The Tommerdahls

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

4th of July

We were determined if at all possible to make it to the 4th of July parade this year, even though it was our first morning at home with Larkyn, because our kids love parades so much and we had been talking about going for months! I was definitely thankful for TWO parents to get everyone ready and out the door by 9am, though! My good friend LaDonna saved a curbside spot for us, so thankfully even though we arrived at the spot only 20 minutes before the parade would start, we still got a good spot! (Thanks LaDonna!) The parade was made even more fun because we were watching it with friends :).

My 3 favorite kiddos!

Family Pic at the parade

The kids LOVED the parade!!! C's favorite was "the car with eyes" and S's favorite was the marching bands

Colton, Summer, and 3 of Summer's friends (Leyla, Addison, and Sydney) at the parade

Larkyn slept through the whole parade and woke up when it was over!

The kids sorted their parade candy in the van while I fed Larkyn. I love how Colton lined his candy up like he does his cars!

The kids made fruit smoothies for lunch after the hot parade!

After naps and dinner, Grandma and Grandpa T arrived and brought fireworks - first fireworks for both kids!

Grandpa, Javonte, and Daddy set off the fireworks...

Mommy, Summer, Colton, and Grandma T watched...

and cheered!

GeeGee Sandy cuddled Larkyn inside where it was quieter :)

Then a very excited Summer left for her "past the bedtime" date with Daddy to the carnival and her first ever fireworks! She literally started "getting ready" for her date HOURS before - she was so ecstatic!

Carnival

Airplane Ride

Snow Cone!

Pure Happiness

Fireworks and Cuddles

These two videos of Summer's date with Daddy are so sweet!

Monday, July 7, 2014

Ducky PJ's

Just for fun...here are all 3 kiddos in the same ducky PJ's after their first sponge bath...

Summer

Colton

Larkyn

Thursday July 3rd: Coming Home

On Thursday morning, we were all set to leave the hospital!

When we got home, the house was nice and quiet as Grandma and Grandpa Kirkwood were at swimming lessons with Summer and Colton. Grandma took these videos for me while Grandpa did Colton's parent-child class with him :).

It was really nice coming back to a quiet house! We could meet an energetic Tucker, get a little unpacked, and calm a fussy Larkyn, before focusing on our older two kiddos again!

Meeting Tucker

Our Family of FIVE!

Grandpa and Larkyn

Grandma and Larkyn happened to match!

After we said bye-bye and thank you to Grandma and Grandpa for taking such awesome care of our kiddos, Daddy and Summer decorated the house with banners and balloons that Grandma and Grandpa had bought. Meanwhile, Colton gave Larkyn an excellent tour of the inside/outside of the house, showing her where everything was :).

It was amazingly uneventful - our first afternoon as a family of five! Here are a few pictures...

Larkyn made herself right at home, sleeping through lunch :)

Larkyn slept with Daddy while Mommy continued the routine of doing "Mommy - Colton" time before Colton's nap and "Mommy - Summer" time before Summer's quiet time (we implemented this tradition about a month ago to ensure one-on-one time with each kid and Mommy). I especially loved my "Mommy-Summer" time with Summer this day as Summer talked for a half hour straight and told me EVERYTHING she had done with Grandma and Grandpa K and Grandma and Grandpa T (in great detail!). I loved it :)

After settling in both kiddos for their afternoon rest, I tucked in Larkyn for her first naptime in her big crib, while Paul ran to Walmart.

That didn't last long ;)...this was much more comfortable for BOTH of us, and was how we spent the remainder of nap time :)

Love this sweet girl!

And LOVE the sister bond already between Summer and Larkyn!

After naps, I took the kids to Target to find a 4th of July outfit for Larkyn to wear to the parade the next day (she didn't have any red, white, or blue in her closet!)