Monsters, the River and S'mores...OH MY!

We had a crazy monster birthday party for our big four year old down by ther river this past weekend.  Crazy friends, crazy fun and a CRAZY insane amount of photos for a crazy great little boy. 

 Christian.  Hunting monsters.

 Elliana is one of the most photogenic little gals I know.  Love her expressions.

 Each kiddo got a monster bag (handmade...yep, gotta brag on that stuff) with rope, flashlight, and monster-nets for hunting.

 S'mores for dessert with monster-faced marshmallows.  One of the little monsters broke into the bag and ate several key letters before I could snap a pic.

 Future pool man?

 Our friend Ron painted faces at the party.  I spent the entire party strutting around thinking I was painted up as this cute little monster, never having seen the actual work.  You can imagine my surprise once I got home and started looking at the pictures.  Yep...not so cute.

 Did someone say pool party?

 Now that is a cute painted face.

 Sweet Steph

 Finally a family photo...so glad I look like the freakin' Riddler.

 Hayride to the river.

Birthday boy trying his best to bust that pinata.

Nothing better than a trailer full of hay and friends.

Rex didn't put up with much face painting.  My guess is he saw my outcome and opted for not looking like a jackass.

I adore this picture of Baby Grace.  She stood guard of the snack table the entire afternoon.

Baby Asha hanging with the crew.

Painting monsters on rocks.  Rex, as usual thinks of clothes as optional.

Ron took full advantage of Rex's expanded canvas for painting.

Pin the tail on the monster.

Mr Cole - cute as pie.

The crew on the move.

Thanks for a great day everybody.  Roanin felt so special and we really appreciated you all celebrating his big day and for all the help.

Meet Me at the Lake

 The boys let me tag along to a little meeting they had with their friends at the lake last week.

 Rexy standing guard at Asha's side.  Wouldn't you guard something that cute?  Seriously...that bow makes me want to eat her alive.

 Uh, oh...the older woman (and by that I mean 2 year old Grace) moves in.  Rex multitasking by hugging and not letting go of the toy.  Asha seems to not be concerned with the theft of her man-candy, but simply with his grubby little hands on her toy.

 JoJo (aka Scrappy) always hanging with the big kids.

 Hittin' the beach.

 Rex decided that boots were optional for the VERY COLD lake water.

 The bigs were a little smarter when it came to freezing their feet off.

 Rex attempting to recruit company in the water.  Please notice his partner in crime has boots on.

 "Seriously, Rex.  I think you aren't supposed to get wet like that."

 "Bwahh-haa-haa!  My plot to bring the big kids over has finally come to fruition!"

Seriously...it is just downright shocking that I didn't get hauled off by CPS right then and there.  Small (well not really that small) black-eyed one-year old child with no pants or diaper wading in a lake by himself at the end of a wintry January day while his mother stands by taking pictures. 

I'll be expecting my mother of the year award in the mail by the weekend.

Friends. Good Friends.

 We have been spending the warm days and the cold days surrounded by laughter, adventure, and lots of friends.  Everyone should be so lucky. 

 Our little beauty, Elliana.

 Most of the entire crew (minus a few special members): Grace, Andrew, Erica, Christian, Elliana, Toby, Roanin, Rexy, and Jojo.

 Cortney and Baby Grace.

 Who is this handsome little devil?

 Erica: toothfairy or just visited by her?  You decide.

 Don't ask...this one is intended for our dearly departed, Michelle.  Love ya MC!

 Andrew showing off his husbandry skills (and for those of you not in the know...I am referring to the care of animals-not weirdly referring to a five year old boy being a married).  Moving on....

 Kristina and my blondie.

 What every playdate should look like....wait, where the heck are the kids?

 Ahh....yes, now I remember.....chasing each other around with huge, dangerous sticks.  Perfect. 

 JoJo and Rex manning the cat station.

 Boys at work.

 Riverside.

 Kristina, Cortney wearing Grace, and Stephanie wearing Asha.

 Love these ones the most (don't tell anyone I said that).

The best 30lb scarf I could ever think of wearing. 

Have a good weekend!