Happy Father's Day, Dad!

The twins are One!!

We had a lot of fun this weekend at their first birthday party. So many of our friends and family were here to help celebrate. The babies did much better than expected considering all the people and fun going on around them. The theme was cowboy/cowgirl and it was so much fun to plan! The pictures below show some of the fun we had over the weekend! Also thanks to our friend Scott who filmed and posted the eating of the cake.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9plOzVAcK4

We asked our guests to bring a donation to the Ronald McDonald House and we are happy to say we have many boxes to deliver next week. If you are thinking of a charity to donate to, we encourage you to think about your local Ronald McDonald House. Here is the message we included in the invitations:

Dear friends and family, As most of you know, we spent almost a month in Dallas when the twins were born. While they were in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, we were fortunate to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. Meals and lodging were provided to guests and helped us avoid significant costs associated with such a long stay from home. Because it was within walking distance of the hospital we could go back and forth to the hospital several times a day. We also met so many wonderful people staying at, working at, and volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House. We are thankful this was available to families like us who were so far from home and loved ones. The support we had there was incredible! To pay it forward and in honor of the twins birthday, we would like to collect some of the things needed most to help the St. Louis Ronald McDonald House. Household items such as toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, dish soap, and travel size toiletries are just some of the things that are needed on a regular basis and are often overlooked when donations might be made. We hope you can help us by bringing to the birthday party one of these items you might have around the house. Thank you for helping with donating supplies that are necessary to run our local Ronald McDonald House which serves families who are away from home and often not staying for as joyful a reason as we were. With thanks, Jon, Julie, Skylar, and Elaina

Elaina relaxing with Aunt Amy and some good books


Elaina


Our little cowboy and cowgirl


Grandpa and Elaina


Uncle Tim, Aunt Erika, and Cousin Olivia (6 weeks)


Skylar with Aunt Barb, MoMo, and Uncle Pat


Aunt Barb and Olivia


Elaina and Grandma P


With Grandma and Grandpa P (Skylar loved the harmonica)


With cousin Arielle


The birthday boy and Daddy


We couldn't get a picture with all four of us that was good!


The attempt


Yummy!


She loved the cupcake!




He was all hands!


Elaina with Melissa and Bob


Julie and Cari


Two sets of twins


Wendy, Skylar and Joe


Erin and Ryanne


Aunt Amy, Liz, and Uncle David

Grandpa visits!

Grandpa Pat was in town this weekend and I just realized you wouldn't even know it by the pictures! He isn't in one of them. Reason was he was taking all of them. My dad has really gotten into pictures and we thought it would be fun for him to take some family ones. We all just forgot to get him with the kids!!! Good thing he will be back in about 6 weeks for their birthday:)

Here are the pictures we took at our favorite park, Long View. We just discovered this when we moved to our new house and we go there all the time. The twins did not smile once during all the pictures but of course did as soon as we left. They were very interested in everything around them!

We are family!!


Oops...Skylar did smile once when he met a new friend!


Skylar and Daddy


Checking out the sticks and leaves


Looking at the stream below was more fun for them.


Just me and Jon:)


Skylar and Mommy


Daddy and Elaina


Mommy and Laina


At Rombach's Pumpkin Farm in Chesterfield


They were sleeping most of the time we were there. We woke them to get pictures with the pumpkins.


Showing Grandpa all the cool toys they play with in our living room.

Just a few miscellaneous pictures

David and my dad with their guide during their fishing trip to Arkansas' White River. This is the second year they have gone and it is now a Murray tradition. Skylar will go some day but not for awhile! Then we will need Murray women to start a weekend get away...maybe shopping in Chicago?!?

Tim and Ron, their guide

Jon

Thanks for the shout out Skylar! Wish I looked like this:) My step sister who lives in Monterrey found this onesie and another funny one that Elaina wears. The back says Very Excellent Baby which we wholeheartedly agree with!

Ugh, this pictures made me realize that I needed a new solution to the bouncy seat!

So sweet! They love to hold hands when they are near each other!

A very happy girl!

Look at my hot bikini with the ruffles on the bum!

Ready to go to the pool...but we will leave the stuffed beach ball behind.