Happy Anniversary!

Happy 5 year anniversary Jim!

I love you with all my heart!

single parenting

My Michigan girls enjoying their color coordinated popsicles

So cute that Kady figured out how to say "cheeeeee"

Our stop on the bridge--you can smell the leaves and fall in the air

Lucy rode her own bike the entire way. And she was "verrry bwave" because she rode her bike home down the long hill on the second attempt

My cute little ray of sunshine!

Wow, Jim had his annual golf outing with his highschool friends this past weekend. Thursday thru Sunday is a lot longer with 2 busy girls. I really am thankful for all of his work while he is home. I told a friend that if I had to be a single parent I would live in a one bedroom, well maybe 2, privacy would be good at some point, shack. Each child would be allowed one toy, we
would wear the same clothes every day, and eat off of paper plates; no dishes, no mess. All in all I am very thankful for my husband and his support, in ALL areas of life!!!!

We did have a wonderful weekend, we enjoyed tons of time outside, games with neighbors, some bikerides and walks, ice cream, church picnics, pizza at Aunt Laurie's, stopping by grandpa and grandma's, and lots of snuggles. I can say that after a week off I am definately ready to go back to work tomorrow! :)

Lucy's princess dance class

Lucy was very excited to pick out the "princess" dress that she would wear for her first day. I wonder what she will pick for next week?

Today was our first day of Lucy's "dance class"! She has been so excited to dance. She surprised me today with how attentive and open she was to trying all her new moves! I think they made this class for Lucy......they pretty princess that she is.

Trying to fit it all in

a wedding (Laura and Jeremy)

A baptism (Mya Kate)

lunch at the Engber's

Bubble blowing

Kisses from Grandpa

Fun with boys, even when they put sand in your hair!

Cornhole on our awesome new boards!


Smiles


One last day at the beach


A night of dancing and twirling in fancy shoes

Getting to paint our toenails all by ourselves

and ice-cream..."I can't believe I ate all that!"

Wow! I refuse to think of labor day as the "end" of summer. According to the calendar we really have 2 weeks left of summer--denial is a good thing at times. We packed a work free weekend as full as we could. We ran non-stop, took naps in the cars, ate everywhere but our own house, and created many memories with our families!

Lucy-isms

I love my life. I love the joy that Lucy brings to my life. She is constantly talking and informing me of things I never knew. Here is just a glimpse of what she brings:

• When I was in your belly did you pat your belly and beam?
• Why do boys have butts and girls have buns? (I never thought I would be fine not teaching my kids the "technical" terms for body parts--but every cashier and person we met would get a lesson on their anatomy...I'm just not ready for it yet!)
• Why do you have stripes on your belly?
• Why do you have circles on your boobies and I have squares?
• Why does daddies have boobies? (she was obsessed with body parts and functions a few weeks back)
• Mom, Ursula took my voice so now I can't talk, I can only nod (hmmm why didn't I think of that?)
• Mommy it's soooo hot out here, can we go home and warm up? I've just had it mommy
• Why is Kady so grouchy? To answer herself--She must be getting another tooth
• Can I watch an episode (of Dora)?
• I'll hide from you and then I can do it (in response to a no from me about using lip gloss)
• Your majesty...can I pwease have a glass of milk?
• But I'm a princess!!!!!
• I ask her why she is making a face when she brushes her hair--Because that's how princesses look
• just one more (books at bedtime).
• Just 3 more minutes, because I am 3 years old
• Me-It's bedtime, Lucy- it takes me awhile (to fall asleep)
• Me-You're so beautiful, Lucy- I know
• She loves to compare how she will be when she is bigger, and I am smaller
• I'll be all grown up when I'm fifteen!
• It's ok sweetie, we can buy you more pop at the store (for me getting on Jim for taking my last swigs of diet coke)
• Those big people ("grown-ups")
• ABBBBGHHH (that was an extremely loud fake burp coming out of her mouth--she thinks it's hilarious!)
• I don't care (that it's bedtime)

I'm sure there are a million more things just from this morning. I wish I could record everything and play it back for her later in life. She is always there to give her opinions, translations, and feedback. There is never a dull moment at our house!

Where did the summer go?

While trading in my flip flops for slippers today I did need to remind myself that we did have a couple warm days of summer to really enjoy the Michigan outdoors (even though the day and forcast remind me of fall!)

A few visits to the zoo with the Dattels, Grandma, Sarah, and Fritz Lucy and Reagen enjoying Aunt Lonna's pool!

Kady was really into wild raspberry picking on one of our walks!

Our pool out back

A couple of visits to Heather's pool with the Damstra boys!

Visits to Millennium park

another precious post of Lucy

This girl will sing forever.....She has started singing some more songs lately, Jesus loves me is one of my favorites, my other is a song from college that I changed the words too to fit two precious little girls--Sleep tonight pretty girl. I'll see if I can catch that one next!