Saturday, July 21, 2012

Dominican Vacation

...The next morning we were in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic!  GEORGEOUS!! 

 

 We left the party and drove to Dallas.  I was still under the impression THAT was our final destination.  We drove past everything in Dallas and kept on going!  Finally, at midnight, we pulled into a hotel near DFW. Josh told the concierge that we needed a shuttle at 4:30 am.  While I am processing all of this, he threw my passport at me and told me the real vacation plans.  The next day, on four hours sleep, we flew to the Dominican.  We stayed at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro.  It was beautiful!  After lots of coffee, we started a relaxing vacation!

 






 The room was magically clean every time we re-entered. I especially liked the creative way they cleaned up my jewelry!




When we weren't eating or sleeping, we were right out here at the beach.
 



 There was a market right up the beach where we got our souvenirs.  This is Josh haggling with an art dealer.


Happy purchase!


The majority of visitors in the Dominican surprisingly are from Europe.  The stereotype was true that several of them dress for the beach differently than we do.  One day we had front row seats for several photo shoots.  We, along with some other fellow Americans, decided to do our own pictures in the "cool" spots...only we had on swimsuit tops and the men shorts not speedos ;)





Excuse our cheesiness, but so funny to us!


  Thank you to my sweet husband for the thoughtful surprise and to my family for keeping the kiddos so we could get away!!  Maybe we can go again for the 40th!



Wednesday, July 11, 2012

30th Surprise!

For my 30th birthday last month Josh pulled off a HUGE surprise!  Not only did he plan a fun surprise party with some of our close friends, but he also took me away on a surprise vacation afterwards!!  My sister's and parents were behind the whole thing too. Little sneaks!  The craziest thing is my niece Ally told Lila that morning and Lila actually kept it a secret?!  All I can think is she didn't really understand what a surprise party was? HA!

All along, for the big 3-0, I had told him I just didn't want to have to worry about it.  He said he was on it.  He told me he had gotten tickets to see Coldplay in Dallas Saturday night, my favorite, and had taken care of childcare for the girls with my family.  We were planning on leaving Thursday to go enjoy a long weekend away in Dallas...I thought!?  We had plans to go to dinner with my family, gown ups only, to celebrate at La Fiesta.  Imagine my surprise when we walked in the door!!!

,

Surprise!!!


The photo booth was hilarious!

 

My favorite, white wedding birthday cake!

  

Some pretty funny pictures from throughout my life.

 

Every detail of this fun fiesta didn't go unnoticed!  I LOVED them all...the beautiful flowers, the sugary candy I love, the bright colors and of course the people!!!

 


  

Over the hill gifts ;)

  

Photo props!

 

Seriously love these girls and know how much they did for me!!  HILARIOUS pics!



 














 

 SO much fun!!!  Talk about feeling special and loved...but that's not even all...

Father's Day


For Father's day this year we celebrated for a few days (that's how we like to do celebrations here;)  The night before we had a family movie night.  I think Josh wins the "best dad of girls award" for always agreeing to watch Tangled or Beauty and the Beast.  I am so thankful to have a husband who is just as in love with these girls as I am.  (Even more at 5:00 most days:/ when the tired, hungry fairy settles at our house)




Sunday after church we had the family over for lunch.  The kiddos ate and then played outside while the grown ups got to have dessert and actually finish our conversations!  We called them in for gifts.  Lila, Caroline and I got Josh a new skillet, a belt and a bug zapper for the back porch.  Happy Father's Day!  Ha! These are all really things he wanted, promise!


The kids all filled out a questionnaire for their dad and GP.  Lila's were so funny to me.  I especially like that she thinks Josh's name is Uncle Josh and he likes to wear slinky shirts!  One part of his job is "dating Mommy."  I love that!  GP is smart because...he knows lots about girls!!  Precious!





SO thankful for these wonderful men, daddies, husbands, and friends!  Happy father's day!