Happy Father's Day

6/15/2013

My heart bubbles over with joy and thankfulness for my dad.  I admire and appreciate that he is a stable, wise, handy, truth-sharing, Godly, determined, hard working, generous and gentle man.  It's been a gift to watch him recognize his need for saving grace outside of himself and trust in Jesus and continue to trust and grow in the Lord each and every day.  I've appreciated through the years the ways that he has used his giftedness to bless and encourage my soul.  I count it a privilege to call him my Dad.

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Since I didn't take the chance to write something about my mom on mother's day I thought I'd take the opportunity now to give a shout out to the best mom in the world!  I so appreciate my mom's words of encouragement.  I remember in high school when I'd arrive home long after she was in bed and I could count on a note on the oven top from her letting me know that I was well loved.  Those words of encouragement have never left me and she still uses her gift of encouragement to this day to bless my soul.  Her ability to never take no for an answer has taught me to push through when life gets hard even when the odds are stacked against you. She always reminds me that with God all things are possible so keep my head held high, never give up and go do what God has made me for!  Her servant's heart has provided countless examples of what it looks like to put others needs before my own own.  I've appreciated her thoughtfulness and compassion.  She has taught me to always remember everyone has a story, so listen well.  She has taught me what working hard looks like.  She is a women who fears the Lord and taught me that apart from Christ we can not do anything.  I praise God for all of these ways and so many others of how He has woven her gifts of love and service into my story and into my husband and children's as well!  Evidences of God's grace are all over her life and I praise God for the privilege to call her my Mom!

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Whenever we're at Grandpa Bruce and Nonnie's house Traeger takes the occasion for splashing in the creek and a little crayfish hunting.

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We loved spending time with my cousin Dana while she was in town visiting for the week.

It was Dana's turn to get her hair braided.

I love sweet Ataly kisses!

Gotta love the matching hair dos :O)

Biggest fans

6/2013

Grandpa Bruce and Nonnie were a few of Traeger's biggest fans!

Swing set

6/14/2013

I had been looking for a swing set on craigslist but since Luke isn't handy I didn't know how I'd get one disassembled and reassembled so I resolved myself to the fact that we just wouldn't have a swingset.   

 One random day our older neighbor came over and asked if we would be interested in his old swingset.  His grandkids had outgrown it and he didn't want to mow around it anymore.  

God always amazes me how HE provides!!!

It's not as sturdy as we would like because when the kids get going on it it starts to tip a little, but we'll take what God has provided and praise Him for His sweet provisions.

Nothing speaks summer days better than a sitting on a swing with a summer dress, crocs and a popsicle in one hand :O)

How high do you think we can get?!

 This is the part where it starts tipping...

Check out my jumping trick.

Ataly's turn.

Trying to jump and do a 180...do you think he made it?!

Summer days

6/2013

Traeger, the neighbor boy and Ataly just chatting on the curb.

Their tree "fort" complete with a bucket system (designed by them) to get their goods up to the fort.

Take the good with the bad

6/11/2013

The kids have been more active and enjoying all that nature has to offer like nature walks through tall grasses to get to their tree fort by the railroad tracks but with that also come....

these pesky buggers.  

While my mom was braiding Ataly's hair one evening after showers she found this behind Ataly's ear...yes it's a tick. 

And that same night we pulled one off of Traeger's foot too.  GROSS!

All cleaned up and ready for Nonnie to have a sleepover.  

Hard to contain the excitement!

Team pictures

6/7/2013

Go Brewers!

Daniel and Ataly were a cute addition to the cheering section.

Grandpa Bruce giving Traeger a pep talk before the big game.

Waiting for the line up.

Last day of 2012-2013 school year

6/7/2013

Celebrating Traeger and Ataly's last day of Kindergarten and 1st grade!  

Time for moving on to 1st grade

Good-bye pre-school....hello kindergarten!!!

Ataly was blessed to have caring, gentle, knowledgeable, creative teachers.  Mrs. Konecny and Mrs. Davies were a huge highlight to Ataly's pre-school experience.

Mrs. Stellmacher and Mrs. Highlander helped make Traeger's kindergarten experience a great one because of their gentle compassion, encouragement, and motivation to spur Traeger on to always do his best!

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Brennan was Traeger's best bud in kindergarten.

Ataly loved everyone in her class and helped Tae a lot this year.