happy 4th of july

just a few shots of our morning yesterday at the parade festivities...

pop's house

we went to the cemetery this morning to visit my dad.
today is the anniversary of his death...4 years ago.
we said some prayers and then I broke down.

this afternoon john john was looking at some photos on our computer and when he came to this one he said, "mom, look...it's pop's house".
he was pretty right on target, this is where my father now rests.
he is in the box (i'm sure there is a more formal, more appropriate word for it)
with the red flowers behind the fountain.
the most perfect place for him to be...
he loved the water, the beach, the outdoors.

i am so thankful to have him in this amazingly beautiful place.
it is the only area in the entire cemetery with a fountain...
it is so unique, just like he was.
it is actually indoors but the roof is open (or maybe just a really elevated ceiling with tons of sunlight coming thru) and there is a beautiful tree...

the beauty and sound of this lovely fountain bring peace and comfort to me every time i go to visit him.
i know God saved this spot for him.
it was the last box available in the fountain area that summer he passed away.
there could not be a more perfect place for him to be and for us to remember him.

just three days after our 9th wedding anniversary my father died.
it took me about a year to be able to say that word to describe that he was gone.
time has healed my pain more than i ever thought it would.
but, i still miss my dad incredibly.
and i still cry over his absence in our lives.
he sure was special.

thirteen years ago today

i married the love of my life.

we were two young lovebirds who couldn't wait to be married.
married before all of our siblings and friends (except one).
started a family before them all, years and years before them...
they were amazed that we got married in college (me just out of),
had two kids in law school, the third during the first year of chris' career.
our love had a path growing all on its own and nothing could get in its way.

our love has grown, produced four beautiful children and become stronger than ever.

stronger than we ever knew it could, stronger than we ever knew it would.

i am blessed to be married to such a wonderful man
with such high morals and love for his family.
to know and feel that we are still so in love and so committed to each other
13 years later.
every day is a beautiful day,
but today is a the most beautiful day to us and forever will be.

summer snapshot - week 3

here's what went on around here last week:

hanging out with neighbors...

 on the patio, in the tree, in the pool

playing baseball with all the neighborhood boys

reading

playing soccer out front

more reading...

french toast

fort building

reading in the fort with flashlights

slam dunkin'

marco polo in the pool with dad

ice cream for dessert

playing games at best buy

going to the movies

ella was at a bible camp all week

she sang her heart out

the boys had their last day of basketball camp

we had some of the boys over after the last day for swimming, pizza, & popsicles

so, another wonderful week of summer.
the kids have all been reading up a storm.
they are all so into the series they're each reading.
and it is so great to see them not wanting to put a book down.
and not having to make them...yeah for summer.

oatmeal crispies

i made some of these wonderful little cookies over the weekend.
the kids really liked them - just the right amount of sweetness, not too much, just right.
the recipe is on pioneer woman's blog...she's got some good stuff on that blog.

the great thing about this recipe is that you can freeze the dough and pull them out to bake whenever you crave a fresh baked cookie.
we gave them out as father's day treats to the godfathers and grandfathers.
i've had these fun little bags i picked up on my birthday on clearance at sur la table.
i was finally able to put them to good use,  the kids made tags for them.

i have really been in the baking mood this summer.
and thanks to the double ovens (from our old kitchen) out in our workshop i am able to bake whenever i so desire and not heat up the kitchen.
it has been wonderful.