Buds

To have a cousin that you love to play with is such a blessing, but to have a cousin that is your best bud is an even bigger blessing! Jack adores Clayton, and you can tell Clayton feels the same about him! We are so lucky to have 4 kids that all love and care for each other so deeply, as cousins and as friends!

Happy Birthday Jack!

Jack, you have changed my life in ways I can't explain, but couldn't and wouldn't imagine it any other way! Thank you god, for choosing me to be Jack's mom. Every day he brings and smile to my face and love in my heart!

Today was a perfect day, we started the day with a breakfast celebration, followed by a great day at the Bay! Thank you Emma, Auntie Jamie, Clayton, Taylor, April, Oliver, Avery, Stella, Amy, Allison and William! It was such a great way to spend not only Jack's birthday but the last day of summer before school starting. Then we had meet and greet at the school, then a quick dinner and home to get Emma ready for her first day of school. Everyone was beat, tucked in bed before 7:30pm. That's a sure sign of an AWESOME birthday!!

Happy birthday sweet bear! We all love you so much!!

Gyro Bowl

Jack has seen the infomercial for the gyro bowl. So for his birthday I was going to get it for him as sort of a joke. He kept telling me, it would be the most perfect because then he wouldn't spill things. Well I forgot, Uncle Chad said something about it last night to remind me. So today when we were out running errands we picked him one up. He loves it, but within 2 min both Emma and Jack could get the gyro bowl to spill the snacks out! Not the best invention, but he loves it! Emma does too, I think we will be getting her one for Christmas or her birthday!

Our new secret...

Joe and I found this place in Arvada to go for movies, yes it's a little out of the way and a little ghetto, but it is only $2.50 per person if you go before 6pm and $3.50 per person after 6pm, for new movies that haven't come out on video yet! The kids hadn't seen Cars 2 yet, so this afternoon we went to see it. A movie for 4 and it was 10 bucks!! Can't beat it!! We will definitely go back. Bear was a little tired from his party yesterday, he crashed about halfway through. It was a cute movie and a great way to spend a Sunday with my family!

The Bear's 4th Birthday Party

Hard to believe that Jack (the bear) is almost 4! Will be on Wednesday the 17th. He is the most energetic, outgoing, athletic, inquisitive, sweet and loving little boy! He has a personality all his own, and when he does something he is all in! Whatever it is, I even mean temper tantrums! Yes, he can throw a tantrum with the best of 'em! He is also so fun, and has the best laugh that is so contagious! I have loved watching him become is own person, with his own thoughts and opinions. I also love that he isn't afraid to express them! Although, it's not yet his birthday we celebrated it this weekend with our families and our closet friends. He decided on a Bronco party, you will not meet a bigger fan than Jack! He loves the Broncos and CU Buffaloes! That's another thing about him is his loyalty, to everything he loves whatever it is! We had such a fun party, we had a pinata, cake, presents, good food and great company! He got some boxing gloves along with a boxing bag. His cousin Clayton got the gloves for his birthday, and since he had them he has been asking for them since. He also got a basketball hoop from us, mimi and poppa and momo. Another one of his favorite gifts was his Bronco helmet from momo. He loves this thing, had to eat breakfast with it on. It was such a fun night! Looking forward to continuing his birthday celebration on Wednesday this week! I love you Bear!!

A few more....

I have so many pictures that I didn't want to leave out! Enjoy!!

Lake of the Ozarks

Every year Joe's side of the family heads to Lake Powell. This is something I never had done before I met Joe. If you have never been, it is something you MUST do! Especially with the Carnival/Ferrera clan! They know how to boat! This year though instead of Powell we headed to Kansas to spend a few days with Nick and Toni on their lake, and then continued on to Missouri to Uncle Gary & Auntie Elvie's lake house at the Ozarks. Again, I have never been before and something you MUST do! We had such a wonderful trip, road tripping, laughing, drinking, boating, swimming, reading, playing with the kids, being together! I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend the end of our summer vacation! I came to the conclusion, whether you are in Powell, Ozarks, Cancun or home it's the people you spend it with. The reasons our family trips are all so wonderful all of the time, is because it is such a special family!!

Thank you all for a great trip!! Can't wait for the next one!!