July 4th F-U-N

The 4th of July always seems to be a busy weekend and this was no exception. We started going on Friday and didn't stop until late Monday night. The kids didn't get to bed on-time any night but were very good at being flexible and enjoyed time with friends and family.

The first two pictures were taken last week when Jacob did his first sparkler (shhh.. don't tell Nonna).

Waiting patiently for his turn to have a sparkler

Jacob with Daddy and our neighbor Brian. This lasted about 20 seconds and then Jacob didn't like that someone had to help him hold the sparkler. Melt down ensued...

Brenna in the bathtub for the first time ever without being in her baby tub. She loved the toys!

First bath together :)

Jacob in his fishy towel. He absolutely loves bath time!

Jacob in his star glasses from Great Grandma Bayerl. I can never get him to take pictures anymore so I told him he couldn't go outside in the pool until he smiled. Hey, gotta get them somehow!

Brenna in the pool - she's just like her brother and loves the water.

Jacob afraid of water on his head? I think not!! Anyone who has seen Matt gives the kids a bath knows they can not be afraid of water on their head. Btw, Matt gives 99.99% of the baths in our house.

LOVING It!!!

Brenna on July 3rd. Getting ready for BBQ's and going to say good-bye to Aunt Terri and cousin Matze before they leave for Germany.

Aunt Terri, Brenna, Colin and Anthony. Aunt Terri and Colin left to go back to Germany on Sunday. We will miss them but had a great time while they were here.

Jacob holding his cousin Colin. Colin is 6 months old but looks as though Jacob can barely hold him here. It wasn't as scary as it looks in this picture. Jacob had a good hold on him.

The kids and I waiting for the rain to stop so we can have a BBQ with the neighbors! Jacob woke up every day from his nap asking when the party started.

4th of July - The kids were in a parade in Nonna's subdivision. I grew up decorating my own bike and rode in the parade and it's very ironic that now we are decorating strollers and my kids are riding in the same parade.. everything comes full circle I guess.

Brenna was 9 months old on the 4th as well. In this picture she is saying "mom, seriously put the camera away"

Decorated stroller and ready to go! Jacob would not leave the squirt bottle behind. It was only when he got sight of the fire engine that we finally got to put it away.

Our family!

Jacob and Nonna looking at the firetruck! He LOVES firetrucks!

After walking in the parade they turned on the fire hoses.. think someone is a little wet?

Daddy and Jacob walking in the hose sprinkler - everyone was soaked!

Soaking and now enjoying a Popsicle from the ice cream man at the parade. YUMMY!

Cooling off before going to the next event - this time a friends house for a BBQ and lots of outdoor fun!

Water balloon fight! The kids "snuck" up on the dads and got them pretty good. Notice the two balloons in Jacob's hands!

Enjoying another popsicle.. wow, he sure did eat a lot of sugar over the weekend.

Jacob playing t-ball with Aunt Crystal

Brenna was at the BBQ too - trying to take a nap before going to watch the fireworks!

Jacob, Brenna and Daddy getting ready to enjoy the 4th of July Fireworks from the City of Chesterfield. It was a super late night for the kids but they did have fun and neither are afraid of the fireworks.

Beffa Family Pics

Ever tried to get 30 people including 16 children happy in one picture? Let me tell you it's NOT easy. We took Beffa family pictures the day after the wedding during nap time. Jacob was having no part of it at all as you can tell from the picture below. This pretty much sums up his attitude and willingness to participate. It was a super long weekend and smack in the middle of his nap time so I can't say I blame him entirely.

Sums it up entirely!

Paul and Kathy Beffa (Matt's parents) and his siblings

Parents with the kids and their siblings

Entire Family

Beffa Funny Family picture

The kids - Matt and his siblings

The grand kids and their grandma and grandpa - Jacob is quickly escaping

Jacob is outta there!!

The next post will be July 4th fun!

WEDDING TIME!

Here are the promised pictures of the wedding.. A great time was had by all and we took family pictures the following day. Those pics will be the next post.

Matt getting ready and putting on his wedding socks.. these were part of the required tux outfit. Please ignore all the craziness in the picture behind him.. it was a long few days.

Terri and her dad (Paul). She looked beautiful!

Beffa Family picture - this is immediate family only! I'll save you the time - there are 30 of us in the immediate family. That includes 16 grandchildren.

Our family.. Jacob could not keep his shirt tucked in to save his life!

Aunt Terri and Uncle Matze walking out of the church. Let the party start!!

The flower toss - yep, that's Brenna out there with her Aunt Sandy!

This is a German drinking game.. and yes, it was at the very formal reception. The History Museum was not sure how that was going to work out but the bride and groom insisted. This 3 ft log also had to come home with us and be present at the post wedding BBQ. Oh the fun!!

Dad and Jacob 'cheersing' for each toast. Yes, it's water in there but Jacob LOVED drinking out of the champagne flute.

How Brenna spent some of the evening.

Matt and I with Terri

Parties and Rehersal Dinner

So one of the things that has been keeping us busy is Aunt Terri's wedding. Matt is one of seven Beffa kids and little (and only) sister Terri got married this past weekend. For those of you who may not know, Terri lives in Germany with her new husband. He is a German professional basketball player (notice the height) and teacher. Here are pics from the bachelorette/bachelor baseball game and Rehearsal.

The bride and I!

Matt and I at the Bachelorette/Bachelor Cardinal game - thanks to Nonna for watching the kids so we could go out without them!

The bride and 4 of her brothers (left to right: Tim, Matt, Patrick and Todd)

The bride and groom with the boys (left to right: Tim, Matt, Patrick, Todd, Matze, Terri)
The boys were trying to be tall and Matze was trying to be shorter.. LOL


The girls (left to right) Terri (bride), Kim (MOH), Me, Michelle (SIL)

Some of the gang at the game. I have to say that bleacher seats are the best and I had no idea they even existed! The front two people are Matze's mom and dad that came in from Germany for the festivities.

Some of the 16 Beffa grandchildren at the rehearsal - Notice Jacob trying to escape the pictures - this became the theme of the weekend!

Me and my sister-in-law DeAnna at the rehearsal dinner. Matt's family has owned a bar for 113 years and it closed for good the last weekend in May. However, they agreed to hold one last Beffa family event there and of course only Terri could pull that off. This was our last time in the restaurant and bar and it was very sad :(

Jacob had SO much fun in Brenna's stroller that night. He got pushed around by all his cousins and was living the life. He didn't get to bed before 11 any night but enjoyed spending time with his cousins.

Aunt Michelle, Rachel and Brenna - this was probably 10:30 and WAY past B's bedtime!

The Europeans with Baby Colin (Colin is Terri and Matze's baby boy that was born in January). There were lots of people in from Europe for the wedding - it made it even more fun but I have to say that Europeans like to stay out REALLY late!! I was so tired by the end of the weekend and I didn't even make it to the end of most nights!!

Last time we see the Beffa's fine food sign lit up.. so very sad. It's odd to think that the tradition of my kids going there is now lost. However, we obviously wanted what was best for the family and wish everyone the best as the bar closes turns out the lights for the last time!

Pics of the wedding and some of the family pictures the day after the wedding will be posted soon!