My sister is a Mrs.!

This past weekend, on June 13, Alicia and Justin tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony at Topsail Island, NC. Everything went extremely well and it was really a wonderful weekend.

We started everything off Friday night with the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner. It was seriously the most laid back rehearsal I have ever seen. It was kind of "you will go, then you will go, then you will go, then the kids, then me, then we'll say some stuff, then we'll do rings, then we'll walk out and you all will walk out, and then we're done." Nice. Then we ate a yummy shrimp dinner and drank some beer and talked a lot. Also, Justin's dad put together a really sweet video of Alicia and Justin which included childhood photos as well as many as a couple. It was great. The couple gave out gifts to the wedding party and that started my first tears of the weekend. Colin (he was the ring bearer) received an awesome Lego car picked out by Justin and upon opening it exclaimed, "WHOA!" We have built, broken, and rebuilt that car a few times. Great gift!

That night after the dinner, we converged on Tiffany's (our hotel) and took over the lanai (fancy word for balcony with chairs and tables). Aunts, Uncles, cousins, my brother, my mom, and lots of alcohol. My mother took a shot of Patron!! Craziness. But as always, very loud and lots of fun!!! We have a wonderful family and always have a great time when we are together.

Saturday morning started with breakfast (and a rough start for some) at a little restaurant on the other end of the island and then Roger, Grandma, and Grandad took the boys to the beach for a few hours since the wedding wasn't until 6 pm and I had to go get hair done with Alicia. The kids had a blast, but I am not sure if we got any pictures or not. I was sad to miss it, but as most of you know I hate the beach so I guess I was kind of relieved to be getting primped instead! We all got ready and then it was time! Alicia looked absolutely gorgeous and everything went off without a hitch. The weather held out and the hairspray held. My brother, Bradley, did the ceremony (he was ordained last summer) and it was beautiful. He added some humor, but his words were very meaningful and heartwarming. They did their vows, swapped some rings, and then kissed. Beautiful. Not too many tears, but some choking up (we are an emotional bunch). OH, and Colin made the most handsome ring bearer in the world and walked up the aisle holding Addison's (Justin's god-daughter) hand. He made me so proud!

After the ceremony was the reception and as always, lots of fun. Colin still loves to dance and didn't fail us in that regard! He had his first "couples" dance with a little girl named Logan, and even stole a kiss! It was so cute but so shocking! Apparently, Logan gets around. Her mom wasn't surprised in the slightest, and was convinced that she made the first move! Colin followed up the smooch with "Do you have any cool toys at your house?" Ha ha ha!! Priorities, huh? I gave the speech that I had spent months preparing. It was time for the tears! Thank the Lord I had written it down. But I was able to get it out and apparently I made my family members cry (Alicia, too, SCORE) so I was glad. Colin did not like seeing me cry and walked up to me on the "stage" and said "Mommy, why are you crying?" He was on the verge of tears himself and later when I was holding him, he wiped my tears for me. It was too sweet!! Unfortunately, this was around 11 pm and the kids had about had it! As soon as the speeches were done, I gave hugs and took the kids back to the ho-tail (as Colin called it) for bed. We then converged on the lanai (as people started trickling in from the party) for another night of loud conversation and beer. Great times.

So, Alicia is now a Vanderspiegel. It's so awesome and I am so happy for the newly married couple!! Pictures to come!

Doctor visits

Thank the Lord that we have gone to the doctor for the first time all year and NOT, I repeat, NOT had an ear infection!!! Infection free!!! Woohoo!!


We went for their yearly checkups and everything looks good with Colin. He is growing well and is in the 75th percentile across the board. He is also doing all of the things that he is supposed to be doing (and then some) for his age group. Unfortunately, he left the doctor's office with three new puncture wounds, and he was not too happy. But the lollipop from the nurse made that all better. I hate having to hold him down so they can hurt him. I know it's in his best interest, but at the time it sucks.



Growing like a weed...getting him started on his momma's sport!



Christopher is infection free as well, and is hitting milestones when he is supposed to. His growth was a small concern to the doctor, as he is only in the 4th percentile (yep, 4th) for weight, and the 41st for height. He hasn't even hit 20 pounds yet...shoot, he hasn't even hit 19!! They don't seem too worried, but said to definitely up his milk intake and to offer him the Pediasure shakes to help get him some extra fat and calories. Oh, and I forgot to mention his head size. His head is in the 85th percentile. So, we have a bobble head according to the numbers. Considering how huge Colin always was, this news came as quite a shock to me. I never saw myself having a tiny peanut (especially one that was born at 9 lb 2 oz) especially having had a chunky monkey previously. I guess I will just have to enjoy the baby size for a little longer. Can't say it's all bad!

Does this look like a bobble head to you???

This week we are in preparations for my sister's wedding on Saturday. I have a few things to do in order to look better than her, uh, I mean, look pretty at the wedding. I got my hair cut and colored today, the boys haircuts today, and I am getting my nails and spray tan done Thursday evening. I am very excited for the wedding and will be posting about it after I get home and recover! It definitely beats holding my kids down for their shots!

Christopher is 1!!

On June 4th, we celebrated Christopher's first birthday. It has been a crazy birthday week in our house! I don't know if I have ever eaten so much cake in my life. Anyway, we woke up at the normal 7 am and I went to get Christopher out of bed. He was screaming by this time to get our attention. I was greeted by a giant poopy diaper up his back. Happy Birthday, buddy.

Probably the best part of the day was when Roger, Sue, and I were standing in the kitchen and Colin and Christopher were playing in Colin's new "Jump-o-lene" in the office. We hear Colin's sweet voice say, "Happy Birthday, Christopher." Kiss. "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday day dear Christopher....Happy Birthday to you. I love you, Christopher." He probably pushed him over or took something from him not long afterwards, but we will always have that memory of him being so sweet to his little brother. Those are the precious moments.

After naps, we opened up gifts and had cake. He wasn't sure what to do with all of the stuff he got. It didn't help that Colin wouldn't let him open half of them without taking over, so we had some disagreements there, but he got the hang of it and when we opened up the toy boxes and he got to play, all was well! Christopher is quite the cake connoisseur these days and he dug right in. He enjoyed us singing to him, but was happy when it was over and he could eat! Here is a short video and the pictures of the wonderful day that was my big boy's 1st birthday!

Colin is 4!

Happy Birthday to my big boy! I am so proud of our 4-year-old. I am so happy to have been blessed with such a sweet, loving, rambunctious boy. We had a wonderful day on Tuesday hanging out at the house. Grandma Sue is in town to help celebrate and everything has been very relaxed.

Colin woke up on his birthday at 6 am (ugh) and said, "Daddy. DADDY!" "Yes, Colin." (still sleeping) "Daddy, am I 4?" "Yes, Colin, you're 4. Now lay down until 7:00." You could hear the excitement inside of him as he laid back down on the air mattress. It was very cute.

Colin had gone to bed with a frog in his throat, and it wasn't better in the morning. He sounded adorable. As the day went on and he got phone calls wishing him a happy birthday, he got to talk to my mom. She sang to him and he said, "Thanks! Grandma, my voice is broken. Eea, eea, eea. Did you hear that?" It was really cute and if you have ever lost your voice you know exactly the sound that he made.

After naptime, we opened presents and ate cake. He had chosen a Wall-E cake and it was really yummy. I think that Christopher enjoyed it the most though. I guess he was practicing for his own day.