My fave weekend of the year!

Memorial Day Weekend is always my favorite weekend of the year. It's such a great time to remember why we get to have the great life that we do here in America. We are so blessed and fortunate to live where we do and with the freedoms we do. Both of my grandfathers served in the Navy (Korea & WWII). I hope that Tucker and Brayden grow to appreciate what this day means. 

I also love that it means the unofficial start to summer! Traditionally, it's the wind down of the school year (only 4 weeks left!!), filled with lots of BBQ's and friends and family, and one of my favorite nostalgic Fairfield events, the Memorial Day parade. Despite hating that I had to March during Middle School (I was in band, but I managed to get out of it every year b/c of soccer tournaments. Side story-one year we didn't make the finals on Monday and were back in time for the parade, but my dad wrote me a note saying that I bruised my tailbone and couldn't walk the parade route, so I got out of it! Score one for dad!), I have always enjoyed the parade. Now it is a great way to see old friends, etc. For the past few years we've been going with the Gombos' and my parents/grandparents, and this year we were able to expand the party to include a lot of different friends and their fun families!

Our great friends the Crewses came to visit and stay with us for the weekend, which just amplified the awesomeness that is already this weekend! We had such a blast connecting with them again and picking up right where we left off...+ a couple kids:) This was also the first time our boys shared a room. The first night started with Brayden screaming because he wanted to play with the fan, and then Tucker crying because Brayden was too loud and he couldn't fall asleep. After 20 minutes or so all was well. The mornings weren't too bad. The boys did get up earlier than usual and apparently Tucker really likes Brayden, because Max went in to get T one morning very early and T started yelling, "no, get brayden." at which point B woke up:).

The boys had so much fun playing with each other. I was so thankful for awesome weather so they could enjoy the outdoors!

Saturday afternoon we had so many of our great and dear friends over for a cookout! Love Love Loved it! Lots of people and lots of fun! 10 adults, 11 kids...officially outnumbered:)

Brayden's new firetruck toy complete with water hose was a big hit for all of the kids:)

We were pretty ambitious and tried to get all 11 kids in a picture. With the exception of the screaming red head, we did pretty well!

The chaos of  getting the kids settled and the moms in it...

 ...and then the dads. so calm. so fitting:)

pretending life is crazy:)

somehow the noodle swords became "beat-down max" swords

Sunday we went to church and tried to recover from the fun the day before. The weather was perfect so we took our broods to the beach for some dinner and fun. Of course the kids loved it! Tucker proclaimed, "I LOVE THE BEACH!" When we pulled in.  He's finally learning:)

And Monday...a super fun day at the parade. Big thanks to Matt G for roping off our section early Monday morning. It housed 20 adults and 14 kids...kids were all great, but can't say it was a calm scene.  I've never seen my kids sit so still-Tucker actually SAT in his fancy chair and Brayden was even pretty good too! Tucker's favorite parts were the motorcycles and FIRETRUCKS! He and B were both so cute waving their flags, clapping and cheering for everyone. I even got them to get in a picture with the pirates (Ancient Mariners) with me. And Dad took a nice video of them shooting the cannon right near us, just for you D! It's our fave part:)

MRT & MRT Jr....a yearly favorite

Pirates!!

 Another of my faves-the Shriners...big dudes in little cars

We had lots of good top-down Jeep time today. Tucker drove the whole way to my parents flying the flag out the roof as we finished off our weekend with a BBQ with my parents.

Thank you to all those who have served, especially those who have lost their life fighting for our freedoms.

Thank you to the Crews family for visiting and reminding us just how much we miss you guys around all the time!

Thank you also to our great friends and family for having so much fun with us, and for indulging my child like minor/major obsession with certain parade festivities:)