Picnic with the Bourque's

Devon and her family have finally moved back from AZ!!  It's been about 8 years since they've been in MA so Brian's mom had a summer picnic to celebrate them being back on the east coast!   It was great seeing them and I hope we have a lot more get togethers in the future now that we only live about an hour away from each other.  AJ and Aubrey had a lot of fun in the kids pool they had set up and Chloe was excited to try blueberries for the first time (she liked them!).  One of the best parts of the picnic was the zombie game!  One of Brian's cousins transformed into a zombie and was trying to catch the kids... Despite all of the screams and shrieks (and laughs!), all of the kiddos loved running away from him and hiding only to have him go after them.  I know AJ will want Daddy to play that game soon! haha

After a few hours we packed and left and it was great knowing they are only an hour drive away now versus a plane ride!  We hope to get the kids together again soon!

Random sidenote: on the way home, AJ asked for a hamburger. I got him one and he took three bites of it. I was in shock!  He was super tired and ended up falling asleep after those three bites, but he did ask me to save it for later when we get home. It's currently sitting in the fridge waiting for him for tomorrow. So proud of our little AJ who is branching out and eating new foods! (This last Thursday he ate steak without me having to force him to eat it and he actually liked it! Yes!!!)

Visitors from AZ!

Devon, Brian and the girls, Aubrey and Ciara have been in town for the past two weeks and we finally got a chance to hang out with the girls today.  We had an impromptu pool get-together at Cioci Kimmy's and it was lots of fun...We love catching up with Devon and the kiddos! [Brian was too busy playing golf with a buddy!]

AJ being sneaky on the trampoline

Fun on the trampoline with AJ and Ciara

Well, hello there Ciara!

Aubrey refused to make eye contact with me for this picture!

Allie joined in on the trampoline fun!

 

And there's Miss Maddie... poor kiddo was sick and not able to join in on the fun! 

 There's always next year!

Visitors from AZ!

Devon and I go back to college.  She was my Resident Director during my first couple years as a Resident Assistant and we became fast friends.  I was her maid of honor and stood up for her on one of the most important days of her life.  She and Brian lived in MA so we wouldn't see each other all that often, but when we did hang out it was like no time had passed.  She is just one of those friends that we can pick up right where we left off, no matter how much time has passed.  And after about a year of being married (if my memory serves me correctly!), Brian and Devon moved to AZ.  They became a family with the birth of their daughters, Aubrey and Ciara.  And Michael and I started a family with our little AJ.  I've been out there to visit a few times and when they come back east we always try to meet up too.  And last year when they came back to MA, we missed each other...but this time around I wasn't going to let that happen!  Devon had to meet AJ and I had to meet Ciara and see Aubrey again! SO, we made it happen!  While Brian was out golfing this morning, Devon and the girls packed up in MA and headed down to CT for a visit with us.  As expected, it was as if no time had passed between our visits and the kids got along great.  I cannot wait for when they permanently move back east so we can hopefully get together more often!  Devon and girls - it was absolutely great hanging out this morning!  We cannot wait for our next visit with you!  Brian - we missed you!

Aubrey having fun on AJ's tigger-horse

Ciara wasn't sure what to make of Porter

'Hey Aubrey.. you have some powder on your face from the munchkin you just ate!'

'Oh hey there, Miss Ciara!'

Ciara enjoyed exploring the leaves outside

And my sandals too!

AJ was showing Devon and Aubrey the garden his Dad planted this year

Ciara had to join in on the fun too!

Checking out our backyard since they don't have much grass in AZ!

Aren't these two just adorable?!  They became best buds during their visit!

Devon and the kids playing

Aubrey very much enjoyed the fact that I bought her powdered munchkins for breakfast!

She had a little accident with the jelly! Oops!

Loving having the kids together! Such a great visit!