Practicing for the wedding

A few days ago, we had a bunch of family over to work on Sahsha's shower invitations. While they were here, we watched parts of Andy and Andrea's wedding DVD. Boy did Eli look so small compared to now. :) Here's a picture from the day of the wedding.

He watched the dancing on the video and then Nico picked him up to have them dance together. Well if you know Eli he's at that stage where he wants to do everything ON HIS OWN. So Nico let him down and Eli danced on his own.

He's going to have a BLAST and Jason & Sahsha's reception!! :)

Roanoke Park

A few weeks ago we went to a birthday party at the Roanoke Park. Eli LOVED it. He's at that age where he loves to be outside... especially at a playground.

Nico got in the act too.

My little climber...

Memorial Day & Anniversary Party

Monday was Memorial Day, but it was also my Mom and Dad's 35th Wedding Anniversary. We had a big family cookout to celebrate. My Aunt & Uncle and their grandkids, Tot, all of us and Andrea (because she was babysitting Eli the next day, it's not that we invited Andrea and not Andy :) all came over.

We had WONDERFUL food and some quality time together.

Eli got to play with his cousins and his favorite... go on a golf cart ride with MawMaw.

It was GREAT to be with my mom and dad to celebrate their anniversary. They've shown us how to do marriage right!! Even after 35 years, they love being around each other (most of the time :)... hey, I'm a realist) and truly LOVE each other. They both honestly believe that the other is one of the greatest gifts of their lives. Mom and Dad... We love you. Thanks for showing us what marriage, commitment, and love is all about!!

Drivin' for myself

After his trip with Chayse the day before, Eli thought he should be able to drive. He didn't want to drive any little car... he wanted to drive the real thing. :) So when Nico had to move Andrea's Jeep, Eli came along.

Crusin'

Our neighbor girl Chayse who's 3 has a motorized Mustang that she likes to ride. Sunday night, she took Eli on a ride. Her dad and I laughed that it was their first date. Nico said, "Yep son, keep going after those older girls. That's what daddy did!!"

They are SO DARN CUTE!!! My favorite...

1st Zoo Trip of the Summer

I was so excited to take Eli to the zoo. We went quite a few times last year, but he just sat in the stroller and pretty much just slept. But now he LOVES animals... never mind he calls all of them "doggy" But I knew he'd LOVE the zoo, so Aunt Andrea and I took him on Memorial Day.

The weather was beautiful and we had a GREAT time. He was just as excited as I thought he'd be. Don't know that he had a favorite part... he just looked in awe a lot and pointed.

But squealed now and again and lots of "doggy, doggy" comments. It was PRICELESS!!

Here we are on the Rainforest Carousel. Last year he loved it, this year... a little hesitant, but he stuck it out!! Notice the death grip on the pole.

Climbing through the Kids Tree House.

"Are you back there mommy??" I thought I was going to have to climb in too, but once he got in, he was Mr. Independent!!

We fed the ducks...

We even went in the petting zoo... don't worry MawMaw we washed our hands RIGHT AFTER we got done.

This is a random kid that Eli was petting the baby goats with...Don't know where he gets is "social butterfly" personality???

Trip to Bryan

My mom grew up in Bryan, so we have a lot of good memories about the town of Bryan.... Lesters Diner, Gorny Winslers Toy Store, and The Chief for Balrich Potato Chips. It's been a long time since I've been back, but Saturday Mom, Amanda, Keenan, Eli and I went back to put flowers on my grandparents graves.

On the drive over, Keenan was watching Ninja Turtles, which turned into Eli and Keenan watching. It was adorable.

It was the first time that Eli had ever been to a cemetery and he thought the sole purpose of a headstone was a climbing toy for him.

The good news it that very few people were there, so he could run, climb and chase Keenan all he wanted with out upsetting anyone

Next we went to Gorny Winzlers.

I remember being a kid and my grandma taking me there and getting to go upstairs to the Toy Land.

When I was little, it was just about the coolest place ever. Eli pretty much felt the same way... he was in heaven with all these stuff animals around him.

Lester's Diner was our next stop. It opened in the mid 1960's and it was a take off of Mel's Diner. When I was little, the mini pizza were the ONLY thing I got. It was hard for me to order Eli anything but a mini pizza, but he settled for grilled cheese and smiley fries, which he thought was the greatest thing ever!!

Next it was off to The Chief for Balrich potato chips. We also got ham and cheese loaf which I'm happy to say Eli loves as much as I do. We got some Iced Sugar cookies too. These were my favorite as a kid and Eli loves them too. Even Nico the other day broke down and had one and said "Wow, these are good!!"

All in all, it was a VERY memory filled day for all of us. This picture says is all...looking back at wonderful memories of the past, but also looking ahead and making good memories for the future!!

Party at the Hunsche's

Saturday Night, the Hunsche clan had a "Summer Get Here Faster" Party. The weather was beautiful and the food was outstanding. It was just a GREAT way to spend a Saturday night!! Eli and Molly are just about at the point where they play together... but mostly they just play around each other!! It's hilarious to watch!! We look forward to watching the two of them grow up together!!

Yes, Eli does have a toy vacuum cleaner in the grass. He loved that vacuum cleaner... which makes daddy happy because mommy HATES to vacuum and so daddy is the "vacuumer" in our house.

Eli got to spend some time with Aunt Andrea on that day too. One of this favorite things to do with Aunt Andrea is to crawl up in her lap and read books.

Sunday, Hunsche's had to return the trailer and DJ equipment... like either Mike or Nico would have a party without playing some jammin music... Lionial Ritchie :) So they stayed for dinner and more play time. Here's Nico surrounded by LOTS OF LOVE.

And this was just too cute to not take a pictures of...