Fireworks go boom...

Our fourth of july started off fantastic and actually on the 3rd of July. We headed out to Light up Arlington with our friends! It was CRAZY packed, over 40,000 people!!! Tons of fun stuff to do while waiting for the firework show. Concert, food and inflatables. What's better than that!!?! 

Ms. Maddie Moo 

 Kinny Koo not far behind

 Landry and Madelyn climbing up

 Mrs. Nicole wearing the girl's bow with Kinley!!! 

 Our party spot!

Our friends! 

That however was where the fun ended sadly...We were sitting enjoying the show. Chris and I were each holding a girl in our lap. I actually remember thinking how lucky we were to live in a town where we have professional fire works. When out of no where I felt something like powder fall on me and Kinley start SCREAMING. Not a scared screaming, like I have been hurt screaming. All the lights around us were turned off because of the show. So lots of adults trying to dig out cell phones for lights. We finally figure out she was hit by a firework. Just our luck out of 40,000 people we are the lucky ones.

This DOES NOT do the bump justice at all...

This is what we found that hit her...Yep! CRAZY

So I walk around not having much luck on finding anyone that could help or point us in the right direction for a medic. My parents were there but not with us, I call my mom because she works with the city and I figured she could help. We finally find the medic and get checked out.  

Chris and Madelyn waiting for us to come back from the medic. So worried...;)

 LONG story we decided to head to the ER. I mean she got pelleted in the head with a professional firework. Chris and I head to the ER and my parents took Madelyn home. ...Ok, so as a mom of twins or a mom to 2 children I don't get a lot of alone time with one child especially with Chris and I. Pretty sure the only time this happens is when they are hurt and at the ER. I think Kinley thought she was special because she was getting two on one attention...it didn't hurt that we were letting her get whatever she wanted from the vending machine and didn't have a sister to share it with. 

We didnt get home till about 3 in the morning so we missed the parade this year.

After sleeping in on the 4th, We went to my uncles for our annual family lunch. I took this one picture...

Then we headed to the Steeces to hang with our BFF's for the evening. 

THE DIVAS!!! Such sass...

Just for fun from last year

This was a bittersweet day it was the last day we all hung out at the Steece's old house. I think I feel more sentimental than them! 

We are so lucky to have friends that love our kids like their own, even if it means letting them "beat them up" :) Good ole' Uncle Col.

Our crazy bunch

I love having a photographer for a husband sometimes. I love these next photos of Collin playing with fireworks.

 Love that little Ethan, even if I missed half of the fireworks because of his crazy hat!

Auntie Suz with all of the little ducks following behind

Few more photos of the swing set the last time they got to play on it. Kinda makes me sad looking at it now.

Minus the firework thing it was a great day. Kinley seems to be scared of fireworks now though and doesn't even want to go to DisneyWorld now because they have fireworks :(

Beach trip with our Best Friends

We started the summer off with a BFF trip. Our first ever with our besties! We are lucky enough to have some amazing friends who are nice enough to share their awesome beach house with all of us! The Hoags and us went down a day earlier than the Steeces. We left SUPER early in the morning...I'm sure it was harder then, but the bad stuff I have already forgotten about. 

We did a little bit of kid swapping...BEST IDEA EVER!

We hit the Beach and the pool as soon as we unloaded. My phone got stolen the week after our trip so unless I facebooked or instagramed, it's gone. :( We decided to hit a restaurant that night...I mean you have to have seafood at the beach!

My Best Friend Ash! 

Kids got restless towards the end so we took in the sights of the restaurant and of course took some photos.

Madelyn, Me and Carter Man

Our little 4 year olds...Can't tell you how many people asked if they were triplets. Our blond haired blue eyed bunch.

My little mini me!

Next day our other friends arrived. It was great to have the rest of our group! Our little ones loved catching the waves!

Our 8 little munchins! 

My ladies! Life wouldn't be the same without them! xoxo

My little beach bums! Their hair is lightening up so much this summer!

One of my twin mama friends Britni saw on facebook that we were close to where they were visiting. We were so excited when they decided to take a little trip down to see us at the beach. They fit right in with our group and helped us have a little fun too!

I somehow talked Sav into letting us bury her.  

Our two sets of girl twinkies!

Our finished mermaid!

Our "little" group out to lunch. Pretty sure everyone that saw 11 kids coming they might have left!

We spent LOTS of time at the pool at the house. So nice to have when you get tired of the sand! Chris had this new camera that he really got to put to good use this trip. Love these pics. 

Madelyn!

Priceless to see this kids enjoying each other, the waves, and sand.  Sweet Memories! 

They are quite the crew. God love em' 

More playing in the sand! 

Dada and Madelyn, who was way more interested in the waves than taking pictures. 

Widdle E and me...such a sweetie!

 Looking a little dirty there Kin!

Sweet Maddie and Baby Sawyer!

Ashley and Carter catching some waves!

Love this pic of kids playing with their shadows...so cute!

more pool fun!

The house we were staying at is on the canal. Good Ole Uncle Joe gave each kid a ride. Even at two at a time that's a lot of rowing!!!

Such a neat pic, all the kids waiting in line for a turn. 

Looking at the water, Waiting for fish!

A little Sunset din din with the besties!

Loving all these sweet memories!

Ok, so the mommies had this great idea to all dress in white and khaki to take a photo of all of us. So the craziness that happened to make this picture was a little intense and nuts our last morning. Finding white for everyone to wear (especially for the moms...white is a rough color), getting a house cleaned so we can leave, getting 8 kids bathed and dressed, keeping them clean in white (Kinley won and got pen on her dress) Packed and in cars, hot sand, and CRAZY hot sun we got our picture...

Our crazy group! Love these peeps more than life!

Ok, so I know that this picture isn't perfect and I know we were all stressed and annoyed. I LOVE it though and will treasure it forever. Our little group isn't perfect we get mad, stressed, angry and a variety of other emotions on a daily basis. We aren't perfect parents or spouses but we all accept one another completely. Our kids fight but they love each other just like we do. They even fight like siblings sometimes...or a lot of times. ;) Friends are truly the family you get to choose!

The Kids minus Sawyer...He wasn't having much of it.

The little chickies

BFF's! 

The dudes!

Our little fam...

The poor Steeces were just starting the whole selling your house drama this weekend. Sorry guys wish we had better timing so you guys could have had less stress this weekend. Fast forward though...they now live in our zip code!!!!! We are super excited to have them closer!

We had a great time and hope this was just the first of many Vacations together!!!

o