State Fair...two trips :)

This year we did the fair in two trips...why not spread out the food and fun?!  Every year the kids discover something new to see and of course go back to their favorite things...the bumblebee ride for Maryn and the tractors for Theo.  Not sure what Cormac's favorite is yet, but I think it might be the lemon shake-up :)  

She loves the bumblebee ride!

Theo's first time on the bumblebee ride!

Can't you just feel the love??!?!

Oh yes, the corn dog!

We love the dairy barn for milkshakes!

She means business :)

3-a-day of milkshakes? Sign us up!

Loving the little piglets

Potato heads :)

The horses were the favorite animal this year

Can we buy this dad???

Farmers :)

On our second trip, we ran into one of favorite families from preschool.
Maryn was super excited!

future graduate :)

Little Hands on the Farm

I love her big smiles :)

Ready to do some picking and planting!

Tractor riding time!

Feed the cows...

milk the cows

now to see a real cow up close!

more tractor fun

It was so happy!!!

Just a little sugar to end the night :)

No, he clearly did not share!

They made sure to get every last drop!

1st day of Kindergarten!

I can hardly believe that the tiny 5 pound baby I held at just 24 hours old is ready for her first day of KINDERGARTEN!!!  My how time has flown by!  We read a lot of books about kindergarten prior to the big day and they always ended with me crying later.  I explained it to Maryn this way, "I'm not sad you are going to kindergarten, I sad that you will be having new exciting adventures and I will not be there to experience them with you like I have been in preschool.  I'm so excited for the new friends you are going to make, the new facts you will learn, and the ways God will use you to bring glory to his kingdom."

Let's just say there were lots of tears on that first day and while this momma tried to keep it together, they overflowed and made departure a little harder.  Thank goodness Jeremy kept it together!  All that to say we love Maryn's school and teacher.  Being part of the IPS lottery is challenging.  You get to preference your schools, but there is no guarantee you get the one you want.  We were thrilled to get our top choice, The IPS/Butler Lab School.  After touring and observing in the classroom, we knew this was the environment Maryn would thrive in and so has been the case.  We absolutely love her teacher and love that Butler has a very strong presence in the school.  This is going to be a great year...I just know it!!

Breakfast for the KINDERGARTENER!!

A little gift from Mommy and Daddy

One quick family photo :)

Of course we had to take pictures on the front porch!

They would not be complete without Maryn's silly faces :)

Walking in...a little nervousness for all

I LOVE that big smile!!!!!

Outside her classroom door...

Signing in for the first time...

A little note from her teacher...

She (and we) made it through the first day!!! 

Oh Harry...

Fourteen years ago I stood under this same marque and was swept off my feet by a surprise proposal.  This year Jeremy and I celebrated our 13th anniversary while we were on vacation in Hilton Head, but were thrilled to enjoy another Harry Connick Jr show in mid July.  Such fun memories of that night that really does not seem so long ago.  Our years together have been full of the normal ups and downs, and some of the not so normal.  We have ventured through triumph and defeat and always come out stronger in the end.  I love this guy and am thankful for the love he continually shows me!

June 2000

July 2013

Michigan with our Butler friends...

Last year we barely survived the heat and crowded beach  and this year it was the complete opposite...freezing and we were the only ones there!!  Funny thing is the kids didn't even notice!  They were still running around in swimsuits, dipping toes in the water and building in the sand.  We loved hanging out with everyone and catching up on life.  Thanks to the Horvath's for once again opening their home to this crazy crew of 14 adults and 17 kids + 1 on the way (age 7 and under by the way)!!

We had the beach all to ourselves!

Maryn and Anna building a sand castle

Theo loves the sand!  

Cormac had fun climbing in the holes we dug :)

Swinging!

Most of the kiddos!

Smores...Johnny can't resist the sweet smiles of the girls!

Girlie snuggles :)

July fun!

July...you flew by too quickly!  Here is a quick recap of some of our fun in July :)

This boy loves hats!  

A little outdoor fun with spray bottles

Having an afternoon chat in the yard with this girl :)
She had just finished her last day of VBS and loved it!

Slumber party in Maryn's room!

Maryn's first time on the roller coaster at the zoo.
One of the items on her "bucket list" of things to do before kindergarten!

Zoo train fun...

Another item checked off the list...movie date with Mommy and Daddy.
We saw Turbo :)

We caught Theo dressed up in Maryn's flower girl dress!
I'm sure he'll love this in the future!