The brook

One of the coolest things about our new property is the brook that runs through the backyard. With the summer-like temperatures of last weekend, the kids were able to really start enjoying it. After changing into their bathing suits each day, they didn't change back to clothes. They would play around in the yard, get hot, and then get back in the brook again. Jack says, "I don't ever want to get used to this or take this for granted." We are so grateful for this spot, this "Place on Earth", for our kids to grow up.





Jack has been taking afternoon runs. Cooling off in the brook after a sweaty run is just what he wants to do. His return from a run has been at about the same as time when Lauren wakes up from her nap. The girls are then ecstatic to head down to the brook with Daddy.




And after being in the brook, the kids like to wrap up in their towels and sit on our new porch swing. I've waiting a long time for a porch, not to mention a porch swing, and we are thoroughly enjoying these luxuries.

Corban's big day

(May has been a busy month! I've added a bunch of new posts this evening. One more thing to check off the "To-do before baby" list...)

My handsome boy on the occasion of his First Communion. What a special day for all of us.


Our family celebrates with Corban


We hosted a party at our house for Corban after Mass. His godmother made a beautiful (and delicious!) cake to add to the festivities.


The first low country boil at our new house

What girls do

These recent posts are a little bit out of order, but if you look at them all together, you get the idea.

Part of the great fun of being a flower girl is having the chance to get nails and hair done, right! Annie thoroughly enjoyed these parts of the festivities. And I, at age 35, got my first manicure.


Pink nail polish, of course


What a treat to enjoy these times, not only with my mom, my sister and my sister-in-law, but also with my daughter!


Hair!


All ready to get dressed for the wedding!

Micah and Allison

My sister's wedding was a wonderful celebration. Our family is so grateful that God has brought Micah into Alli's life. It was a joy to celebrate the beginning of their new life together with them and with many members of our extended family.

Annie was the VERY proud flower girl


Daddy with his two girls. There were a few times during the day when both Jack and I were a little bit teary-eyed thinking about the day when our little girls will get married. sniff sniff


The happy couple


Alli and my two handsome boys. Jack was in charge of all of the kids in between the wedding and the reception. When they all showed up for the reception, neither Jack nor the boys were wearing their ties. Oh well...


My nephew Thomas. What a fun boy. He never stopped running all.weekend.long.


It's really fun to see how our kids get along so well and have so much fun with my cousins' kids. I have so many great memories of growing up with my cousins. Now, even though we don't get together with my cousins very often, our kids have the opportunity to create great memories with their kids. Jakin had a blast with Andrew.


Annie, Keira and Lucinda danced and danced and danced. It was so sweet to see how well the three of them got along together.


No nap and an evening reception meant that Lauren spent most of her time sleeping on Daddy's shoulder.

36 weeks

These pictures are from a few weeks ago. Now my due date is eminent and we are waiting and hoping for our little guy to make his entrance into the world any day.

In our bridesmaid dresses at my sister's wedding - my sister-in-law Lisa is 25 weeks pregnant.


With my Corban at Grammy and Grandpa's house

Ohio friends

Traveling from Massachusetts to Kentucky is a very long trip, but the drive gave us the opportunity to visit with friends whom we haven't seen in years. Unfortunately, I didn't do a great job of taking pictures at all of the stops. Pictures or no, we had a sweet time of reconnecting with friends from college. And at every stop, our kids made new friends and had a great time with the kids of our friends. Here are the few pictures I did take...

With friends from Ashland, Charly and Christina in their home in Cincinnati


Our crew with three of C and C's four kids


Kerrie is my best friend from college. I hadn't seen her in 8 years! Our time together was too short, but I'm grateful for the even the little bit we did have.

10

Jack and I are the parents of A 10-YEAR OLD! How can that be?

We celebrated Jakin's big day in Ohio with family and then in again in Kentucky when my family gathered for the wedding.

Thank you, Grandma!






Grammy gets thank you hugs, too.


Our boys

Cousins

In May we spent a few days at Grammy and Grandpa's house en route to my sister's wedding in Kentucky. During our time there, we celebrated Jakin's 10th birthday, Mother's Day, and lots of fun time with cousins, Ethan and Emma.




Grammy's girls




Enjoying a day at the Akron Zoo

What boys do

With the first signs of warm weather, the boys were out with their dad's old BB gun shooting at cans in the woods. Good fun for boys.

5

Going way back.... Annie's 5th birthday. We celebrated with "tea" at our good friends' house during the day, and gifts, cake, and family time in the evening.


Truly a girl with two older brothers. A leotard and soccer socks can be worn simultaneously.


Preparing the flower cupcakes for her flower garden birthday party


One thing I've discovered in planning birthday parties for girls and boys. For boys, they must run and be outside - perfect for our late spring, early summer birthday boys. Girls do crafts - also perfect for our winter/early spring birthday girls. Each of Annie's friends had a wooden flower to paint and take home.


Time to eat those yummy cupcakes!