August (Picture Heavy!!)

August started off with a bang & Austin got to see one of his best friends from Idaho, Sammy.  And I got to see his mommy Tifiney! =) 

Austin, Brin, Sydney & Sammy

By the end of the day I was in tons of pain, yet again. Bryant was due in 3 days and I was more than a little ticked.  My back decided not to like me and went out.  So needless to say I was in a lot of pain during Bryant's visit, but we made the best of it and had fun anyways!

I drove over to Seattle and met Bryant's plane.  He was very tired, but so, so happy to be home.  We stayed the night in Seattle and drove home the next morning.  The kids had NO idea that their Daddy was coming home, and they were absolutely stunned.  Austin just stood and stared at Bryant, not sure what to think, nor what to say.  Then jumped in his arms and hugged him for a long, long while.  Sydney was a little more reserved, standing back for a few minutes, and then once she hugged him everything else was moot.

After the homecoming we hung out together for awhile, and family started showing up for Austin's 5th birthday party.  We had an outside party for him, with lots of water, and all the kids had a blast. We enjoyed being with the family and our friends, and LOVED having us 4 together again. 

 This is my nephew Joey.  (Bryant's brother Jeremy & his wife Jenn's son)

 Jeremy, Bryant, and their dad Mike

Caught Grandpa Sleepin'. 

On Austin's real birthday, he wanted to make Pizza's for his dinner.  So we got all the making's and came home and made homemade pizzas for dinner.  It was a lot of fun- and he really loved it.  Then he got his own little mini cake to blow out a candle on, and then changed his mind and wanted a banana pudding filled cupcake (made by his Nana) instead!

 Makin pizza with my favorite boy!

 Eating his birthday pizza!

 Loved the candles!

 Blowing out his candles!

After desert Austin, Daddy, Unc and Sydney got into a Nerf gun war, and it was probably the funniest thing I've watched in a long time!!

We also got a family picture on Austin's birthday right before we took him out to McDonalds!

The next day we headed over to Seattle.  Sydney had her testing over there, so we made a little family vacation out of it.  We walked around the U district the first evening and had dinner and got Starbucks.  The next day we went to the Aquarium, which the kids LOVED.  Later that afternoon, Sydney had her testing and did wonderfully.  After that we went and found a new hotel because our first one was HORRIBLE.  So horrible in fact, that we checked out a day early, and got a full refund.  So we found a new hotel, and then we headed out for dinner.  After dinner we all went swimming in the hotel pool and the kids had a blast.  The next day we trekked to the Woodland Park Zoo.  We had so much fun there- the kids absolutely loved it!  We went and found a mall and had dinner there, and then headed back to the hotel.  We'd decided to stay an extra night because we thought we were going to do the Duck Tour the next day.  Once we got there, they were completely booked until around 6 that evening.  So we decided to just head home.  With coffee in hand, of course!

It was a great weekend, and a fantastic family vacation.  The first one we've ever had in fact!

 In Seattle at the U District

Dinner at Johnny Rockets 

 Dinner at Johnny Rockets

 Getting ready for the Aquarium

 Sydney during her testing.

 At the nice hotel.  Having a blast because mommy and daddy

let them eat dessert in the bed =)

 Zoo family picture

 Kids in Downtown Seattle

We had a great time while Bry/Daddy was home, and miss him tremendously now.  We are so, so thankful for him, and the sacrifices he makes for our family, and also this country.  He is an amazing man!

We're also thankful that we only have FOUR MONTHS LEFT!!!!!  It feels so, so good to say that!  It seems like forever since we sent him away in December, and now, four months seems do-able. 

That's all for now!

xoxo

k.