Munchkin Movies

Today I took the girls to one of my favorite summer activities - Munchkin movie series at the Strand. I love it because it's cheap, close by, and makes me feel like I am living in another decade. It is such stress relief to be able to take children to the movies and not worry if they are being loud or walking around (because everyone else is too!) and getting to run into other friends...it's a treat! Today, we met up with the Lowerys, Sims and Swartwoods to see Shrek and we made it through the entire movie this year - big success! Since we were going to the Strand, we got to park at Daddy's office and ran into him on our way....this was the best picture I could get. For some reason Ali really wanted her toy elephant in the picture! :)
Afterwards, Caroline's grandmother (Doe Doe) took Ali and Caroline out for lunch, Target and to get mani/pedis (in little butterfly mani/pedi chairs!) - Ali had quite the day and came home with polka dotted fingernails and toenails! If only these girls knew how lucky they are!!

Happy 4th!

We had fun-filled family 4th of July weekend. On Saturday, we spent some time at the pool, then napped, then headed out to see Cars 2, eat pizza and get some Oh La La (Frozen yogurt/toppings place) for dessert. It was a fun family night! When we first sat down to the movie - I was in Heaven, wondering why we didn't do this more often. Then, ten minutes into the movie (after a pack of Sour Patch Kids and some Sprite), Rhodes got ants in her pants...and I remembered why! :) It was still fun though - she just had lots of commentary to add to the movie! I tried so hard to get a good picture of my 3 movie dates outside the movie...but this is the best I got....photographer of the year!
These two girls love some Oh La La (or Yogli Mogli or any frozen yogurt bar place, really!)
We kicked off the 4th of July in style...we were #3 in the Marietta 4th of July Parade. Papa got one of his old tractors refinished and was so proud of it! (I had no idea he even had a tractor - but he was so excited!) He decided that his "float" this year would be him driving the tractor and pulling us behind. It was hot, but we had a blast!

Mimi, Papa and the girls!

Rhodes, especially, loved the tractor....she would have preferred to drive the tractor instead of ride in the float!Ali and Mimi - the sun was out and it was hot!
Posing...
Getting ready to begin!

Sweet friends...Ali and Caroline
Rhodes found the fan!
Here we go!
I think Rhodes loved the parade the most! Every time I yelled out "Happy 4th!", she would yell it out in her cute little voice as well! She also waved her flag for everyone and waved at her adoring crowd!
Driving down the loop (in regular traffic) to get the float back to the starting point = a little nerve wracking!
I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July!

Summer livin'

July is here - it is hard to believe! We continue to stay busy and are having lots of summer fun! Although I find myself tired of plans and longing for days of sitting around with NOTHING to do - I also love to stay busy and have to say that last weekend was one of my favorite weekends to date. Ryan and I headed to Charleston and I missed our girls like crazy, but had an incredible (and exhausting!) kid free weekend. One of my best friends since zero got married and it was such an honor to be a part of her special day! We got there on Thursday and enjoyed a date night then met up with my parents and the bride and groom and their families for some drinks. Ryan played two days worth of golf at some amazing golf courses and I shopped and did fun bridesmaid activities the day of the wedding. It was the perfect wedding weekend and we could not have had a better time! They planned the perfect weekend - everything from the "welcome party" (200 people to toast in front of!) here, to the bridesmaid luncheon here (the food was unbelievable and George Washington had actually eaten the historic room we ate in!), the wedding here (the oldest Catholic church in the Carolinas and Georgia!), the reception here with this amazing band, and even an after party here! They truly thought of everything and it was perfect! So excited for my oldest friend and part of me wishes we were still there celebrating in our dancing shoes! (Although not sure I could be away from my girls for one more second!) I am now trying to figure out when we can get back to Charleston for a family weekend - such a great city!

My goofy husband had a great time playing golf on Saturday and decided to take a few pictures of us walking back into the church for pictures after the wedding...

The happy father of the bride....

Mother of the bride....
Best friends since zero....minus the bride!
Congrats to Kate and Pete!! And thanks to Grandmommy and Granddaddy for a fun-filled weekend for Ali and Rhodes! They had such a great time and have been going through withdrawals all week!

Now we are back in the throws of the real world...potty training has finally begun at the Patrick household - if we can just stay home long enough to practice. Rhodes is loving her big girl panties and prefers to walk around like this 24 hours a day - even when she is outside dancing or watering the flowers!

Love this bottom! :)
Ali had a big week at Super hero camp! It was 9-3 every day and she had a blast! (her mama and Rhodes missed her - that is a LONG time!) We celebrated the start of a fun family weekend by roasting some s'mores!
Silly girl!
Sticky and delicious!
This weekend - I have big goals! Getting out the camera, putting down the computer, and spending lots of good quality time with three of my favorite people! We may just walk up to the Farmers market today, then head to the pool, then a family night of Cars 2, pizza and maybe some yummy yogurt! Now...these are the things summer is made for!