Just What I Needed

The days are growing shorter as is my time at home. Although I am thoroughly blessed to have time off in the summer to sleep in, go to the pool, visit the library, and play for endless hours outside it gets harder and harder to replace my mommy hat with my professional one.

But this weekend was simply perfect.

Our flower beds, clothes, & cars are cleaner. We honored Grandpa Jack in the American Heart Association's 5K which then prompted a trip to the pool. There were picnics, movie nights, and a trip to the park!

Just the fix I needed to get through another work week.

Its Been

Its been 303 days since we held hands. 303 days since I prayed by his bedside - since I watched him take his last breath and the pain left his body.

But today, I honor my dad - he would be celebrating his 77th birthday! I will remember the best times we had (one of my favorites pictured below), the funny stories I share with my kids, we'll be sure to sing the Animal Fair song to Papa, and we'll have some of his favorite foods.



Today, I will also shed some tears. Those tears are selfish - crying because I miss him. But I know he's having the greatest celebration of all.

Tears are God’s gift to us. Our holy water. They heal us as they flow. ~Rita Schiano

Food, Family, Fun, & Finesse

Could we ask for anything more?

A girls' night out complete with manicures, make-up, sparkly shoes, and up-dos!


Opportunities to try out new decorating techniques AND having them turn out better than expected.


An afternoon of bowling with family to celebrate Oscar's birthday!


Pizza, cake, ice cream, presents, & an excited birthday boy.

Family evening playing Just Dance.....these pictures speak for themselves!

After a weekend filled with family, laughter, and smiles we can't help but be thankful for our endless blessings!

Color in our Life

We all need a little color in our life and we are blessed to have ours across the street. Molly doesn't have a sister or even a sibling close to her age but she has an abundance of friends who grace our house, yard, and toy box.

Learning

She looks like she's having a blast doesn't she? I'm not sure who had more fun; Molly playing or me observing.

Last summer it would've taken Molly 20 minutes to brave the fountains - but today the stroller straps were still in my hands as her feet hit the water.

When the fountain pattern changed, Molly stopped playing and began to think while watching the changes.

We set out for a morning of fun and relief from the heat; who knew it was also going to be a morning of learning, thinking, and discovery?

Independence Weekend

We were blessed to spend this weekend with each other and our Columbus "family" - filled with parades, sparklers, s'mores, swimming, and fireworks!

Racing, Spilling, Laughing, & Crying

These are the words of the day! We coaxed our friends into joining us at a frog jumping contest this morning, although after today they may never join us again.

"Dublin Frog Jump 2011"

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The kids (Alec - 13, Noah - 4, Natalie - 2, Molly - 2, Brooke - 1) had a blast, the weather was perfect, and we survived getting 20 gallons of water & frogs dumped on us, barely.