sweet or sassy?

don't let this sweet face fool you...

'cause this mischevious one isn't far behind!

hamburger helper

friday was hamburger night at our house.
mama is the official hamburger maker.
not for long...

a riddle

what hot, red and swollen all over?

our poor baby's arm after a mosquito bit it!
turns out mason is highly allergic to these pesky insects :(

boiling up some fun

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crawfish boil!

130 pounds of crawfish and 62 friends and neighbors joined us for the second annual crawfish boil on memorial day weekend.

with temperatures in the mid-90s, it was hot!
so mason cooled down with some juice

we packed out the front yard...

and the back.

with everyone including ex-ex-pats and their family

and some expert hot-dog-grillers.

tatiana and friends cooled off after the pool got a good scrub

these three peas in a pod took a ride

and parker found some watermelon.
mmmm... refreshing!

special thanks to these super-helpers (aka my parents)
who arrive early for set-up and cooking assistance

and yay! not many leftovers!
(and the closest my mom has ever gotten to crawfish!)

teamwork?

or trouble?

(note that mason is steering, but riley is pressing the accelerator!)

sheer joy

it's not every day that you see a smile this wide on your son's face...

(sign language for more!)

it was so much fun he didn't even mind
that he was riding in riley's pink car.

party time!

this cutie pie had a birthday.

mason insisted on helping her celebrate.
(we didn't mind as her parents are some of our dearest friends!)

we ate cake.

we looked on wide-eyed as she opened presents.

we climbed in the drink bucket to cool off.

we took the hint and set up the sprinkler!

and played happily with friends - both new and old.

happy birthday riley!