Fun on the Farm

Our summer to-do list included a trip to the farm, and we couldn't have found a better one. Young's Dairy Farm had it all. Check out the great things we did.

The girls are all smiles and ready for a fun day! Lauren loved the goats..and they loved her.

"Here cows! Come cows!"

Sami didn't care for the goats, but cows were a different matter. I caught her giving this one a sMOOOOOch. Beep! Beep!

I love this sweet face. "Mom! Don't tell Dad that you let us ride in these barrels!"

Very happy to be getting ice cream.

Lauren was so excited that the farm had a miniature golf course. She even made a hole-in-one.

Sami helped me with my game. Posing with Nana after mini golf.

Soaking Up Summer

Recently, the girls got together with their cousins, Kaitlyn and Alyssa, to run through the sprinkler.

Sami was primarily interested in lapping up the water...... while Lauren and Kaitlyn concentrated their efforts on soaking the photographer.
After their time in the sprinkler, the girls headed for Nana and Papa's swing set.


I love summer!

Big Plans

Grandma and Pap are Married!

The whole family has been so excited by Ken and Debbie's decision to get married. They had a small, family wedding at Mill Creek Park, a place they've spent many hours walking and biking. Look closely behind them and you'll see a tree carved with their names. Lauren had the honor of holding the rings during the ceremony. She was so happy that her Grandma and Pap were tying the knot.

Biking takes skill, but it takes even more skill to ride one in heels! This was so cute and a perfect ending to the ceremony.

Samantha had a great time with the balloons.

Home Sweet Home

On May 29th, we officially sold our home of 8 years. We will always have fond memories of this place. Someday we'll think back to our younger days and remember the excitement of buying this first home, adopting our first pet, and bringing home our babies. While we look for our next home, we'll be making memories here. We've rented this condo which has some great perks including a lake, several ponds, walking trails, a swimming pool, and our favorite, lawn service!

This is the view from our front porch. It may be harder to leave than we expected.

Lauren is 5!

Dear Lauren,
In the moment you were born, we were changed forever. On that day, we learned that another level of love was possible, and five years later, that love is only growing stronger. As we watch you learn about your world, we're overcome with pride. Your curiosity is insatiable, and your smile, contagious. Nurturing others is your special gift, and it's obvious in the way you care for your baby sister. You're our little scholar, cuddle bug, and star performer. Someday, far too soon, we'll long for these days, but until then, we're soaking up every minute. Happy birthday sweet girl, and thank you for lighting up our lives.

Gone Fishin'

On my dad's birthday, we took Lauren and Kaitlyn fishing at a small, private pond. What a great day! In this picture, Papa is teaching Lauren the great art of casting. No push-button reel for this girl!Lauren has been fishing before, but this was the first time she had casted, set the hook, and reeled all by herself. Here's her first official catch.

Looks like a pro, doesn't she?

Proud mommy. She reeled in one blue gill after another, while poor Kaitlyn just couldn't get a bite.
Until...
How's that for a first fish? To be clear, that striped bass was her first fish EVER! Her own mom has never caught one. What a great memory it will be for us.