real quick

So I feel like Nicole and I are probably just repeat blogging everything going on around here; sorry if you're a regular reader of both of us, but I guess when you spend six straight days together you're bound to tell the same stories...
I haven't been much in the blogging mood lately. I know some of you may be letting out a sigh of relief on that one... not so much rambling to read here! This is just going to be a quick rundown of what we've been up to around here.

Instead of a myriad of pictures in these random posts, I decided to keep a collection of the photos from our week in an album here. I'll add to it as we continue our fun here this week!

As for the last few days...
on Saturday Nicole had two newborn sessions in St. Louis and I got to tag along. One was of little Yuri Malone, and also for their friends with a new baby, the Eashes. Sweet stuff!!

Yesterday, (on Sunday) we took the Barczaks down into St. Louis and down to the riverfront to see the arch and have lunch at the Landing. The Laughlins met us all for lunch down there too before we headed home for Ryan's fantasy football live draft. The guys holed up in the basement for a few hours "fantasizing" and the other girls made a run to a new scrapbook store, while I tried to lay down for a bit with a headache. Unfortunately, between our two kids, Porter and Yuri, I didn't get much quiet time. We had a great dinner of steak on the grill before the Laughlins and Malones headed home and then the rest of us headed to bed rather early. I feel like I'm still recovering from the crazyness of planning and prepping for the party and all of our houseguests. We've been having a great time with all our friends around, but I feel like I need a vacation myself!! Ha!

Today was more of a lazy day. It was gray and rainy (finally!) and we took advantage of the slightly cooler weather and took the kids to the park this morning with a quick picnic lunch. I didn't take my camera as my battery was pretty much dead and I couldn't find my charger this morning. Luckily Nic saved the day, and fyi, all the park pics in the album are hers. (and yes, the boys are wearing matching shirts!! I came downstairs with clothes for Sawyer and realized Porter was wearing pretty much the exact same outfit. My first instinct was to change him, but we decided, what the heck- it was kind of funny. And yes, we got some odd looks at the park, but oh well. They were cute.)
Later on after Ryan Barczak was off at the airport to return home this afternoon, myRyan, Nic and I took the kids out for a quick bike ride. It really was nice to get outside today without feeling like you're going to pass out from the heat! Here are a couple shots of the kids out on the bikes...














Sawyer has been having a ball lately taking "big boy showers" in mommy and daddy's shower. He takes great pride in washing himself and getting under the water just like daddy. All by himself!
Anyway, we decided tonight to throw Porter in there with him and the result was pretty stinkin' funny. Porter was at first a little hesitant, but Sawyer kept showing off for him and once they started sudsing up, Porter was in. They took turns "running" under the shower spray and getting their heads wet. They were pretty funny together, and by the time we got the video camera, I think we missed the best of it, but they were still worth a good laugh! Nicole has the video over on her blog, so if you don't mind naked toddlers, head on over there and check it out. Cute stuff!!

And one other funny...
we had been joking around on the way to the park, after squeezing three carseats in my backseat, and throwing Ryan in the way back (no third row), we said "who needs a stinkin' minivan?!!" LOL! Nic even took a picture to show off...

Later on, Savannah was apparently ready to tell anyone and everyone that we don't need a minivan... "Our 4Runner turns into a minivan! When you sit someone in the middle of the seat and in the back, it's not a 4Runner anymore, it becomes a minivan. And then when you don't need it, it's a 4Runner again! "
That gave us a good chuckle!