A smile costs nothing, but gives much.
1998 - first visit to the farm
2001 - rehearsal dinner
2010 - after a fun date at JTK for our anniversary
Sacked out after a big morning of swimming & swinging
All of this summer "quality time" together has us on the lookout for summertime adventures.
We had a popcorn-filled picnic enjoying the music downtown with Daddy on a lunchbreak.
Our library summer reading program is AWESOME. Besides the great reading, there are also excellent activities you can attend for free. This one was full of animals from all over the world... in the library!
I can't believe they touched an alligator. We've also enjoyed presentations on fishing in Nebraska, fun water-related science projects, & games/balloons/facepainting to kick it all off. We are always excited to go to the library.
Always good tunes at Jazz in June. We tried the "super sleuth" scavenger hunt supposedly for kids in the art museum beforehand... not for these kids yet! Maybe in about 3 years. They gave us a cool magnetic puzzle for a prize, even though we gave up after only answering 4 questions. Almost one month gone already. Bring on the summer adventures!
Darren & Andrew enjoyed the first annual KC Father's Day weekend bike ride.
We gals drove to meet them three miles down the trail.
Good times had by all!
Swimming lessons: this summer has been our first experience with them. Anticipation was high! We started out okay, kicking in the water from the side.
Two minutes later when actually IN the water, Andrew freaked out & came running to cling to my leg. He was saved by the thunder after only about 5 minutes. So, day one was 10 minutes long. Days 2 & 3 were also partially rained out & day 4 completely stormed out! After that it was sunny skies however & extended lesson time to catch up. After the initial freak-out, Andrew warmed up to his teacher, Yaryna, & took like a fish to water. For a kid that still doesn't like to get his face wet at bathtime, he did amazingly well & is now a "sea horse".
Here's his back glide without teacher's hands the last day.
Rebecca really took to her teacher Jaylon & was happy to be in the water as long as she was being held like this. Most other times she was asking for me.
There was an occasional bob, front float, or bubble blowing episode.
But this was a lot more common! She's still a "guppy". 
We all enjoyed two weeks of picnics & park playtime. 
Teresa's first time in a swing; she loved it!
Uncle Fr. Jon joined us for the fun, too.
I love that our kids enjoy the water. I hope that I can remember how to swim myself & enjoy it with them!
What's Daddy's favorite food?
His favorite chore is…
What does Daddy teach you?
Anything else you want to tell him?
Egg cartons morphed into caterpillars...
Teresa turned 8 months old this weekend and, boy, did she make it count! 
In the last week she has learned how to crawl with her belly up off the floor, push herself up to sitting, & pull herself up the standing. 
Last weekend was the Havelock Charity Run/Walk. We made it a family event! 
Darren & I each pushed the girls in a stroller while Andrew walked alongside for 3K. 
There really wasn't any running until AFTER the chocolate donuts at the end of the race! It was a fun time & an easy way to make a $50 donation to CSS just for finishing. I really felt invigorated, too. Maybe there will be some actual racing in my future... maybe. ; )
Welcoming Jackson Aaron
Congratulations, Christine & Derek!
Memorial Day weekend was a weekend spent remembering those who have gone before us & savoring the time we have with each other while we're here.
Our first stop was the cemetery to visit the graves of Darren's Grandma Rose & Grandpa Joseph along with many other relatives. (Though it was part of his namesake from the start, it was a little odd seeing a tomb with Andrew's exact full name on it.) We prayed that their souls are happy with God in Heaven. The girls didn't really get it & there was a crazy cold wind, but I'm glad we made the stop. Grandma Rose held a special place in my heart... she was the first to know we were going to get engaged!
Then it was out to Green Grandpa's pond for some fishing. Andrew & Darren had no luck. After about 20 minutes of *patiently* waiting for a bite as they almost blew off the dock, they decided to call it quits for the day. Rebecca wanted to give it a try, so she cast out once... & caught her first fish ever! She was very excited. : )
Teresa & I enjoyed watching all of the fishing, bug hunting, flower picking, & bird chasing.
Then we dropped in at Darren's brother's home for a visit & to meet the new pony.
Alaina generously let each of the kiddos take a couple of rides.
Thanks, Alaina!
Andrea & I hung out in the warm house with our cutie pies. Can you tell they are only three weeks apart?
We finished off the day with some tasty Cici's pizza & an amusing game of air hockey.Hooray for memories!
