Celebrating the 4th of July!

What a fun and busy 4th of July we had this year! We started the celebration on Wednesday (June 30th) by attending InTOTALdependence Day, which our church sponsored. Drew loved the cotton candy, ice cream, bouncy houses, and checking out the firetruck!


Checking his reflection out!


On Saturday, we went boating with our friends Bric and Rachel. It was Drew's first time on the river and he loved it!




That night we enjoyed fireworks at Sand Ridge.

The next day was 4th of July. We spent the afternoon at Aunt Dar's enjoying good food, family, and swimming and then we watched fireworks at Nan and Pop's. I was so excited to get to see my best friend Daysha, who is also pregnant -- three weeks ahead of me with a baby boy too!


On Monday morning, we got up bright and early and headed to Cave City, KY with Gabe, Laurie, and Colten. Once we got there, our first stop was Dinosaur World!


Dino dig -- you can see who was doing all the work!


Dinosaurs say "Roar!!!!!!!!!!!!"


We let him climb the fence for this pic...




Later that night, we took a tour of Mammoth Cave. It was so cold in there that poor little Drew was shaking. When he finally got use to it, though, he really enjoyed it.




The next day we visited the Kentucky Railway in New Haven. The boys enjoyed the train ride.




On our way home.


It was back to the real world and work on Wednesday...

Drew's 3rd Birthday Party

Dear Drew ~ After celebrating your actual birthday on Friday, we had a family party for you on Saturday. It was a dinosaur theme because you love dinosaurs right now!




We had the party at 11:00am this year and first on the agenda was opening presents!




A very special gift...a handmade quilt by your late great-great-grandma Dodson:




Then it was time to eat lunch...


...and, of course, to have cupcakes for dessert!




Here is a picture I have been wanting to get for a while...it is you with all (but one) of your grandparents!!


And don't forget about a picture with mommy and daddy!


Can't believe that you're threeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Can it be? Drew is THREE!!!

Dear Drew - On Friday, June 25th, you turned 3 years old! You woke up in a great mood so I was glad I had my camera handy!



After breakfast, we headed to Sear's for pictures. We hadn't been there since you were 18 months old and that was NOT a good experience so my expectations were not too high...BUT, you did great and I got the cheesy picture with the big number "3" that I wanted along with lots of other cute ones!





After lunch and a nice long nap, we played outside while we waited for daddy to get home from work. The tractor that we got you for your birthday last year...that you wouldn't ride...well, it's now one of your favorite toys!



After daddy got home, it was time to open the presents from us!


I think your favorite thing was the singing Shrek card!!




Before cake, I had to get your picture in your "3" hat, which you also wore on your first and second birthdays.


Finally time for cake!



It was a great day and I get a little emotional knowing that you are now another year older. As cliche as this may sound, I love you more and more everyday and can't even begin to imagine what our lives would be like without you in it -- you bring a million smiles a day to my face and I can't wait to see what God has in store for you in the coming year (other than becoming a big brother...)!


Up next, the big party...

Other birthday blogs: Turning 1 and Turning 2 (So glad I got the "crib" pic every year!)

Birthday Week Begins!

It's hard to believe that on Friday, Drew will be 3 years old! To start off the week right, we had a little birthday party for him at daycare. I took cupcakes and juice boxes and Drew's class full of boys really enjoyed it! But from the looks of it, I think Drew enjoyed his cupcake the most!!