We Love our Tallahassee Friends!!

Every time we visit Tallahassee, we keep a VERY full schedule the entire time we're there!  Each and every day is packed with play dates, lunch and dinner get-togethers and as many fun activities as we can possibly squeeze in.  That's the way I like it because otherwise I feel like I'm wasting valuable time that I could be spending with friends that I don't see nearly as often as I would like.  We're usually worn out by the end of the week, but we make up for it once we return home to our normal schedule.  

This trip was no different, except for the fact that it was somewhat short since a lot of my time was spent at the beach.  We only had a few days to see as many people as we could and though we didn't fit everyone in, we sure kept the roads hot, bouncing from place to place!

Several weeks ago I started planning a park play date for my BFFs and our kiddos.  I knew I would be seeing my friends for our usual girls night out dinner, but I also wanted a chance to see their little ones.  Originally, it was just supposed to be a few of us getting together one evening at our favorite park, but Betsy offered to make cupcakes and let it be a small celebration of Kyndall's 3rd birthday.  Since I wasn't doing a party this year, I agreed that this would be a fun idea.  It wasn't meant to be a true party, just a play date that happens to have cupcakes.  Wrong.  My Mom I ended up providing dinner for everyone and it turned into much more than just a play date, as my stubborn friends did NOT listen when I said "no gifts"!  So in a way, it was like a party for Kyndall but on the simplest level possible, without any stress or planning.  

We met up at 6:00 on Wednesday evening, just as the rain cleared out---thank goodness!  Before the others arrived, my sister snapped a few shots of me and my best girl in our new monogrammed t-shirts made by my sweet friend Mrs. Gloria!  You can have one too, for the great price of $12!!!  She can do any color combination so ask me for her info if you're interested!  I know she would love to have your business!  =)

Normally I would've spent weeks, even months picking out the perfect decorations and matching accessories and stressing over the smallest details.  But instead I took Kyndall to the party store the day of and told her to choose what she wanted.  SO much easier!  This was her choice.....pretty cute!

Stinker

This girl loves her Aunt Kelly!

Kyndall was mad because I made her eat pizza before she could have a cupcake.  How dare I??  

Who's that little brat on the right with the sour look on her face??  Oh yeah, that's my child.  The birthday girl.  The one ALL OF THIS was for!!  You just can't win sometimes!

Uncle Michael showed up and immediately volunteered for swing duty!  He's gonna make the best Daddy someday!!

I can't believe this cutie will be a year old in just a few weeks!!!!

Aunt Kelly and Brinley

Ava has the sweetest little expressions!!

Betsy always knows how to make the kids smile!!!

Sweet birthday hugs from Liam

Finally, what she had been waiting for........

Thanks for the yummy cupcakes, Mrs. Betsy!!

Singing "Happy birthday".......

Sweet Lily Kate!!

Laura is so creative.....She used Brinley and Lily Kate's feet to make these butterflies for Kyndall

No play date is complete without the unrealistic expectation of a decent group shot.  Getting this many toddlers to cooperate for a picture is about as easy as nailing jello to a tree.  Seriously.......

Lily Kate is long gone after one shot, never to return

Fading fast.......

It's comical, really

I have no idea why this picture is so slanted.  My only guess is that I was laughing so hard by this point that I couldn't hold the camera straight!

From left to right....Camden, Koby, Kyle, Brinley, Liam, Kate, Kyndall, Elijah and Ava.  And Lily Kate, who was missing in action!  

Naughty or nice??  Not sure but I'm gonna give her the benefit of the doubt and go with nice!

G-Daddy came too!

We stayed until it was dark then headed home to toss this sweaty girl in the bath!!  Thanks to all our little friends who came out to play with us and help make Kyndall's birthday special since her Mommy was lazy this year and didn't do a "real" party!  =)

The very next day we were invited over to my sweet friend Jenny's house for a play date with her daughter Ali, who is just a few months younger than Kyndall.  Jenny is one of my very dearest friends, though we rarely get to spend much time together.  But, when we do it's always a sweet time of fellowship and I come away feeling refreshed and uplifted.  She's just one of those friends.....the kind everyone needs!

Landon, Ali and Kyndall.....the Whitaker/Hughes toddler band!

I should also mention that Ali and Kyndall share a deep love for Minnie Mouse.  It just so happens they both wore their Minnie attire this day!

Sweet friends!!!

Later that afternoon, Kyndall received a wonderful early birthday surprise from our sweet friends the Jones'.  Mrs. Lisa texted me and said she had a surprise for Kyndall and wanted to bring it down to my parents' house.  (The same sweet Mrs. Lisa who surprised me by showing up in Nashville for my surgery a few weeks back!)  I had no idea what it was, but I certainly wasn't expecting THIS....!!!!!

It didn't take her long to get the hang of it!!!

Perfect for my little country girl!

We love this sweet family so much!!!

Giving Caroline some love!  Side note---I used to babysit Caroline when she was Kyndall's age!  It's still hard for me to wrap my mind around that one!

Thank you, Jones family!!  Kyndall loves her gift and each of YOU!!

Throughout the week we also enjoyed several lunch dates with my Mom, a visit to the dental office where I used to work and a MUCH needed girls night out for this worn out Mama!!  Even though I didn't get to see everyone I had hoped, there's always next time!

On Thursday night, Matthew flew into Tallahassee and Friday morning we hit the ground running for Kyndall's THIRD birthday!!!!  More on that in my next post!