Great Grandma, Sitta, Auntie Em & Uncle G and Erin all there to celebrate with her.  Lyla is a very lucky girl to have so many people that love her so much!  Thank you all for celebrating with us and for all of her great presents!  And of course, Auntie Em made another awesome cake! 

On Sunday Lyla and I made cupcakes for her to take to daycare on Monday.  They were a mess but she had fun and everyone at daycare said they tasted really good!

Monday was the big day - her actual birthday!  First we had to wake up the birthday princess....

I dressed her up in her special outfit from Great Grandma for daycare.  And she was all excited that we got her balloons!

After work, Daddy and I picked her up at daycare... Daddy brought her flowers:

Then we took her to dinner where they sang Happy Birthday and brought her ice cream!

After dinner we met Amanda, Justin and Becca at the mall.  The girls did the big spider jump then went and played.

After all was said and done I didn't get her to sleep until after 10:00... lol  But I think she had a good birthday!