A Full Weekend

This past weekend was jam-packed! It started Friday evening with a small birthday party for Papa (Donnie's dad) at our house. Then, on Saturday our good friends, Sean and Marianne, came over with their 2 boys, Conner and Owen. Conner Michael (as Michael Dean called him, because he has a buddy at school named Conner Walker and was totally confused by the 2 Conners!) is a few months younger than MD but is obsessed with trains too. So, the 2 of them had a ball playing trains together. And, Marianne was sweet enough to bring some special desserts for the kids so the picture above is the boys enjoying their cupcakes "with sprinkles"!

On Sunday, we went to a birthday party for a boy in Michael Dean's class at school - Nicholas. See, Nicholas is MD's partner-in-crime. Well, the teachers have to keep them separated, some, at school so I guess you could say that! Anyway, I've never really seen them together, outside of school, and MAN do I have a different kid around Nicholas! MD was brave, ran right into the water at the Splash Pad, went through the entire jungle gym and down a big slide all by himself, and ran way off from me - which is totally unlike him. It was fun to watch - it was like watching another kid all day!

Then, to top the weekend off, we got a new bell for MD's train bed! Whew, that was crazy excitement for MD Monday night. He LOVES it...and did surprisingly well by not ringing it all night long.

Good times. Really. Our weekends are never quite long enough. Sigh.

Work in Progress...

Donnie and I are putting a deck on the back of our new house! It's pretty darn exciting.

One of our amazing friends has offered to, pretty much, build the whole thing. So, Donnie and Richard (and his son, Alex) have been working hard the past few days to get this thing done. Yeah! We're hoping to start using our new deck soon, so Phase 2 photos should be posted soon :)

Putting the kids to work!

Time for a break :)

Grandpa Jeff's Train Bed

My dad was an amazing handyman. And even though his daytime profession was in Engineering, he was an amazingly creative handyman. He built some beautiful wood furniture and anyone who was able to get one of these pieces knew they were very lucky.

About 20 years ago, my dad made a very cute train bed for some family friends. It was intended for their son and ended up bunking all 3 of their sons over the years. Well, when I found out I was going to have a son, we started trying to track down the "train bed" and soon after, our friend, Lisa, immediately offered it back to the Brezina family. So we snatched it back.

We've been waiting 3+ years to put this bed back together and introduce Michael Dean to his Grandpa Jeff's "choo-choo train" bed. This past weekend we were finally able to do that. And, man, was he excited!! He couldn't wait to get it together and play in it. Surprisingly, he sleeps real well in it, too.

So, to my sweet daddy: I'm sure you never dreamed this bed would ever live under your grandson's little body, but now it does! Thank you for being so talented and creative. I benefit from it every day, and now your grandson, who favors his Grandpa Jeff in so many ways, does too. We love you and miss you, Grandpa Jeff.

Trying out his new "big-boy" mattress

Helping daddy put his new "choo-choo" train together

Chugga-chugga. Woo-woo!

The Last 2 (well, 3) Weeks as Told by Courtney's Camera - PART 2

Gosh, it seems like ages ago, but it really was only 3 weeks ago - my sister's wedding at the beach! They hired this great photographer to shoot their wedding and she was kind enough to provide me some photos, below. OK, it was me.

Before that, though, we got in some more family time. But, this time it was at the beach!

Proud to be a Gleek, on the beach, with my sweet family.

Uncle Bob hunting for seashells. I had to explain what they were...he doesn't see many of those in Colorado. Tee hee.

We miss you, Uncle Bob :(

Our only day, all together, at the beach and it POURED the whole time. Urgh!

Donnie didn't seem to mind the rain

Huddling under a tiny awning, trying to stay dry. Didn't really work.

Aunt Jonda showing off her pro Cornhole moves for MD

Nap on the beach. Does it get any better?

The new Myrtle Beach Boardwalk! Very nice, but that place needs some more shade. Seriously.

Finally, the wedding...

On the way down to the wedding...in a crowded elevator

My beautiful niece.

Aunt Jonda and her ringbearer

Mr. and Mrs. Joey Buchanan

The fam (minus Uncle Bob, Aunt Maureen and Christy - they had a 6am flight that morning!)