Archive for the ‘Friends’ Category

Wedding Bells!

Friday, January 18th, 2013

One of my very best friends is getting married!! Raven was my Maid Of Honor and now I am one of hers! The big plan is to have her hitched by Saturday evening in the most gorgeous gown but tonight we rehearsed for the big day!

As usual, Dave takes his responsibilities very seriously, including the art of photo bombing!

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Sashaying down the aisle after the faux knot tying!

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Yes, really.

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Raven’s incredibly beautiful and supportive family!

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The girls. Rachelle and I are in this together as Maids of Honor.

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Daddy Duty

Monday, February 20th, 2012

Walter was kind enough to take the kids out so I could do an intimate photo session at the house.  Not only was he on daddy duty but playdate duty too!  Noah’s friend (and crush) Adrianna came along to the park for some fun.

There is a dog park right next to the playground and the kids couldn’t help themselves.  They love puppies!

And because it was Walter with the kids, and the camera, all the wildlife was captured!

Noah and Adrianna loved pushing each other around….

… and just hanging around…

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

Yap Originals hosted Valentine’s Day Mini sessions this year.  Walter built the entire set in our office and our poor kids had to do the guinea pig session.  They had a lot of fun, too much candy, and I love the photos we got out of it!  We also had our always willing model and the kids’ BFF, Ayla, join us for a sugar high!

The girls had so much fun!!

Ayla managed to pin Noah down for a few hugs.  This was one of the few times he couldn’t escape; she was so proud!!

Don’t Bowl Me Over!

Sunday, February 12th, 2012

The kids took us bowling this weekend!  Noah, Ayla, Charlie, and Kate threw down two hysterical games and us grown ups got some frames in too!

The kids found the heaviest balls they could lift (most of the time) and went for it!  Thankfully, their lane had bumpers or I’m not sure anyone would have broken 10!

Halfway through the first game we scored a walker-like ramp for the ball.  It definitely cut back on the number of balls that only made it halfway down the lane!

We all had a blast and can’t wait to go back!  It was our first time with them!

Patch Reef Play!

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Patch Reef Park in Boca got a fantastic face lift! The playground was replaced with two very fun sections and a water pad recently and it has quickly become one of the kids’ favorite places to play.  We spent the afternoon with Ayla and Robby recently (which explains her outfit) by request of Noah when we asked if he wanted to go to the movies.  He really is an outdoorsy kid and it makes me proud to know he’d rather play than vegetate!

The “older kids” side is perfect for my monkey!!

Errr… monkeys!

And this giant climbing rock makes a great hangout!

“Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.” ~JFK

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

Last weekend we got together with Noah’s best buddy, Charlie, for a bike ride.  Charlie is an amazing bike rider – in he’s incredibly FAST!  While Noah can outrun most anyone he’s not nearly as peppy on two (+2) wheels.  So we’re working on it!

Kate, as usual, marches to the beat of her (very slow) drum.  We also think she may need a “big girl bike”.  Will it help?  Nah, but she’ll be more comfortable for sure!

The only trouble with being so speedy – is the corners!  Thank God for helmets and rubberized kids!  

He may be perfect for the circus on this thing!

Along the route the bigger kids (Walter and Evan) found this gigantic spider.  The kids were fascinated but it was the guys we couldn’t get to stop bothering this poor critter.

Then we headed over to the playground in case that had any steam left to burn.

We didn’t know it, but Noah is excellent at the monkey bars and hand walking down beams!

EVERYONE enjoyed our date!  Thanks, Rachel, Evan and Charlie for a fun time!!

Halloween 2011

Sunday, November 6th, 2011

Halloween has come and gone but somehow we still have POUNDS of candy left!  The kids did really well trick or treating this year.  It’s so nice that they’re finally at the ages where they can actually trick or treat – like you’re supposed to.  Noah and Ayla rang doorbells, said trick or treat, thank you… and Kate was on their heels with her bag wide open most the night.  It was awesome!

Noah was a shark again this year, his favorite costume yet!  Hopefully he’ll move on next year, especially since his arms “hulk out” of it every time!

Kate was a “scary, pink monster” despite most people calling her a chicken.  It wasn’t a character, just a cute costume, but she really animated it!!  She also loved how soft and fuzzy she was and constantly petted her belly.

Noah and Kate were very excited to carve a pumpkin this year!  I assumed they realized a pumpkin patch meant photo op.  Unfortunately it took them a bit to get used to the idea but they finally came around!  We went to the pumpkin patch and Lindy, Shane, and Natalie met us.  It was a great day!

These squeaky black mice were life savers!  The kids loved them!!

As usual, I took my opportunity to torture Shane.  Some day he will thank me for all these photos… right?!

This swamp was disgusting!  I took of my shoes and walked into it, carefully balancing a baby in a cauldron.  The gush between my toes was definitely Halloween inspired!  I’m hoping these photos are worth it!!

And though we loved the idea of a baby in a pumpkin, it wasn’t easy and Shane wasn’t a fan!!

And this is what got carved….

And how we went out…

Unfortunately Noah got sick in the car on the way home from school (I think it was too much candy during the day + the whole box of Nerds in his mouth + the balloon he was trying to blow up….oy), so he had to trick or treat in shorts.  He didn’t seem to care.

Hope you had as great of a Halloween as we did!!

Two Years to Celebrate!

Sunday, September 19th, 2010

We had a small birthday party for Kate last night.  It was a very last minute affair on Yom Kippur so unfortunately a lot of our close friends were unable to attend.  We still managed to have a BLAST though!  The kids played outside all night!  They came in every once in awhile to muddy up the house and swipe a snack but nothing could slow them down!

The bounce house was a huge hit with everyone young and old!

Sidewalk chalk was for the more reserved (as bouncing got embarrassing the bigger you got)

  

And the playset was even put to use!

As it turns out though, Kate doesn’t like to be the center of attention sometimes.  While she liked the idea of cake, being sung to was not her thing!

This was right before she BOLTED in tears!

But her brother is always willing to help out!

Thank you to all who could come!  We are blessed to have such great family and friends!  A special thanks to Walter and his dad who resoded and mulched our entire back yard in the weeks leading up to the party!

Happy Birthday sweet baby girl!  We’re so glad you had a fun time at your party!

Noah’s Birthday Party – Part 1

Sunday, May 23rd, 2010

This year Noah had quite the birthdays!  Turning 4, he was at the age where he was full of opinions.  From the moment we asked him (6 months ago) he wanted his party at Jumpers.  We tried to tempt him with so many other things, including a trip to Disney, but he was sure – Jumpers it was.  Being that Jumpers is most definitely a place for kids we decided to let him choose his guest list and we would do the family/adult party later.  We didn’t realize that his list of good friends was so short but it’s who he wanted so a small party with his nearest and dearest was what we had. 

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Kate was our greeter.  She sat in the lobby and welcomed everyone to the party.

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And this is Kate’s “I love you” -

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Ayla the “supa-star”!  The world’s most natural model and Noah’s oldest pal.

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Kate, Helena, and Ayla -

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Once we were finally allowed in to play it was full speed ahead!

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Aunt Rachel even got in on the fun!  If you ever go to Jumpers, don’t wear a skirt.  You will end up down a slide, eventually.

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This is Charlie.  Noah’s BFF from school.  He is really into Charlie and they seem to be very similar in many ways.

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I told you, we all end up on the slide!  I think Gena had more fun than Spencer in the bounce area!

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I love this series of Noah and Charlie playing basketball…

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After bounce, we bowled…

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And then we danced…

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Chicken Dance!

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And then we ate cake!

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Miss Molly (Noah’s teacher) even came!

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We all had a great day!

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Even if we had to work for a few smiles!

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Catching up…

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

I debated posting old stuff that never made it to the blog, although blog worthy, and have decided that it will at least give you all something to look at.  That, and help you appreciate how nice our winter was now that it’s turning scalding hot warm.

These are photos from a play date with Ayla at the park on a gorgeous February morning. 

This was Kate’s very first set of pigtails; she looked just like Boo from Monsters Inc!

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How can this welcome not bring a smile to your face?  Ayla was running in from the parking lot, they were both so excited!

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Can I ride?!?!

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Weeeeeeee……

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Noah loves a good swing!  I love this series of photos!  I couldn’t decide which ones to post, so you get three.

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Ok, four.  I can’t help myself.  This is Noah in the same swing at 9 months.  What a difference 3 years makes!!  It doesn’t even look like the same kid!

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