Summer is flying by! I can't believe it's almost the end of June already! We have been keeping pretty busy and love and cherish our time home with the kids! We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our newest niece or nephew anyday, preparing for a trip to Chicago at the end of the month and Florida in the beginning of July. Not to mention all of the graduation parties, showers, and weddings too! Dan and I sit back and watch the kids play together and just smile! Daniel is coming into his own personality and standing up for himself when Callie wants to boss him around. Callie loves to play with her baby dolls, wear chapstick, prance around in high heels, and read stories. She is such a little helper and quite the shopper too :)
We also had Daniel's first birthday a few weeks ago and what fun it was! The theme was The Very Hungry Caterpillar and I had a blast with it since it's my most favorite children's book of all time! We had alot of family and friends over to help us celebrate which made it even more special. Daniel loved crawling on his gifts and totally chowed down on his cake as you will see in the pictures below. He is becoming more steady as he ventures into walking. So far he has taken about ten steps across the kitchen and then plops on that squishy little diaper that pads his bottom. Too cute! I'm gonna miss his little hands slapping the ground once he is a full blown walker :)
We all love some alone time in the kitchen, right?
Nonnie and Daniel
Aunt Natalie and Callie
Davey and Tracy (Dan's cousins) made the cake! It was fantastic, delicious, and beyond darling!!!!!
Ta-da!!!! The caterpillar was made from cake balls ... she is so stinkin' creative, I love it!
The Birthday Boy!
And the opening begins! You would have never known this was his first time opening presents ... he looked like a pro!
The Sullivan Family
Aunt LueAnn and Daniel
Graham found the caterpillar food :)
Lovin his cake!
Good cake Tracy!
Ouch! Wash rag please! I have frosting in my eyes!
Our little family ... love!
Daniel's last shot of his first year ... bittersweet! He looks so grown up :(
Climbing on his presents!
Quick bottle break :)
Daniel was quite bossy over his presents. Poor Ashlyn was just trying to help :)
Callie received her fair share of presents this day too!
My beautifully prego sister ... ready to deliver at any moment!
We took a trip to the zoo and checked out the new elephant exhibit called Tembo Trail. It was pretty neat!!! Nonnie Kalo and Aunt Natalie posed for a few pics!
Daniel and Nonnie at the Mud Hens game!
This is one of my most favorite pictures EVER!!!!!
Daniel looks so cute and is holding on for dear life!
We were finally able to attend an Honor Flight ceremony at the Toledo Express Airport. For those of you who are not aware, we had the memorial donations from the funeral made to Honor Flight. This organization honors American veterans for all of their sacrifices by taking them on a tour of honor to Washington, D.C. The veterans are flown to their memorials to visit and reflect without having any costs at all. The cost for a veteran to go on the trip is $400. Each veteran is assigned a guardian who pays their own way, which is also $400. Dan and I are saving up for the day when we will be able to fly as a guardian to assist a veteran on this incredible trip. We attended the local ceremony to present the president of the Northwest Ohio Honor Flight Hub with all of the checks and cash that friends and family so generously gave. Needless to say, we will be sending quite a few veterans on this flight! The ceremony was incredibly touching, emotional, rewarding, yet painful. We wish so badly that Dan's Dad could have someday made the trip himself but know he would be proud to send so many well deserving veterans on this flight. Thank you once again for all of your generous donations!
Flight touching down
Each veteran is saluted as they exit the plane while a band is playing God Bless America.
Below are a few pictures of the veterans and their guardians as they enter the hanger and walk through the lines of people thanking them for their service and shaking their hands. Incredible!!!!
One whole side of the hanger was lined with photo boards of past flights...
The band that played was made up of several veterans.
We took the kids to the St. Pat's Festival to enjoy some rides and carnival games. It was so precious to see Callie and Graham enjoying themselves and having so much fun! Thank you Nonnie and Papa for the spending money :)
Duck pond!
Frog toss!
Nonnie and Papa with Daniel
Duck Race!
Callie's first amusement ride :)
Dan and Adam took the kids on a sack race track!
Daniel is tuckered out :)
Callie and Graham driving another car!
Who doesn't love this ride?!
Nonnie and Papa with some of the grandkids :)
