Horseshoe Bend

Dear Gage and Gabe,

On Monday July 7th, we met up with Matt, Molly and Ada down at Horseshoe Bend to play in the water. It was a hot day, so it was the perfect way to cool off and take a break from the heat. You boys enjoyed playing in the water, and loved exploring the creek bank.

Trying to catch some fish

Enjoying the cool water

Even Piper cooled off in the creek

I love you,
Mommy

Independence Day 2014

Dear Gage and Gabe,

I had to work this year on the actual 4th of July, but that didn't stop us from celebrating. We had a cookout and firework show the weekend before with our family and friends. It was a hot day, so we went down to the creek before everyone arrived to play in the water and cool off.

Your Daddy smoked a whole pork shoulder for the feast and it was delicious. We had an assortment of food and desserts so everyone was stuffed and happy by the time it was dark enough to shoot off the fireworks. It was a beautiful show and both you boys enjoyed all the colors and booms. We had a fantastic time this year and fun was had by all!

Pa took the kids on rides through the yard

  

Dinner time

We celebrated Daddy's birthday with all his friends



Happy Birthday Daddy!

Molly brought over a delicious and festive fruit pie



Piper had a playmate over as well - her brother Hank

Precious Payne family

Sissy!

On the actual 4th of July, we had our own little celebration. Your cousin Jett came over to spend the night, so you boys spent the day running around outside playing with him. I made our traditional flag cake and Daddy decorated it. Daddy shot off a few fireworks before I had to go to work. It was lovely. On my way to work, I got to see everyone else's firework shows, so that was the silver lining in working third shift on the 4th of July.

Our traditional festive cake

Cousin Jett got a hold of the camera and took quite a few photos

I love you,
Mommy

Versatile Zucchini

Dear Gage and Gabe,

Every year since we've lived in this house we have planted a garden and every year I tell myself not to plant so much zucchini! It seems like we always have way too much and I can never think of enough ways to use it. We make zucchini bread, fried zucchini, stuffed zucchini, zucchini parmesan, zucchini crisp and this year I tried out some zucchini pancakes. Making these things may seem simple, but sometimes there are obstacles in the way.

Like the new puppy in the zucchini patch:

 

 

Or the broody sisters in the chicken coop:

Or you boys wanting to hold the mammoth zucchini:

Or having to crack all the pecans by hand:

And shred the mammoth zucchini (because there's not much else to do with them when they're that big):

But all the hard work pays off when these come out of the oven:

Zucchini Bread

Zucchini Crisp

And when these come off the griddle:

You boys loved the bread and pancakes. I'm pretty sure neither of you had any idea they contained zucchini, so it was a good way to sneak in some vegetables!

I love you,
Mommy

Father's Day and Daddy's Birthday 2014

Dear Gage and Gabe,

This year Father's Day was on Sunday, June 15th, which was the day after we got back from vacation. Your Granny Dows came over for a visit and we just had an easy day. Daddy wanted to go down to the creek and play in the water, so we packed up and headed to the triangle. You boys love playing in the creek water and it isn't too deep, so you both feel comfortable playing in the water.



Daddy and all his babies (even Piper)

After play time, we went back to the house and had a yummy garden fresh dinner and dessert. I made your Daddy's favorite cheesecake.

Daddy's birthday was the following weekend on June 22. Unfortunately, it was my weekend to work so we didn't get to celebrate properly. We got the chance the following weekend when we celebrated Independence Day. We got Daddy an ice cream cake and he got to blow out his candles. This year Daddy got a 4 wheeler for his special days. He really enjoys riding it and you boys love to ride it as well.

Daddy had such a great Father's Day and birthday this year. He was able to spend both days with his wonderful family and that is what mattered the most.

I love you,
Mommy

Big Brothers!

Dear Gage and Gabe,

On August 5 I found out I was pregnant, so this means you will both be big brothers! Gage, we didn't tell you right away since we know how you can't keep a secret. I wanted to wait until I heard the heartbeat at the doctor's office before telling anyone, so when I was almost 12 weeks pregnant, we told Sissy and Dows. I dressed you in the new shirts I made and let you all announce the good news. They were both so very excited about our new addition.

On October 5, we had a cookout. We had set out our fall decorations and I added a carved pumpkin to announce our news to the rest of the family.

 

 

We are very excited and nearly everyday you ask about the new baby, Gage. You are trying to understand that the baby lives in Mommy's belly and in April, we'll get to see it. We decided to not find out if baby is a boy or girl, so it will be a surprise. I'm due April 6, but since I'll be having a C-section, we could be meeting the new baby in late March. I'll be having an ultrasound next week so we'll get to see how the new baby is growing and developing.

I love you,
Mommy

Happy Halloween 2014

Dear Gage and Gabe,

This year Halloween was on a Friday, but we found out about a few trunk or treats taking place on Thursday night. We dressed you boys in your cute costumes and then picked up Jett for a night of trick or treating. We went to a church on Old Lover's Lane and went through the lines of trunks for treats. They had refreshments too. Gage, you saw another boy dressed as Iron Man, so you thought that was really cool. His name was Elijah and he was just your size.

Gage as Iron Man and Jett as a dead pirate?

Gabe as Curious George

Gage and Elijah

I had a costume too!

Mommy and the new baby dressed up for Halloween

After the church, we stopped by Independence Bank for their Pirate Party. All the employees were dress in amazing costumes and they had decorated their lobby with pirate ships. We got a few treats and some popcorn during the fun.

 

The Panhellenic Counsel at WKU was hosting a trunk or treat on campus so that was our last stop for the night. There were several girls representing their sororities and giving out candy. Most of them were wearing costumes and they all had such wonderful things to say about you all! It was a great time and we got a lot of goodies.

 

That night, we went home and carved our pumpkins. You boys helped Daddy take the insides out of the pumpkins while I worked on dinner. It was a messy job, but you both did a great job. Daddy carved a bat and I carved a pirate ship. Gage, you wanted to help so badly, but it wasn't safe for you to do any cuts. We had a kit with colored pegs that you hammered into the pumpkin in the pattern Daddy drew. You did a great job making your smiley face pumpkin.

 

Cleaning out the pumpkins

Our finished products

All lit up

On Halloween night, we picked up Jett again for trick or treating. We stopped by NeeNee's and saw KD in her Strawberry Shortcake costume. She looked so pretty.

Strawberry Shortcake and Iron Man

Lemon Meringue, Strawberry Shortcake and Huckleberry

We went to my friend Stephanie's house to do some trick or treating in her subdivision. It was really cold outside so after a few blocks, they went back home. We decided to do the drive and walk trick or treating this year. Even with the cold weather, we all had a wonderful time and ended up getting more candy than we could possibly need.

Courtland the pumpkin, Iron Man, Dead Pirate and Curious George

The Man in the Yellow Hat and Curious George :)

Lots of candy - 11 pounds or so!

When we got back home, we made some cookies. It was a premade sheet of chocolate dough that was intended to be cut with cookie cutters. It didn't work out very well at all, but we did get a few cookies to turn out ok.

Jett

Gage and your fake smile

Cutting cookies



The few that actually turned out decently

We had such a wonderful Halloween this year. Even with the cold weather, we made the most of it and enjoyed ourselves.

I love you,
Mommy