This Beautiful Girl

Warning: Brag Session

Some of our favorite things about Lilly is her laugh and her big heart. She wants to be friends with everyone and draws no lines to keep people out. She is so awesome.

I hope we can raise her to have the confidence to pursue whatever she's interested in and enough humility to be a life-long learner. I hope she surrounds herself with positive people and is astute enough to ward off betrayal. I hope that when she's broken hearted, she'll always know she has a place to come home to. I hope she has friends she can be silly with, and friends that make her stronger. I hope that when she prays, she finds guidance and peace. I hope that we can be parents that both frustrate and inspire her. 

We are so proud of you, Lilly and couldn't ask for a more wonderful little bunny!

This, That, Trees

Rain doesn't stop us from playing

Slowly, the grass in the back yard is growing!

Bug hunting

...or dinosaur catching...

Our neighbor (who owns some heavy duty equipment) helped us remove a very old sidewalk from the front corner of the property.

 My silly boys

We ordered a sizable amount of top soil and compost to fill in the low spots in the yard and to fill in the holes for the baby trees. Steve's been working like a crazy person to spread and fill with the dirt, but at one wheelbarrow-ful at a time, it's a long and strenuous job.

The spruce trees were so big and heavy, we had to dump them from the truck and hope they landed where we thought.

They're smiling, but only because I asked them to.

Couldn't have done it without him!

Josiah was super excited to help.

I love how he loves his daddy.

A total of 8 evergreens, 2 pines and an assortment of 9 deciduous trees planted in one day.

Winter/Summer

As we officially move into summer, I was really curious to see how the landscape around the house had changed since we first looked at it until now. The changes are remarkable! We're so excited for the possibilities and the adventures ahead!

(Excuse the horrible quality of the videos! I don't recommend maximizing the screen, it only makes it blurrier.) 

Winter

Beginning of Summer

What Makes a Man a Great Dad?

Is a man a good dad because he's been there for you since you were born?

Is it because he's your daughter's first dance?

Or her first love?

Is it that he listens to you when you have a story to tell?

Or protects you when you're scared (even if it's from Santa)?

Maybe it's because he can always find a way when you're lost,

or because he teaches you new things-

...like how to share.

Or maybe because he's really, really fun-

 and takes you to places you want to go.

 Or maybe a good dad is someone who will do anything to make you laugh. Even if that means looking really, really silly.

Thank you, daddy for the hundreds of ways you are love us every day. 

We love you so much!

Josiah, Lilly and Noah

 Happy Father's Day weekend!