Sunflowers

There are alot of fields out where we live.  Around this time of year there are literally THOUSANDS of HUGE sunflowers!!  On my way to work I see seas of yellow and have never really gotten up close to them...until today...

 

Hazel, Hagen, and I decided to go check them out!!  They were kinda dinged up due to alot of visitors and people stepping on them.  The police put up warning tape to keep people from breaking them anymore.

 Most of them were taller than Hagen!  He was quite impressed...

 Hazel felt like she was in a fairytale...

 VERY curious...and kinda anxious as there were some bees...what a happy bee!!

 Seriously so beautiful!

 I will say that they are much more beautiful far away...like from the highway...it is so impressive!

 We rounded out the day with a trip to the carwash...the kids love it because they get lollypops...Hazel is still a little scared so her sweet bro holds her hand through the trauma...

Front yard landscape

I love our house!  We rarely have BIG projects to do until recently.  Our side yard was very steep (wish I had a before pic).  It was to a point where we needed to have a wall of some sort to hold up the ground for the foundation.  We didn't want something that in a few years would be falling apart or the mortar to be breaking.

 

It was way bigger of a job than we could do ourselves.  They built up the ground, ripped out all of our previous landscaping, and built a wall.  The stones are 75 pounds a piece so there is no need for mortar!  We could not be happier. 

 They tore out our sidewalk "L" that went from the front porch to the driveway and paved it with large flat rocks instead.  Then they put cute little grass plugs in...ones that stay that size and are just so cute! 

 The walkway was also added to the side yard all the way to the fence to the backyard...beyond the fence is hell...I'm not kidding, it is awful...the budget stopped there and that will be another project.  :/

 We also decided to sod the grass...the neighbor did his so it was just a matter of time till it was going to creep to our yard...plus, our grass started dying because of not getting much sun...it just worked out.

 I can't believe the difference it made...it's a good thing to not see your foundation like we were!!

 The little tree in the bottom right corner of the pic below was the cutest little Japanese maple that was struggling...we wanted to keep her so we planted her under our big tree.  She didn't need much sun and doesn't get that big so we thought it would be a good home...she died about a week later...

Ryan and I did 2 of the big projects our selves.  We took out a rose bush area that was by our driveway and sodded it.  We also took out the eye sore that was around the electrical box by the street.  That was tough because there are alot of wires right there so no tying the roots to his truck and pulling...it was like a surgical procedure.  We still managed to knock out the neighbors Internet service...I blame myself.  Funny thing is Floyd didn't say anything until about a week later...he didn't want to worry us.  THAT is a sweet neighbor right there!!

Nick's Wedding!

Picture overload...prepare for madness...

 

This is my cousin Skip and his girlfriend Connie...they have known each other since High School!

 This is my beautiful cousin Shelley and her husband Joe.  He is one of those sneeky funny guys...quiely funny.  he's hilarious...

 My parents...

 Uncle Robby and Aunt Sue.  She is one of the funniest people you will meet!  I have alot of fun people in the family...makes our get togethers the best!

 Here is the dynamic 4...Aunt Linda, Aunt Kathy, Aunt Sue, and Mom

 So, there was a game at the wedding to raise money for the honeymoon.  I took it seriously...

 So did the other guys that played...BUT guess who won?  ME!  And how much did I raise?  About $1200!!  I rocked it...I begged...I pleaded...I love my cousin and would help in any way I could.  I even stole...it was for a good cause...

 Groom and his mama...you are a man now Nick...go spread your man wings and fly...

 Uncle Robby, Uncle Tom, Ramon, Dad, Ryan, and Uncle Rick.  He is a fireman and is pretty much a badass.  He is married to my Aunt Sue (pictured below in coral dress...I have 2 aunt Sue's) and we hadn't seen them in a long time...family drama that is just pointless.  We all forgave and forgot and had a great time.  Again...FB is helping with this!

 Mom, me, my cousin Missy, and Aunt Sue.  Missy and I were also very close in age and growing up.  Jason, Missy, and I were kind of the three muskateers.  Love her!!

 here are the 3 siblings.  (missing Uncle Ricky who wasn't feeling well).  These three haven't been together for a happy occasion in a long time.  This night was awesome!!

 This is Ramon (Missy's boyfriend...pretty much common law husband.  I remember visiting when I was in Junior High and they were just starting to date...they are STILL dating and have 2 girls Jaylah and Mela.  And no they haven't taken a break or anything!  The love life and just don't feel the stress to get married...but I'm hoping they do soon!  Super sweet people

 Here is my Aunt Sue and Uncle Rick...they were high school sweethearts and are still so inlove.

 Jason and his daughter Carissa

 The fabulous Aunt Linda!

 And the cutest little couple ever...yes, he adores her...as it should be.

 Here are all the cousins (and sig others)...what a fun night!

 Uncle Rick, Aunt Sue, and Uncle Tom

 I need to learn to dance for sure...I was such a loser!!

 I opted to be photographer instead of dancing...it was the right thing to do...no one needs to be exposed to that

Wonderful night...

A trip to KC,MO for Nick's wedding - this is the preparty!

So this is the first time that we are leaving both Hagen and Hazel with Nana...we are just so upset and worried.  Just kidding, we could not be more excited!  Not to be away from the kids, but to be away by ourselves without having to worry about the kids.  Nana is fun...they will have a blast and we don't have to worry!  Ahh...

 

This is taken on the morning before school...last pics of him til Sunday when we return!

 

 We get to KC and we go to eat...we eat and drink all weekend, it's the right thing to do.  This is the groom, my cousin Nick.  So handsome!

 Here are the men...Ryan, Nick, Dad, and Uncle Tom (Nick's Step Dad)

 Here are the ladies...Mom, Aunt Kathy (Nick's Mom), and me...with cleavage

 This is Great Grandma Hazel Grace Adam's house!  It is still there which I am shocked.  lots of memories here!

 This is my cousin Jason...we are very close in age and were very close growing up.  There were about 10 years in there that we didn't talk.  Not because of an argument, just because we were young adults trying to figure our lives out and to be real honest...extended family didn't come first.  BUT with the help of facebook our whole family all over the US is totally back together.  FB is the best...it has helped our family so much as far as keeping in touch!

 This is Carissa...Jason's daughter, me, and Nick's sister Mikayla. 

 Such a fun day...

 This is filthy Uncle Robby.  I may have some of his sick sense of humor.  We both have the ability to make any comment innapropriate.  I think it runs in the family...

 Here is my hot husband and my Uncle Tom.  He is the baby of the family, mom is 10 years older.  She named him and is more like a mom than a sister...

 Here they are...

 These 3 ladies (and missing some more) are fabulous...My Mom, Aunt Sue (married to filthy uncle Robby, and Aunt Kathy

 Dad and Robby...

 Getting late!  Lots of beer was had tonight!

 My baby cousin Jenny and her new boy...super nice and he treats her VERY well...like a man should!

Hagen's Birthday party

Hagen chose to have his party at an indoor swim school and it turned out to be PERFECT!  They provided the cake, the lifeguards, the paper products, the favors...basically everything except the kids!  Ahh...nothing says party like just showing up!

 

This is Jackson Dunnery who is one of Hagen's oldest friends.  They started in Daycare around the age on 1 and were only seperated after they each started kinder...glad we still KIT!!

 Dad and Adam...wonder what they could be talking about?

 Here is the chaos...but I just sat and watched!  The only thing that would have made it better is a keg...

 Here is the crew...most of them are his baseball team

 Cake.

 I look straight out of a trailer park...the hair...the sleeveless denim...not a good look for me.

Happy birthday Hagen!  WE are all SO proud of the man you are becoming.  Continue to be sweet to Hazel even when you don't get the Sweetness back, be kind to your friends, and have fun...life flies by so enjoy it!

Muah,
Mama