They're TWO!

Your second birthday party was soooo much fun.  It was a bit smaller in terms of people compared to your first birthday party but the amount of LOVE far exceeded our expectations.  We made sure to invite your family of course but also some of your best friends including Addison, Luke, Simon, Talia, Gilliana, Giovani, Bailey, Connor, Owen and Miles.  I noticed a theme in the gifts you received - art and music!

The Sweet Family

Cousin Addison

Talia

Gilliana

Giovani

Miles

Addison and Gilliana

Scratchin' the turn tables before they're even out of the box!

We LOVE this book!

The PRETTY table from the Perino's

Don't put your hands in the flame silly!

Blowin' out the candle

Luke and Tina

The Rock Band!

Talia the lead singer, Gilli & Addy the guitarists and Avery the dancer

Disneyworld

Immediately following the trip to the Dominican Republic, your dad had a highschool football game scheduled in Orlando, Florida on Disneyworld property.  How cool, huh?!?!  I spent a night and about two full days there with him prior to the team arriving and we visited several of the parks.  It was fun but all I kept thinking was I can't wait until you both are old enough that we can take a family vacation there.  We probably should start saving now!

Your dad spent an additional 3 days there with the team and had a lot of fun, especially beating Timber Creek 30 - 23, but he was definitely ready to come home.  When we picked him up from the airport, he spent the entire time talking and playing with you both on the ride home.

First trip away from the girls

On August 15th, we left you home to make a trip to the Dominican Republic for the wedding of one of your daddy's best college buddies, Dave.  He was the best man in our wedding and Dave asked your daddy to be the best man in his too.  I will tell you that it was insanely difficult leaving you home but we knew that the trip wouldn't be what it was meant to be if the two of you tagged along (and I really mean tag along - you would have enjoyed the swimming pool but not much else and you definitely wouldn't remember the trip when you got older).  We had a great time but missed you both dearly.  There was a little girl on the trip named Olivia that reminded us so much of Avery.  You would think that would be more comforting but it actually made your mommy a little home sick.



The view of the beach from the canopies



Greg and Vincent Scillepi playing beach football



Kalie and Sammy - daughters of the bride



Greg at the Swing bar



Greg reading from the pool...too HOT not to be in the pool!



The Flamingo pond at the resort





The Maid of Honor and Best Man



Sam, Jess & Kalie



The Happy Couple



The Catamaran trip



Olivia that reminds us of Avery



The stop on our boat trip where we got to swim with the sharks and string rays



The stop on our boat trip where we swam in the ocean and drank cocktails



The newly married Mr. Shull

Your Grandma Melodie (bless her heart!) stayed home with you while we were gone and you spent one day with Sam, Tina, Simon and Talia when we were able to FaceTime you. 

Daddy's Birthday

Every year the high school football team that I coach goes to the mountains for 3 1/2 days of practice, team building, and other goofy stuff.  The Mountain Camp this year was at Colorado Mountain College just outside of Glenwood Springs.  We decided to take a little family vacation after the Camp.  Mom came up on Friday at brought you along.  She had everything planned and packed carefully.  Off she went.
She left during nap time.  You both slept up until about Georgetown.   Mom pulled over and went to a recommended playground which was great.  You loved it!

Hanging with Gilli and Vin

Marci and Sheldon stopped by before we all went to the Assumption Church Bazaar.

Gilliana, Giovanni, Zoey, and Avery

First Haircuts

"Business in the front; Party in the back!"  that is all I could think of when I looked at your hair.  It was bad.  Every time Zoey started wrestling around with me, her mom, or Avery the straight blonde hair flopped around like Hulk Hogan.  "Let me tell ya BROTHER!"

Avery's Mullet was of a whole different style.  The curls in back changed the whole feel.  Instead of the Running Leg Drops and the Atomic Drops of Hulk Hogan it was more Dave Coulier.  You know Dave Coulier, or Uncle Joey from Full House? "Cut-it-Out!"

So that is exactly what we tried to do, "Cut-it-Out".  I am not sure we got rid of the Mullets completely, maybe just moved them up to the dressier version, say Carol Brady.

Take a look: