Donuts

Clara, June's neighborhood BFF, turned two last month and had the sweetest little 2nd birthday party in a local park. June picked out a dress for Clara at Target as her gift. 😂 And basically sprinted into the party to give it to her.

On a more important note though, have y'all ever had Duck Donuts? Holy cow... there's nothing like it. Funny, the bacon one and oreo ones are my favorites, and somehow those just happened to end up in my photo. #pregnantbrookelikesdonuts

Our friends also announced the gender of their Baby #2 - arriving December/Jan 2017 for them! It's a BOY! So fun. June and Clara are six months apart, but our next two littles will only be like three weeks apart!

The donut pinata was hysterical. As expected, June didn't want to participate, but once the rush of kids for the candy had slowed down, she jumped in with her bag and filled it up. I can't even handle the photo of her below where she's got her hand to her head and looks overwhelmed by the kids. HAHAHAHAHAH! Junie, this is how I feel at every networking event ever, as an adult.

I mean seriously, look at her. 

It's parties like this one that make me wish my kid(s) had summer birthdays! Someday I'll have to have a 1/2 Birthday Party for June at the end of the summer.

The 4th of July Celebration

I can honestly say that the 4th of July is my favorite holiday, second to Christmas. Growing up, it was a time that our family would get together and I'd get to see cousins who lived far away. We'd spend hours outside, eating picnic food, running through the sprinkler and playing with sparklers. (And the terrifying "not legal in PA" fireworks that my Uncle would bring up from North Carolina every year. 😂)

Two years ago, when June was five months old, we took her to the same parade I grew up going to, but nothing more. She was too little and it was too hot. Last year, we took her to the parade and she had the time. of. her. life. Which looking back makes a lot of sense, all of her favorite things were driving by one after another -- trucks, drums, horses, puppies, buses -- and they were throwing candy at her. After the parade we went into the park briefly, but didn't stay long, nor did I bring along my real camera. Which of course I regretted. Isn't it always that way!?!? Take it with you and you never use it. Leave it at home and you're like "THE LIGHT IS PERFECT. Myyy lifeeeeeee."

So this year I made sure to take my camera. And thank goodness I did, because I got one single image that proves June had a good time, despite being a hot mess the entire time. 😂 I don't blame her, it was SO hot out. And she just couldn't deal with it. #bless Below is said image.

In fact, it was so hot out that I forgot to take a single picture of all the awesome food we ate. We'd finish shoving something into our face and I'd be like "Noooooo! <licks fingers> I didn't take a photo!" So, please use your imagination for the following.

<insert photo of "Ham & Cheese Soft Pretzel Log">

<insert photo of "Fresh Lemonade & Bacon on a Stick>

<insert photo of June spitting out her soft pretzel realllll dramatic like>

<insert photo of "Burger from Lancaster Burger Co. w/ Fries>

<insert photo of me considering whether or not I could eat anything else, aka Fried Oreos>

My Dad, who has been a Children's & Family musician for almost 30 years, has been playing the Lititz Springs Park 4th of July Celebration since I can remember, which is partly why I have so many memories of spending the day in the park -- winning goldfish that would die later that week, and staining circles of color around my mouth from all the snow cones.

It's so fun to watch my Dad play now that both my brother and I have kids. June, and my niece Pearl, are always a little uncertain as to why my Dad, their "Norkey", is standing up there in front of everyone singing. It usually takes June awhile to warm up to the idea... but that's the story of her life, so nothing new there.

Everyone had fun at the show and danced their pants off. Honestly, it was so hot I wish I could have danced my pants off. Also, look at how little Baby Gray is in his stroller! (My nephew.)

This year was the first year in a long time that I didn't stay/come back for the fireworks. But, I'll tell ya, growing a baby is a lot of work and I was so tired by 8pm, I was out for the night. Have you ever taken your kids to fireworks? How old were they when you went for the first time? There is just no way in heck we could take June at least for a few more years. Maybe when she's finally ready I'll be done growing babies and we can have the energy to go together at 10pm. Ha!

All in all it was a great day and I'm glad I took my camera along to capture at least some of the memories we made. 🙂 Tell me, what's your favorite holiday?

An Afternoon at the Park

Over the last year and a half of our lives, T.J. and I have welcomed a slower pace of life with open arms. Several weeks ago, on Labor Day, both T.J. and I took the day off. We didn't go into the studio to fold the extra t-shirts like we easily could have. We didn't stay at home and relax, all while replying to social media messages and comments from our couch. But instead, we took the entire day off.

If you know me well at all, you know I have a pretty bad memory. The amount of times someone will tell a story and I'll go "That happened???", is too many to count. Which is why I am so glad I brought my real camera along to the park earlier this month, to take a few photos of our little family on a beautiful day off.

T.J. and I were wanting an afternoon pick-me-up treat, so we went through the Starbucks drive-thru and then headed to one of my favorite parks in the town next to ours. We arrived at the park and the weather was beautiful. The light was bright and clear and the ducks were everywhere. I pulled out the old hot dog buns I'd packed in June's diaper bag and she and T.J. began to feed the ducks. June, however, had very little interest in feeding the ducks. Instead she ate most of the stale hot dog buns herself, leaving piles of crumbs behind for the ducks to gobble up. 

I don't think I'll ever get over how cute and precious it is to watch your child do something they've never done before - whether it be watching a parade, trying a new food, or feeding the ducks. June ran after the ducks, fists full of crunchy bread, glancing back over her shoulder to make sure we were watching - waiting for us to give her that "we see you, keep going" smile. It's just the sweetest thing.

Annnnnnd then after about seven minutes of bird chasing, she was done with the ducks and asking to go swing. 😂 As you'll see below, she was clearly very excited about it.

While T.J. and I sat on the bench and drank our iced coffees, June played in the sand - attempting to make new friends with the kids already there, bringing us the toys she was find and going "Ohhhhhhhhh" with each one.

Before we left, we took a lap around the entire park, which is split into two sides with a natural spring running right down the middle. June conquered the big steps all by herself and then ran down the ramp holding T.J.'s hands. That little pony tail and smirk are just too much!