Oliver's 4th Birthday

For Oliver's 4th birthday we threw him a little party in our backyard here in Houston. We had a pool party! All the kids and adults swam for the first hour or so and we ate lots of food and drinks. We also had a pizza that was so huge it didn't fit into the front seat of the car. Austin had to drive it home in the back of the car. haha! All the kids were so excited when they saw how huge it was! 

Then we had cake and ice cream and played in the pool some more until it got too hot to be outside anymore! Oliver had been asking for a Shark cake for his birthday since last year's birthday. I can't believe how stubborn this kid is when he sets his mind to something (sound like anyone else you know? Austin? yeah.). haha! So, even though I knew it would probably look horrible, I tried just for him. Because I love this boy with all my heart! And, ya know what? It did look pretty weird. But, Oliver was really really happy about it and that's all that matters!

Auntie Hope helping me make the fondant for the birthday cake

Oliver opening his present from Mom and Dad

His first remote control car! He was really excited!

My awful attempt at a shark cake. Oliver asked for a shark cake for months so I had to at least try!

Oliver playing with his new Cranky the crane from Mimi and Papa

Oliver reading his Magic Treehouse book from Uncle Chris and Aunt Devrey

Oliver loves his new "cell phone" (that's what he calls it) from Grammy and Grampy Boles

Opening a few presents at his party

Calum loved wearing his party hat!

Oliver with his neighbor friend, Kooper, and Parker and Jace Statham

Auntie Hopey and Calum eating birthday cake together

The LeFevres (Skye, Tyler and their two boys) and Stathams (Brittany and Breton and their 3 boys) came and also my friend Sarah Monson and her kids, Isaac and Phoebe

The Week of HOPE!

This summer we flew Hope out to Houston to spend a week with us! It was her first time flying alone and she was a bit nervous but she got here ok and we were ecstatic to see her! We decided to start a new tradition of having a "Week of Hope" or the "Hope-apalooza" or the "Hope Extravaganza" (we couldn't decide on a name, but you get the idea) every summer because it was just SO SO fun! 

Basically we just partied the whole week she was here and the boys cried and begged her not to leave. It was actually really sad. They love her SO much! It was a blast for me too! Having alone time with my baby sis and having her ALL to myself was a special treat! We will never forget the time we had with Hope. 

Hope and Calum playing

We swam constantly while she was here! We even jumped in a few times with clothes on. haha!

Watching "Finding Dory" in the fancy Texas movie theater. She had to sit in between them so they wouldn't fight over her.

Calum fell asleep, which was SO nice for me! I love the snuggles!

We had a fun pool day at a small church run water park called "Noah's Ark". 

Oliver sliding down the ark

Hanging out on the whale

Hope spent a while trying to perfect her dive off the diving boards and Oliver had to join in! 

Eating donuts on the way to the BEACH! 

I made Hope a mermaid tale and you can tell she hated it! haha.

Making sand castles together

My little family! 

On our last night together we took Hope to a really cool restaurant that was a less-cool version of a Rainforest Cafe.  Then we took her to the Houston water wall because it's pretty awesome!

I love my sis!! We will miss her SO SO much!

4th of July in Dallas!

We had a really great 4th of July weekend visiting all our Smith family in Dallas! We stayed with Uncle Chuck and Aunt Carla and got to spend a lot of fun time with them and my cousins, Annie, Sallie, Charlie and their kids too! I also spent time at my Grandma and Grandpa's house and made a visit to my Uncle Alan and Aunt Kelly's house as well! 

One of the days we had a potluck lunch at my Grandparents house and I got to see a ton of my relatives! It was also my Aunt Vivian's birthday so I made her a birthday strawberry shortcake that I decorated with blueberries and strawberries to look patriotic. We all had a lot of fun catching up!

Oliver playing at Grandma and Grandpa Smith's house

Hanging out at the Fair Park Aquarium 

The boys hanging out in Grandma and Grandpa's front yard at the family potluck

We watched fireworks with Uncle Chuck and Aunt Carla's family 

Calum and Daddy

Oliver LOVED the fireworks this year!! It was fun to watch the show through his eyes!

Calum's first firework show! He was quite tired and grouchy but we made it through!