19 August 2011

August 19, 2011

Gibson just passing the time while we work on canning tomatoes.

18 August 2011

August 18, 2011

After a trip to the library I found this.  It's no wonder we have a
 tough time hunting down library books.

17 August 2011

August 17, 2011

Gibson was over-the-moon to find a return letter in the mailbox....even before
he discovered that it held an ice cream certificate.

16 August 2011

August 16, 2011

It's a Girl! It looks like Sloane Elizabeth will be well taken care of.

15 August 2011

August 15, 2011

The old Theresa would have been devastated and kicking herself for breaking a bowl.
The new half-full Theresa was secretly grateful because it meant
she was one bowl closer to the bowls she really wants.

14 August 2011

August 14, 2011

We finally caught up with Grandpa Dale and had
a yummy breakfast while catching up on the neighborhood and Tigers baseball.

13 August 2011

August 13, 2011

It took one year to the day,
but the pictures are up, and I conquered one
more task that I had never conquered before.

12 August 2011

August 12, 2011

In a desperate attempt to start her labor, Aunt Tam invited us to play minature golf.
No labor, but we had fun.

11 August 2011

10 August 2011

August 10, 2011

The boys busied themselves today by making caterpillar food.

09 August 2011

August 9, 2011

Gibson writing his letter to Mrs. Flietstra...so sweet.

08 August 2011

August 8, 2011

Two late night homework must haves: coffee and chocolate pudding.

07 August 2011

06 August 2011

August 6, 2011

A little rain won't keep us away from our favorite parade.
*note rain water rushing by.

05 August 2011

August 5, 2011

f
 Kicking off the Coast Guard fun.
Thank you O's for one of our favorite weekends of the summer.

04 August 2011

August 4, 2011

They did it!  I am now the proud mother of two boys
who can both swim on their own!

03 August 2011

August 3, 2011

After checking our plants each and every day,
our red, ripe tomatoes are finally ready to pick.

02 August 2011

August 2, 2011

I cannot believe I left this one out last week.
Our workout group took it to new levels with paddle boarding.

01 August 2011

August 1, 2011

It's Costco day... I cannot imagine how much we will spend when the boys are teenagers.

31 July 2011

July 31, 2011

Elliott gets his turn scooter jumping.

30 July 2011

July 30, 2011

Uncle J's morning catch.
A "big mouth" bass.

29 July 2011

July 29, 2011

The boys had their first corn husking experience.
Wondering why I didn't think of it sooner?

28 July 2011

July 28, 2011

Why did it take us so long to see the Holland Street Performers?

27 July 2011

July 27, 2011

It's hard to believe that he can now swim across the pool.

26 July 2011

July 26, 2011

Swimming lesson fun.

25 July 2011

July 25, 2011


To the normal eye, this appears to be a tulip sticky note.
To Elliott, it is a police badge.

24 July 2011

July 24, 2011

Do I have to come in for dinner? I just got everything ready for scooter jumping.

23 July 2011

July 23, 2011

Not from today, but I couldn't let this picture slip away.
On this vacation I realized just how much Gibson is growing up.

22 July 2011

July 22, 2011

Still smiling after spending a week with each other during a heat wave, with little sleep, and sharing every moment of their lives together.  I think it's a sign of a great vacation.

21 July 2011

July 21, 2011

After reading over the menu and encouraging Gibson to order on his own,
Gibson did just that. He read every word all on his own, {even telling the waitress he needed another minute because he was still reading} found the one and only item I skipped
and ordered himself a healthy plate of chips and cheese.

20 July 2011

July 20, 2011

Finding respite from the heat wave of 2011.


19 July 2011

July 19, 2011

Most bittersweet {Mom of boys} lesson to date:
The heart of a boy needs room to explore and be courageous, 
and my only job is to give him freedom and let him go.

18 July 2011

17 July 2011

July 17, 2011

Give a kid some water and an upside down kayak, and the vacation fun can begin.

16 July 2011

July 16, 2011


 As things were getting a bit crazy during our vacation packing,
Gibson declared a family cuddle and thought it
it would be the perfect picture of the day.
I was just what we needed.  Thanks, Gibbers.

15 July 2011

July 15, 2011

It's that time of year...
Our California friends are back in town.


14 July 2011

July 14, 2011

The boys got an all access pass at Bumpa's passing camp,
including all you can drink water straight from the nozzles
all the big guys put their mouths on.

13 July 2011

July 13, 2011

Taking in one of the best views of Chicago.

12 July 2011

July 12, 2011

While Dad is busy working, we get to enjoy the beach.

11 July 2011

July 11, 2011

Still hanging in there after a visit to the aquarium and the planetarium.

10 July 2011

July 10, 2011

Exploring one of Chicago's many treasures.

09 July 2011

July 9, 2011

Love this picture and how it captures the true essence of a campfire...
Friends gathered around a campfire engaging in so many conversations and so much laughter.

08 July 2011

July 8, 2011

Date Night.
Peace, quiet and uninterupted conversation.

07 July 2011

July 7, 2011

After weeks of waiting, our resident robin eggs have hatched,
 reminding us all of one of our favorite books.

06 July 2011

July 6, 2011

I am a firm believer that sometimes you need to make a
huge mess before you can make a masterpiece.
Tonight, we did just that as we created our recipe binders.

05 July 2011

July 5, 2011

Who knew that kid's eyes stay dialated for 24 hours?
After our eye appointment, we now know and didn't leave the house without our sunglasses.

04 July 2011

July 4, 2011

Now that's a s'more!

03 July 2011

July 3, 2011

Does life get much better than this?
Driving a boat at the age of plain  4, with your Bumpa, on a beautiful summer night.

02 July 2011

01 July 2011

July 1, 2011

Let the shoe sorting begin.