Clothing Swap. Eryn and Julie style

Another fun party that I through lately was a clothing swap.  Eryn and I had been talking about this for awhile after seeing the idea on many different shows.  The party goes like this.  Everyone brings over some of their favorite pieces of clothing that they are just tired of, or don't fit in, etc.  and then you take turns swapping out one of your items for someone else's item.  Free shopping!

It turned out so well.  Eryn greeted everyone at the door and I would head upstairs with the clothing they brought and set it up on the clothing rack.  Then once all the people (and clothes) were there, we drew numbers to see what order we would go and take a look.  One by one everyone got a chance to take one item at a time until most everyone had at least 4 things to take home.  Fun, right? You get a chance to get rid of some of your clothing and pick up something new, for free!

It was such a success that I think we will have it once a year!

Pink

I threw my friend, Marie, a baby shower a few weeks back.  She is expecting a baby girl, so of course, I went a little crazy with the pink theme.  It turned out really cute.  

One of the centerpieces was a diaper cake

The favor that I did for the guests was a candy buffet that they could help themselves to on their way out.  I loved the way it turned out.  Who wouldn't like candy to take home?

This was the best cake that I have ever had!  I would pay almost anything for the lady's recipe who made it.  I mean anything!

The Momma-to-be and her Momma.

Everyone enjoying the food

She got lots and lots of cute stuff.  This is gonna be one spoiled little girl.

It was so fun to be with Marie and help celebrate this exciting time.  I can't wait to meet baby Chloe someday soon.

Camping

Back in July, when my family was in town, we took the kids camping for a few days with everyone.  Actually, we didn't camp so much as just show up for the day and hang out till it was time to go home and sleep in our own bed (the campground was about a 30 min drive from our house).  My kind of camping!

The kids and I had a great time hanging out with all the fam, including my nieces and nephews.

Sleepover

We have a tradition that when Jim and Melinda's family is in town, the kids get to sleepover at our house one night.  It's usually a pizza, ice cream, and popcorn kind of night with a movie that keeps us up way too late.  Dave and I didn't quite make it through the whole movie this year, but we tried!  The next day we took the kids to two different parks to play and then ended our little party with some homemade ice cream before I returned them back to their parents.  

Everyone camped out in the family room.

We had all 5 Turner kids there, on top of our two.  It's amazing how when you add a few more people into the house how it feels a WHOLE lot smaller.

Sophie and Lydia

Sweet Caleb.

When I was backing out of the driveway to take the kids back to my brother, this was what we saw.  Dave said that both the kiddos started crying after we left.  They LOVED spending time with their cousins, and we loved having them.  I just wish we could do this tradition more often.  Here's to hoping that someday they get to live closer to us.

4th of July

We headed out to my parents on the 4th for more family fun.  We took the whole clan to the Hillsboro parade which is pretty much 3 hours of candy throwing, kids eating, sit in the sun and wave at the locals kind of thing.  It is a tradition with my family and now the twins have experienced it for the first time.  

After the parade, we headed back to Mom and Dad's for bbq, swimming, and laziness.

These were my contribution this year to the feast.  4th of July cupcakes!

My brother, Jim, and Ethan

Me and Eliza

Eliza and Emma

Sammy and Marie

Baby Anna. 

Backyard pool time for the kids...

...usually means water fight for the adults.

Mandy and Me

Dad and Son

Sammy is one of the sweetest little boys!  They are only 2 months apart and they all played so well together.

Mom, Me, Eliza, and Anna

Sophie enjoying one of the cupcakes.

Sammy did too

We figured what the hell!  We're all family.  Let the tush air out a bit.

My kids LOVE their Papa.

After Dave dried off from the water fight, he and Amanda decided to get into a food fight. 

Jim and Melinda's dog Duke is so good with the kids.  He let them practically hang on him.

We had to!

Headed home and SOOO tired.

Such a fun day!