Michael's 40th birthday party

Landry and I had a sweets date post summer school Tuesday

My little man in uniform 

The artiste deep in her craft

Our very worldly appetizer this week with Moroccan olive oil
and basil from Buena Vista Ranch in Missouri

Avoiding mosquitos with a game of chalk indoors

Entry to Michael's luau party

The bar saw a lot of action!

Hawaiian sugar cookies that tasted as good as they looked!

We turned the sundeck area into a tropical seating spot

Toasting the birthday boy before guests arrived

A couple of hotties at the party

The boys ended up in the pool at the end of the night

Early morning park play date with my girl

Some boys let her have a tennis ball from their match and she didn't
want to let go of the ball the rest of the day

Pool time with the peanut. He chilled in Landry's boat for an hour
and loved every single minute

Crazy girl making silly faces in her bounce house

My sweet boys 

Wish I had her red lips!

This week was a busy one!  Arriving back from the lodge late Monday night made for a short, crazy week -- especially since I took a half day Tuesday to spend time with the kiddos after missing them so much while I was away.

I had a wonderful flea meeting on Wednesday.  We plan to have a signed lease by September 1 on my new space!  I've opted to start with the building's first floor which is 35,000 square feet.  I have my work cut out for me but it's very doable and exciting -- especially with my new coordinator Mary Grace at the helm.

I start working with a space planner and general contractor in two weeks to really get moving on the finish out and layout for the flea.  I'm so thrilled this is all coming together finally!

That same day I took a meeting on a new local project.  The W Hotel residence building wants to remodel the front lobby and has asked me to give them a proposal by mid August.  I am so flattered and excited about the opportunity.  I just need to figure out if I can swing the time frame but I'm definitely going to try to make it work for all parties.

It was such a big day!  Luckily I had dinner on the books with my friends Paula, Joslyn and Sam so we toasted with margaritas at my new favorite Mexican restaurant (Troy Aikman sat next to us, which also ended the day on a high note).

Last night we hosted Michael's luau.  It was a blast.  My in-laws took the kiddos for part of the day so we could pull everything together.  It looked really festive and my signature cocktail (Mike's Mai Tai) was a huge hit.  We had about 40 of Michael's dearest friends over.  Kyle and Lindsay were the last guests to leave at a cool 2 a.m. so I think it's safe to say the party was a hit (especially since a handful of guys ended up in the pool to cool off and chill until the wee hours...)

Today we just relaxed at home.  We spent hours in the pool with the kiddos, Landry played in her bounce house, we ordered in a big Italian dinner and finished off the last of the Mai Tai's.  It was the perfect way to cap off an exhausting week and Saturday.

Now the countdown begins to Maui to really relax and ring in Michael's actual 4-0!!!

Bumbos, boots and barns

Six month birthday silly portrait

Chillin' in their Bumbos before dinnertime

One of Landry's darling summer school projects

Wanted her hat and purse to grab frozen yogurt last weekend

She scored this balloon at the grocery store while buying
bites for our Saturday dinner party at the house.  She didn't let go of it until bedtime.

That purple sparkly purse has crackers stored inside for our
Sunday morning stroll to feed the ducks.  She insisted she bring her pink ball too.

Missouri lodge bound!

My office Sunday and Monday

How gorgeous is this vintage barn?!

Leaving the lodge 

Last Monday, we celebrated Barrett's six month birthday.  He had his routine checkup last week and is 18 pounds and in the 90th percentile for height. He took his three shots like a champ but was a little under the weather the following day.

He's really starting to get some hair.  It seems to be light blonde and a little curly.  Even though it's super short, he gets a little bedhead in the morning and it's the cutest, frizzy little mess just like his sister's.

Cristina brought over a bouncy seat that attaches to the door jam for Barrett to try.  He loves it!  He will literally bounce for an hour if you let him.  He's starting to really get the hang of it and looks like a little ballerina twirling around.  It's the funniest thing to watch.

Landry is still throwing tantrums over small stuff.  I will not be sad when this phase passes.  All that said, she is also so much fun.  She's obsessed with saying "please, thank you and you're welcome." I have been working with her on her manners and she's hooked on repeating the words over and over (could be worse, I suppose).

She's becoming a little mama's girl.  She doesn't like it when I leave for work or go upstairs to my home office after bringing her home from school.  She loves to cuddle after dinner and intertwine her feet with mine which melts my heart every time.

She's currently obsessed with Mickey Mouse, Caillou, her doll Vicky, Curious George, swimming, riding her bike, art projects and the book One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.

Last week the Jones asked me to fly up to the lodge with them for a couple of days.  We left on a Sunday afternoon so I made last weekend really count with Michael and the kiddos.

We really relaxed gardening, playing outside, grilling out with friends and with a leisurely Sunday brunch.  The weather was unseasonably cool, so Sunday morning I took Landry on a long walk and fed the ducks.  She loves to hold onto the bread en route so we stashed several crackers in her favorite purple sparkly purse and she clenched it with all of her might the entire way there.

For every piece she tossed in the water she ate a piece, which made it all the more fun to watch.

I hated leaving my sweet babies Sunday but it was a great work trip.  We're starting a big new project this fall so I did loads of picture taking, measuring and shopping all the old barns and structures on the property.  Sometimes I have to pinch myself that this is what I get to do for a living!

The family was so great including me in all of the activities from fishing to ATV riding and meals.  Before we left yesterday Jerry took me on a ride all over the property in a cool, rugged Jeep.  On the job last year I hardly saw daylight so it was fun to really get to explore the 4,000 acre property.  From old barns and stables to open fields and thick forests, I was just in awe of the beauty of that place and all of the wild animals roaming around.

Today was back to the grind.  I started training a new employee for the flea, which is really exciting.  We are moving right along with the expansion and new space.  I have a big meeting tomorrow and will hopefully have more news to share soon.

Somehow between client meetings this week I'm going to pull off preparations for Michael's 40th birthday party this weekend.  I'm very much looking forward to celebrating him and enjoying a Mai Tai -- or two!

Big boy bed and bites

Barrett is fascinated by his big sis

Relaxing with my favorite feet

Landry's first homemade pizza

This one is for all of Barrett's California aunties!

Barrett loves to watch Snuffer swim around the fish bowl in the morning

Lunch date with Fran

Landry's first friendship bracelet and cute butterfly
art project from summer school

Making veggie pasta for lunch with mommy

Licking up the leftover corn juice

Barrett's first stab at bananas.  He approves!

He also wants to try wine...

Fun Friday night at home with new friends

Pooped out from jumping in his bouncy seat

Park play date with my girl

She loves the slides!

Cheese plate lunch at home while the babies napped

Summer concert date night!

Landry's first French braid
(I have some major room for improvement)!

Landry loves to grocery shop with me when
there's a cool car cart involved

This week was a big one for the Cobb crew.  Barrett started eating solids.  So far he's tested carrots, broccoli, and bananas.  He likes all of them but it seems carrots are his favorite.

He also officially moved from his bassinet in our walk-in closet to his crib in his room upstairs.

We tested out the crib last night for the first time and he adjusted perfectly.  I could have kept him in our room for another six months but he's simply too big for his sweet wicker bassinet and needed more space.

I had a light night's sleep because I was checking the monitor every hour or so but he didn't miss a beat.

We've been enjoying summer so much lately.  This week Michael and I took advantage of Bradley's babysitting skills for a nice, mid-week, dinner date.  Friday Landry and I had a play date with some new friends that just moved here from Southern California set up by my childhood friend Samantha.

Landry is definitely entering the terrible two's these days.  She's very possessive of things.  She loves to say, "Landry's toys" or "Landry's blanket." Just about anything gets a "Landry" in front of it.  She doesn't love to share and can throw a mean tantrum.

All that said, she luckily moves on quickly and usually bounces back to her sweet self within minutes after reasoning with her.  But we have had many meltdowns over the past two weeks or so and I'm ready to move past this stage, pronto.

One thing that always makes her happy is cooking.  She loves to help me in the kitchen!  This week she helped me prepare salmon, pasta and even made her first mini pizza for dinner.  She loves to nibble on the ingredients while I prep and watch things bake in the oven.

Saturday we had some fun at the park and then took the kiddos over to our friends' house for some pool time.  My friend Nicolette just had a baby boy and we got to meet the little guy and all hang out in the water and catchup.  Landry and their two-year old Henry played in the water with trucks, drank chocolate milk and nibbled on watermelon.  It was a perfect little afternoon.

Last night Michael and I tried out a new sitter (sadly our staple moved to North Carolina) for date night.  We grabbed a delicious Italian dinner and then saw Rascal Flatts and Sheryl Crow perform (we had awesome seats!).  We've been really good about getting out lately.  It's so nice to connect away from the chaos at home and over a civilized meal.

Today our friends Vance and Kym invited us over for some pool time (yes, California folks, we live in the water during the summer so we don't melt away) and dinner.  They have older girls and Landry loved playing in the water with them (and their playroom chock full of toys even more).

When we got home I sent out Michael's 40th birthday invite.  In honor of our trip to Maui for his actual birthday, I'm throwing him a luau at the house to toast the big 4-0 with friends.  It's going to be very simple and lowkey (we just decided on the idea this weekend), but I'm looking forward to celebrating my sweet hubby.

Tomorrow marks Barrett's six month birthday.  Michael is 40 in a month.  Landry is two going on 12.  I can't believe how fast time is flying.

At least I will always be 31 :)