While Mommy and Daddy Are Away...

...and Grandma's in charge, you follow Grandma's rules,
but are spoiled with lots of love, good times,
and surprises in Grandma's bag.

Grandma joined in the fun in our beach ball sprinkler.
VW..."Grandma got wet in her clothes, but that's okay!"

You  play lots of catch and try not
to knock Grandma over with
your fast south paw.

You swing on the swing with NO SHOES
and feel the breeze on your tootsies.

[VWs favorite part of the visit.]

Eat yummy food!

Play with one of Grandma's surprises...
a new car track!

And set up a fun, all over the floor
race track!

Thanks for taking care of us while Mommy and Daddy were away!
Can't wait until next time and maybe you could take Papa with ya!?

Ten on the Tenth

Our sweet cousin Miss EK turned the big double digits - 10 on July 10! 

What a wonderful, amazing, strong, innocent girl! She stands her

ground, but truly enjoys peace among family
and friends and good times!
And when she is around...
everything is perfect in DGs eyes!

Nothing says this is a 10-year-old
GIRLS party in the summer like...
pink flip flops!

  

Quick wrestling match before
the party begins!

Lots of family to celebrate this sweet girls day!

 

The many wonderful faces of EK!

 

Happy Birthday Miss EK! Happy Birthday to you!!!!

And many more...

 

 

We're Outta Here



It was a wonderful, exciting weekend and more importantly, a quiet relaxing get away for Mom and Dad. Grandma came down on Saturday to hang out with the boys and Daddy and I headed to Nebraska City for some much needed couple time and relaxation in honor of our 15th wedding anniversary.

 
 

Hard to imagine these two lovebirds
have been married 15 years!!

 

Hot apple pie with the works! Yum!

Wine tasting!

Relaxing on the porch!

 

 

View from the veranda.

 

Ate out here for breakfast...birds chirping...
peace and quiet.

Got a fun, loft room!

Walked along the trails...very dense trees!

 

 

It was a great, quick getaway with peace, yummy food and good company.

Not sure the boys missed us at all and Grandma had a blast!

Look forward to the next retreat (even if it is in our backyard).

And so blessed to have such a wonderful husband,
who makes me laugh, smell the flowers/trees,

and keeps in anchored to what is important in life!

 

 

Introduced

VW saw our wedding picture on the fridge and inquired about it. Daddy told VW about how ‘Uncle’ Roger introduced us, how we became friends and then we got married. VW looked at him quite confused, “What’s introduced?”

Daddy explained how Roger knew Mommy and knew Daddy but we didn’t know each other so Roger introduced us to each other so we now know each other.

Still didn’t click. Try again.

Well, if Daddy knew a little boy that you didn’t know and I said VW meet this little boy…this is called introducing.

Hmmm…so when Mommy was a little boy…

Oh, this is not working well.

 

[He did finally figure it out when we reminded him he was introduced to a little boy last week – Uncle Bs friends son…oh, I got it!]

Mountaintop Proposal - 15 Years Later

Sixteen years ago, Daddy and I went on a week vacation with his family to California. It was Mommy's first time in an airplane and my first experience of a full-itinerary vacation.

We did the Santa Cruz boardwalk, the San Francisco area - Pier 39, Alcatraz Island, Lombard Street, the Golden Gate, Alamo Park, cable cars and saw Phantom of the Opera - we spent time with the California family (first time meeting them), and headed north to the red woods, Paradise (Big Grandma and Grandpa's home) and Yosemite.

It was quite the adventure and life changing when Daddy proposed to me after an amazing hike up switch backs and views of amazing water falls on the top of Half Dome!

Just after Daddy proposed!

A year later we were married...15 years ago today!

 

Oh, we were so young...

but it has been the most fun, growing, loving time of my life!

 

Look forward to so many more adventures
as we continue to grow old together!

 

God has truly blessed us!

I love you, honey!

 

 

Uncle S and Aunt M
'Uncle Roger' and Mommy's best friend Jill
Aunt K, Uncle B and Mommy's friend Erica

So young, Aunt K is such a little girl!

 

 

First Dance: Natural Beauty - Neil Young

 

So many of Daddy's friends came to help us celebrate!



Mommy's best neighborhood friends



Saying 'bye' to my baby sis,
who wanted us to move to Allendorf
(small town close to hometown
with 4 houses)

[Disclaimer: We were married pre-digital cameras.

Pictures are better in real life - minus the flood damage]