Balloon to Heaven

Never far from our thoughts, 

we remembered Maddie and released a balloon 

in her honor after Anderson's birthday party.

We asked for donations to The Maddie Rucker Scholarship Fund 

in lieu of gifts for Anderson.  

We are so blessed with so much stuff, 

we'd love to pass along a little blessing to others.

Maddie's mom wears an awesome "WWMD" bracelet; 

and her dad always challenges others with the phrase

What would Maddie do? 

I think this is something she would do, 

and I want my boys to want to do the same.

Donations can be sent directly to Charlotte Country Day School 

in Charlotte, NC or delivered to us.

Checks can be made out to CCDS and earmarked with 
"Maddie Rucker Scholarship Fund" 

or can be made out to "The Maddie Rucker Scholarship Fund."

{A tax receipt will be sent for your records.}

Goodbye balloon.  We miss you Maddie.

Hoping our balloon made it up to Heaven!

Party People

Taking too few pictures is never a problem for us.

Taking pictures versus being in the moment is, however, a challenge for me.

Yesterday I attempted to be in the moment 

and have "many mini" conversations as I explained to my brother-in-law.  

As such, only a few of my apparent favorites made the photo cut!

We are thankful to all of our family and friends {pictured or not}

who came out on a 92 degree day to celebrate our little one turning one.

Mia, Gruffalo, and {movie star} ATB.

Some friends :: Xander, Sullivan, Blake, Ellie, & Cannon

Go, Anderson. Go!

Go, Dog. Go! is a favorite book in our house,

especially over the course of the last two months

as the theme overtook my thoughts and waking hours.

{Nothing says love more than staying up until 2 a.m. with your husband

making birthday desserts and decorations for a one year old's party!

Party planning is one of my favorite things to do, 

so even though we pulled some late nights, it was so much fun.}

Luckily Anderson is also slightly obsessed with Go, Dog. Go! too.  

He got his plush toy over a month ago, and it is probably his favorite toy to snuggle!

We've been excited to share a copy of the book and the stuffed dogs with our friends.

{Spoiler alert ::  The dogs go to a dog party at the top of a tree at the end of the book!}

Anderson got to smash a giant banana bread cupcake 'tree' after everyone sang to him.

Party guests got to eat stoplight brownies and  Ree's Marshmallow Crispy Treats.

 Cake eating is serious business.  

Not really sure about the green frosting, 

but even as tentative as he was, it ended up in his ears and hair

as it should on one's first birthday!

Big brother requested a special birthday parade.

We walked, rolled, rode, and scooted.

How would you go?!

{Adorable shirt made by a sweet friend!}

Playing DJ in his new, red, Cozy Coupe ride.

Hands on the wheel, big guy!

 Finally playing on the playground with a cute buddy!

 

 Go, Anderson. Go!

We love you so much.

One will be so much fun

with you on the go!

Joy for One

Anderson got to celebrate two of his little buddies' first birthdays 

at two different parks today.

Turning one must be fun 

because he attacked the day with open-mouthed joy... 

the best kind of joy one can know!

In the life of an almost one year old, 

it is safe to say this was the best day ever!

Lucky to Love

...so lucky to love these three!

Then & Now

July 4th looked a little different on me last year!

Even with an overtired baby and a sick big boy,

I loved this year's July 4th celebration so much

with our sweet family of four.

Happy to have this little one in my arms!

Fourth of July Parade

In Alekzander's mind, not much is better than a parade.

And the chance to be in a parade is practically life changing.  

We were counting down the days until our neighborhood parade - 

complete with a firetruck leading the way and an ice cream truck waiting at the finish.

Despite being up half the night with a yucky stomach bug, 

Alekzander did not want to miss the parade.  

With strict warnings not to get out of the jogger or touch his brother,

he got to ride in the parade as a sleepy spectator

instead of the energetic bike balancer he wanted to be.

He even got to enjoy a popscicle against my better judgement; 

I doubt he will remember being sick this fourth of July,

but he will remember getting to ride behind the firetruck 

and eating ice cream for breakfast!

Rightfully so, Anderson was obsessed with the flag 

Andrew carried on our mile long parade route. 

 Still cute after a rough night!