Wild Driver!

Hoping that over time she will "calm down" a bit while she is in the driver's seat, however, at this point, she is a road hazard!  Look out World here I come!

Marty the Moose is visiting...

We had a visitor from Tessa's School!  Marty the Moose takes turn visiting the homes of the "Pre-Kers" as they are called :)  This week he came to visit and we enjoyed his stay...story time, trying on the cowboy hat and hangin' around the house with the girls!  We decided to make some Moose art to "make him feel not shy" as Tessa said!  One of the many joys of school for Tessa, she is having a great time at school! It is interesting to see the "shy" side of our girl when she is at school!  Growing up so quickly!

Expressive Ella

 Ella enjoyed her Friday Night Movie Time!  She is hilarious.  Tessa and I were both hysterical at some of her quotes today....
Ella, did you go to potty in your pull-up....(Eyes closed, head turned)  "I don't think I am gonna tells you!" Did you Ella? "I am busy, I think I will wait until later to tell you!"

"Tessa, do you think we should get a T-Rex?, I think we should then I could pet him!"

"Did you know I have Hello Kitty panties on today and I love them!"

....it is non-stop, I wish I could record it all, realistically, I am trying to take it all in as well all enjoy her.  She is like Kevin is so many ways, however, he does not have Hello Kitty wearables??

Catch me if you can....

 Tessa has officially caught the largest fish of the season!  Her Barbie pole was bending! We were so proud of her and she was proud of herself, however, she did not want to take it off the hook!  :)

A Little Help From His Girls!

 Is it an Ink Monster...No, it is Tessa.  Kevin has three girls that love him, and we wanted to help him out during his busy week!  The girls wanted to get "right in the mix", and work at the office a little bit.  We enjoyed the evening and the "picnic supper" that we took in to Dad, the girls thought it would be fun to surprise him with pizza!  Then his girls caught shirts off the dryer...."everybody do your part so Daddy can come home for the evening!

Tessa even went in with him recently on the weekend to help out.  She found the ink, or the ink found her, it took some major scrubbing to remove, but she was so proud!  Then receiving a photo text from Kevin with her in the ink was humorous.  One of those simple joys of Daddy and Tessa time where Mommy is not involved and they are both happy about that!

Buggies Galore

The girls were fascinated by the view looking out from our house today across the field.  They were even more intrigued by where all the horses were at that went with the buggies!  Both of them certainly join me in a love of animals! They have already requested, kittens, horses, pigs, and cows. 

I reminded them that we do have a dog, and she keep us busy!  They insisted that they would certainly be helpers?? I can't help but wonder if they would be so eager to rise and shine extra early in the cold of winter to do barn chores. Actually, I think Ella would if it could mean having a barn full of animals.  Tessa on the other hand, hmmm, she might find other things more enjoyable.  Only time (and Daddy) will tell!

Happy Birthday to Our Man!

You bring us joy!  You take care of us all, and what a fabulous man you are!  Happy Birthday Kevin, to the man we love.....My handsome husband and An amazing Daddy to our girls!

Kevin is the most giving and humble man I know.  I feel blessed everyday by the simple joys of the life that we share.  Kevin, You are fun and funny....and it is a joy being married to such an amazing individual! I love growing with you and having the comfort that we are

(as our vows say...)

 journeying through life together....

Happy ?? Birthday...

Like a bottle of good wine, aging so well! XOXO

Harvest Night

 Our first Harvest Night at Tessa's School was fun for the whole family!  The weather was perfect and the bonfire was fabulous fall enjoyment!  The newsletter she brought home said it was a time of food, fun, and fellowship and it was just as it promised!

Peaceful Easy Feeling

 This is reason #534 why I love living in the country and raising our family here!  The evening sky, during harvest, brings such a peaceful easy feeling to the day!  So thankful to be living in the midst of God's Wonder!  Tessa's Bible verse this week at school....Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth"....such splendor to see and to hear our five year old quote it!  (and to hear Ella repeat it after her!) Blessings!

A Night On "The Town"

 The four of us went "to town" after dinner.  I say "to town" with a smile because of the small size of the little town we live near.  There is soooo much that we enjoy about it, the simple joys that it holds.  Now, for Tessa she took this outing very seriously in terms of her preparation for going out. 

From such a young age she has been all about the outfits!  She carefully picks them out and is certain to get all prepared for going places....out for errands, church, school, you name it!  We can only begin to image what it will be like when she is a teenager, Ella will have to make her way into their bathroom or retreat to another one in the house! 

The weather was perfect, and what we planned to be a short outing turned into....some ice cream and some time at the park with friends.  Unplanned evening often turn out to be the most enjoyable!  Tessa even had a wardrobe change before the park, she had layered her outfit, no surprise!  The time as a family and visiting with friends made for a fabulous early fall evening!

FOUR  FRIENDS!  FUN TIMES!



September 11th....10 years later.

A true tribute....September 11, 2011....10 years later.  I will never forget that day. One of those moments you remember just what you were doing.  My first year of teaching, a class of 5th graders looking at me, to answer what was going on.  Now, 10 years later. Kevin and I have two little ones to raise in this World.  There is no doubt that we are raising them with help from Our Savior!  In a World of troubled times, we hold on the peace of simple joys.  Yet, pray for the World that our girls live in now, and the World of Tomorrow.  Prayers for the decisions that others make, and how we react to those choices.

  In my mind their is one answer, turn it over to HIM, and know that our daily lives are part of a bigger plan.  As mentioned in church today, it is part of His Mission, and our own missions.  May we never take our days for granted, and may our little ones feel the love and comfort of others. There is uncertainty in what each day will bring, but we know who to turn to in days of joy, days of doubt, and days of trouble....turn to Him, and Hold on to one another!

At the Courts!

The girls enjoyed some time at the tennis courts this afternoon after church!  A beautiful & sunny September day!  Ella tried ot keep up!  Smiles all the way around!

A Bump?

 There seems to be a bump in our bed!  We usually find it there on weekend mornings!  The bump giggles every once in a while and then Ella seems to appear!  Savoring is what we are trying to do.  There is a sincere appreciation for calm weekend mornings. 

We know that there will be a time, when the girls are more involved with activities and such that our weekend mornings will adjust to a new speed!  Until then, we are enjoying the bumps in our bed, and the simple joys of taking it easy!  Little ones....age 2 and 5, simple pleasures of parenthood.  There is a special safety and comfort to being home, in the country, knowing that the World is still turning, yet for these moments, we hold on to all the simplicity and innocent !  Feeling so blessed!

A Sweet Retreat!

It was a relaxing Labor Day weekend! The we were able to enjoy friend and family time!  Thanks to some invitations for some fun times, it was a fabulous holiday weekend! We enjoyed joining our friends at their pool for some warm sunshine and a last dip in the pool as summer moves out and fall moves in! The temperature this weekend went from 90's to low 60's ....September Weather, you never know! 

There was also time for joining "The Parents" AKA Gamma ans Popsey for a stay at the state park. Hiking, paddle boats, and swimming were some of the joys.  The meals at the inn are always a highlight of the stay!  It is so comforting to watch the girls in the woods.  They look like they are in the "happy place", we are so thankful that they LOVE being outside! They were on a treasure hunt and they were so proud of their acorns, leaves, rocks, flowers, and shells.  When they found something special their brown eyes would light up, the innocence is so precious! Their good bags were full of treasures, the live treasures mysteriously did not make it home, but the other goodies did.  The invitation was a joy to add to our weekend!