date night

The Abbajays are my Colorado family and so when they got here the day of Paul's fancy work party, I asked if they would mind watching the kiddies that night. They are so sweet and were happy to. They kids gave them a run for their money while Paul and I happily escaped. :) Dinner was good and the kid-free company was even better.

On the way back to our car, we were blocked by the Gay Pride parade. So we stood in the crowd and hoped for some beads and when we got the chance we cut across and we made it back to the car. It was such a nice night.

Abbajay love

The kids got to see Richard a tiny bit, but he was working a lot of the time they were here. For as intimidating as Richard can be to young adults (like when Paul met Richard in Fort Collins when we were dating and scared the poop out of him), he's really sweet with little kids. :)

I am SO glad these guys came to visit. They are SO much fun. It makes me miss them and Colorado that much more when I see them.

Solace warmed right up to Avia and he was literally eating out of her hands at the end. Well, drinking.

Izzy

Matix and Hawken are Izzy's biggest fans. They still haven't stopped talking about her and the Abbajays were here at the end of June. They're already asking when we will see them next. :) Matix wrote this sweet love note for Izzy. I love it.

No matter where Izzy was, there was Hawken too. Always snuggling up next to, according to him, "his favorite almost sister".

playground

The kiddies in their new outfits from Avia, playing at the playground in our neighborhood. They wanted to show Jill and Izzy the (then) almost finished splash pad. 

selfies

Hawken snuck my phone away to take selflies and then Lullaby followed suit. Lovely.

Then I took the phone away and tried to take a nice picture and this is what I got. Stinker.

Then Izzy got in on the no pictures thing, and Lullaby tried to move around so I couldn't get a good one… Is it a girl thing?

out to eat

Jill took us out to eat LOTS, and everything was tasty. The kids loved it too and Paul even got to come with one of the days. Thanks Jill!! 

Izzy was sitting between kids and the server called her "Ma'am" Ha ha ha ha ha!! Since she ordered for them too, I think he must have thought that she was the mom. :)

Abbajays!!

The Abbajays came for a visit and they completely spoiled us! Everyone was instantly in love. Then Jill took us shopping and everyone left with toys and clothes and shoes and swimsuits… It was so fun. Thanks Avia (That's what the kids call Jill - it's Latin for grandma)!

Playing with the new toys and trying on the new clothes. This little flying fairy is still a favorite toy. We play with it almost everyday. :)

Lots of cuddles. Seriously, it was love at first sight. Matix loves Avia, and it's mutual.

Matix's new amazing car ramp. You can build it however you like it.

Hawken didn't let go of Izzy for two days straight. No joke. Izzy was such a good sport and put up with LOTS of cuddle time, and play time, and everything in-between.

date night!

Paul and I love taking the kids out individually for dates. They are sometimes just errands, but the kids need that one-on-one time with us and it's nice to be able to devote more attention to them. Paul took Lullaby to the movies to see Inside Out on a date. Lullaby got sleepy before it ended and asked to be taken home, but before that, she loved spending all that time with her favorite guy. They dressed up for the occasion and had a lovely date. Love these two together!

community pool

There is a city-run free community pool near our house that we tried out this summer with some friends. The pool itself is very nice. Sloping entry for little ones, and a shade cover, deep area for big ones, etc. BUT, the people there left us a little disappointed. We had a few run ins that left me feeling uncomfortable there, which is too bad since it's so close. Maybe we'll give it another go just in case it's better.  We went there with Keisha and her family and the kids loved having Christian and Atticus there to play with too.