Body paint

Payton sadly didn't have her dinner, so she didn't get any dessert that night. Gracie needless to say, received a bath.

..buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks..

Baseball game, take three.

The Zdenek family has been to see three different teams, at three different parks, obviously three different times. And each time has been a little different. The first was in Chicago for the Sox, the second was in Seattle for the Sox vs. the Mariners, and the third was last night in Everett to see the Aqua Sox. Last night, was by far the easiest and most successful of the three with taking the girls to a ballpark!

Brittany (Ryan's sister) coaches a competitive gymnastics team and their team was invited to preform pre-Aqua Sox game. Britt asked if we would we come and we were all excited to go!

Baseball fans already!
Gracie and Payton were happy to be able to roam around the stands and not be confined.

Chuck and Grammi

Coach Brittany (in the blue shirt and White Sox hat) and her team

The gymnasts got to go out on the field with the players during the National Anthem

Last night was so much fun! Ryan and I are already discussing when we are going to do it again. Thank you Britt for inviting us to come watch!

Twinkle toes

Every Thursday from 10:20-11, we have been going to the North Kirkland Community Center so Payton can pliate, sashay, and point her toes as a ballet dancer would do. Gracie and I, along with the other moms and siblings, sit outside of the dance room, while eight little dancers spin and twirl.

Yesterday was Payton's last dance for this class, and all of us parents were able to come and watch what the girls have learned.

There are a couple of videos at the bottom giving a peak..

Jordan and Payton waiting for class to start

Payton's favorite part is the ribbon sticks

These two love each other!

Ryan and I were so proud of our little ballet student!

Jordan and Payton doing their own thing.

We're so proud!

Do you have any seats higher than the nose-bleeds?

Of course when the White Sox are in town, we have to go to at least one game! Since we took the girls to the Sox game while we were in Chicago, Ryan and I thought, why not take them here too! Payton's been asking to see the Sox since we saw them last, so she was looking forward to going again. If only this experience had gone like that one, with numerous family members willing to hold Gracie throughout the game..

Oh, what could have been..

First, Payton did terrific. She was super thrilled to share in the excitement with her Daddy!

However, our little peanut Gracie, not so much! She chucked, yes chucked, the leftovers of a hot dog with ketchup on it, at a couple sitting in front of us. I proceeded to apologize and wipe down this young guy with baby wipes while giving him money for dry cleaning. Thankfully he and his girlfriend were super nice and understanding. Later, Gracie decided to take a piece of a pretzel out of my hand and pelt a teenage girl, sitting in front of us, whom had moved due to Gracie's "cheering" earlier in the game, all whilst arching her back and tapping/kicking the ketchup spotted couple with her foot. By the time the seventh inning stretch rolled around, we stretched our way out of there. I'm sure the Mariner fans who were sitting near our obnoxious White Sox family were very thankful we left.

Prior to us leaving, Ryan received a phone call from his cousin Matt in Illinois, asking us if we were at the Sox game. Ryan said of course and Matt told him that Payton was on TV back in Chicago!

Maybe we have a future Baseball player on our hands!

After we left Safeco, we listened to the rest of the game in the car. The White Sox ended up winning three to one!

Ryan and I aren't sure how soon the four of us will be back to Safeco together. Baseball games might not be Gracie's thing quite yet, but it made for an experience and that's what we were going for, right? Not to actually sit and watch a baseball game!

You mean we can actually talk without interruptions??

Last Friday our friends Jason, Nika, and their daughter Kiley had planned to came over to have dinner. When Ryan called me to let me know our plans, I came up with a bright idea to leave all three of the girls at home with Ryan and Jason and for Nika and I to go to dinner. Thankfully he thought it was a great idea as well!

I can't remember the last time Nika and I went out for longer than an hour or two without the girls. It was so nice to be able to sit in the bar, have a cocktail, hear each other talk without being interrupted, or having to tell someone to stay in her seat, or pick food up off the floor or cut food into little pieces (I could go on for hours, but I'll spare you!).

We started out at Red Robin (one of my favorites that sadly I don't get to go to very often) and then we went to a movie following. We didn't get back to my house until close to one in the morning and Ryan and Jason were watching a movie and had all three girls asleep.

Friday was very needed and very appreciated! I look forward to our next date!

Brianna gets married

Warning: Long post ahead. You might want to go to the restroom and grab a drink before reading..

Saturday, August 1st, my cousin Brianna married her best friend, Ryan. The planned a destination wedding at Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, WA.

I was Brianna's mom and dad's flower girl when they got married 27 years ago, and my brother was their ring-bearer. So Brianna asked our children to be in her wedding and of course our kids couldn't have been happier to participate!

On Friday July 31st, Brianna picked me up at 7:30 a.m. to head up to the resort to help my sister-in-law Rachael arrange bouquets, centerpieces, boutonnieres, etc. I'm not much help in the floral department, but was more than willing to be Rachael's "go-fer".

Brianna ordered bunches of roses and calla lilies from Costco and picked them up that morning.
Brianna's bouquet

Rachael making boutonnieres

Centerpiece in the making

For the end of the aisle

Rehearsal time! Here are my little girls ready to practice being flower girls

My nephew Kaden and Payton practicing

My nephew Trent (who was Ryan's and my ring-bearer six years ago) carrying Gracie since she didn't want to walk down the aisle.

Rehearsal dinner

The next morning, August 1st was wedding day! The girls needed to be ready for pictures by 2, so I started on Payton's hair around 1. I didn't know how well Payton's hair would hold curls and how well she would sit still, so I wanted to get a goo head start.

Getting ready for pics

Gracie fell asleep 20 minutes before the ceremony started.. wouldn't you know!

Uncle Peter and Aunt Tammy (my mom's middle sister)

Grandpa's remembrance candle on the left, Ryan and Brianna's unity candle, and Brianna's Grandad's remembrance candle on the right

The arch way that Rachael created

Brianna and Josh's Grandma Sandy, my cousin Josh, and my Grandma Claire

Mother of the Bride, my aunt Leslie (my mom's youngest Sister) and my cousin Josh

Payton didn't want to drop any flowers. Every time one would fall she would pick it back up.

The first time Ryan saw Brianna

Aunt Leslie and Uncle Chris lighting their Dad's remembrance candles.

Brianna made a beautiful bride! Grandpa's rosary was wrapped into her bouquet and I know that Grandpa was smiling down on her!

Mr. and Mrs. Black

Cocktail hour

We stopped Payton from twirling so we could get a family picture. She wasn't very pleased with us! Would you expect anything else?

The favors

You filled up your own boxes with whichever candy you wanted. Such a great idea!!!

Payton couldn't resist putting her finger in the cake. Even after I told her to look, not touch. What do you expect from a three year old with a sweet tooth??

Rachael did such a beautiful job on the flowers!!!!

My sister-in-law Rachael and my brother Ryan

(yes, there are now three Ryans in our family!)

Kaden and Rachael

Father and mother of the bride

Trent, Josh, Payton and Kaden

Brianna was going to dance with our Grandpa to "What a Wonderful World", so Ryan and Grandma danced to it instead.

Congratulations Ryan and Brianna! The wedding was absolutely beautiful and so much fun! Cheers to a lifetime of happiness and love!
We love you!