Childhood friends

The girls and I had a great time this past weekend attending a wedding shower for my childhood friend Laura Barta.  We were neighbors for many years and shared countless hours together creating memories that we reminisce about whenever we get together.  One of those memories was playing Barbies together.  The girls and I thought it would be fun to buy her a bride barbie to symbolize our years of friendship.  It was a fun afternoon and I am so excited for Laura as she enters into this next chapter of her life

Madelyn turns 5!!

Here we are as a brand new family of 5 taking our first picture.  We lived in Omaha and delivered Madelyn at Methodist Hospital around 11 am in the morning. 

Madelyn was a happy baby.  She always had these big and rosy cheeks. 

Here is the birthday girl with her "princess cake" made by her Grandma Darlene.

Madelyn received a "bitty baby" and was thrilled! She is our girly girl and loves all things pink and sparkly.

Lauren made her sister a cardboard cake for her birthday.  Lauren spent over a week working on this project. 

As if her birthday party and presents were not enough, we also took part in our annual tradition of picking pumpkins from Grandpa Paul's pumpkin patch.  We hauled home tons of pumpkins and gourds.  It was a great way to end a very special day.  We love you Madelyn. 

I posted this picture because if you had a niece that was this darn cute you would do the same :) 

Madelyn goes to Preschool!

Madelyn started her second year of Preschool this morning.  She will attend Webster Public Preschool on M-W-F mornings.  She was very excited!

Her teacher's name is Mrs. Vondracek

The check in

A quick hug and she was off to join her classmates.

First day of School 2010

Here we are enjoying our first annual "Back to School" supper.  We talked about our goals for the year and the example we wanted to set for our peers etc.  We even toasted the new year with sparkling grape juice.

Lauren heading to 3rd grade.  Her teacher will be Mrs Andrea.

Jillian is off to 1st grade.  Her teacher will be Mrs Lindgren.  This is her teachers first year of teaching.  We told Jillian how special this year will be for both her and her teacher.  I have heard a teacher never forgets their first class.  

Dad and his school girls!

Madelyn and Owen sitting at the breakfast table taking in the morning festivities!

The drop off.  

Lauren barely had time to pose for me and then she was off to see her friends.  Jillian stood close by for about 5 minutes and then found a friend. 

The life of a tree.....

Notice the beautiful Maple Tree to the far left.  We are assuming it is 20 + years old

We had a storm on Sunday night with high winds.  This crack was found the next morning.  They checked into bolting it together but said that was not an option.  So down it had to come :(

It took 20 years to grow and less then 10 minutes to cut down. 

And that is the life of a tree.

  The End.

How can it be August already?

Jillian kicked off July by loosing her two front teeth!

We spent July 4th at Will's Grandpa's Farm as we always do. 

Lauren and Jillian completed another summer of softball.  Will is their coach.

We took a family vacation to the Black Hills.  The girls said their favorite part was the guided trail ride on horses.  We also had a great time at Cascade Falls.  Other highlights included:  A cave tour, Reptile Gardens, Hill City and Storybook Island, We ended it at the FCA camp in Spearfish where we took part in the last evening of activites and then headed back to Yankton the next morning. 

In Loving Memory of

ABBY

Today we had to put to sleep our beloved dog of over 11 years.  She had been loosing weight and declining in health for the past few months.  It really progressed this past week and we had to make the difficult decison to say good bye to our watch dog, companion, floor sweeper, and lap warming friend.  If you are reading this blog then you already know how special Abby was to all of us.  The picture above was taken in May of 1999 when I brought her home for the first time.  I had wanted a house dog my entire life.  I was beyond thrilled!  I am so grateful for having had her in our home for the past 11 years and getting to share her with our kids.  I could not have scripted a better way for her to pass on.  We were with her and she did not have to suffer.

Abby was our "baby" for the first 3 years.

Abby and Lauren in 2002.  She loved the kids and was always very kind and gentle with them

The girls spending our last few minutes here at home with her. 

We love you Abby!