Ta-Dah!

It's the end of a (roll up) era...

...and the beginning of a new, built in, one.

Many thanks to Uncle Chuck and Grandpa Leon for the excellent work and for helping us check one task off of our "projects to do" list.

Fathers Day 2008

Our Father's Day tradition...breakfast at the Pancake house.

Here's daddy and his girls, aren't they the cutest!

Happy 8th Birthday Emmy!

I am borrowing a cute idea from my sister ( I hope she doesn't mind) in honor of Emmy's special day...

We give you 101 Reasons we love Emmy!

***

She sings, constantly.

She makes up songs about Jesus.

She loves Jesus.

She is a caretaker.

She plays hard.

She is our "Bucket Head".

She knows how to "bust a move" and isn't afraid to do it!

She writes awesome creative stories.

She laughs out loud when she watches Nickelodeon.

She has a great memory.

She keeps her promises, and expects that you do too!

She saves her money like no one we know.

She loves to help dad cook.

She makes lists about anything and everything.

She is good at snapping her fingers really loud.

She isn't too old to cuddle.

She is a great traveler.

She loves to help others.

She loves her mom's rommegrot.

If she has a big day ahead she is the first one up, showered, dressed, and ready to go.

She is great at making cards on the computer.

She really loves her sissy.

She is crazy for chocolate milk.

She is kind to her pets.

She loves all animals.

She is very proud of her room.

She is meticulous with details.

She is brave.

She is honest.

She asks great questions.

She is not shy.

She is creative.

She wants to work at Subway for her first job.

She wants to live at home until she is 32.

She doesn't want to change her last name, even when she gets married.

She is sensitive.

She is a great student.

She likes to dress up and be fancy.

She loves getting her hair cut so she can zone out and relax.

She loves to play in the water.

She appreciates all she has been given.

She treasures her middle name because it is special to her.

She loves "Backout Steakhouse" and doesn't care that she is pronouncing it wrong.

She likes Steak and Ale better than Chuck E. Cheese.

She feeds her dad awesome romantic lines to say to mom during random moments.

She loves Spongebob Squarepants.

She sharpens pencils only to break the tip and re-sharpen them.

She is not afraid of "tooting" and says "fire in the hole" to announce it.

She wears her bike helmet without being told.

Her laugh is contagious.

She makes up original songs on the organ.

She gets sad every time she sees the ASPCA commercial with rescued animals.

She is good at trying new things.

She loves the State Fair as much as we do.

She is a good negotiator.

She is persistent.

She is determined.

She loves to read.

She loves to sneak off with the camera to make short movies of odd things.

She throws wrappers on the floor and then looks around to see if she is busted.

She smiles and picks it up when she sees that she is.

She sits in bed with her Ipod on and sings out loud.

She loves the movie "Annie" as much as her mom does.

She is a caretaker.

She is beautiful, inside and out.

She is not afraid to touch bugs or get dirty.

She is very smart.

She is a great friend.

She has one freckle on her face near the outside corner of her left eye and loves that it is an "Angel Kiss".

She isn't afraid to stand up for herself.

She is a great daughter.

She loves a good steak, medium well.

She likes to help in the garden.

She knows how to push Madison's buttons and isn't afraid to do it from time to time.

She is charming.

She loves Whirled Peace and Phish Food ice cream from Ben and Jerry's.

She isn't afraid to ask for as many samples as it takes to find the perfect flavor.

She loves having her nails painted.

She isn't afraid of being away from her parents at camp, or even another state.

She is adventurous

She collects giraffes and is very particular about how she displays them.

She has a wall mounted ATM with pass code and knows every dime that is in it, at all times.

She likes to have pancakes as much as daddy.

She would take in every stray pet if we would let her.

She already knows how many children she will have and has already chosen their names

She is very creative.

She likes to sneak "big kid" rides at the mall with Dad and then tell me about it, knowing I will be appalled.

She is polite.

She is curious and loves to explore.

She hides a stuffed frog I have in the basement because she thinks it's creepy.

She bee lines it up the basement stairs because of that frog.

She needs cold water to drink after she has ice cream, just like her mom.

She is tough, but her feelings can be hurt easily.

She can't wait to be "double digits" so she will be able to do some of the things Madison can do.

She is a leader.

She loves band aids and has a huge private stash of them.

She gives great foot messages.

She likes it when we point out the parts of her that came from mom and dad.

She is a real blessing to all of us.

She forgives, and can also ask for forgiveness.

She is our daughter, and we love her very much!

***

There are a million more reasons tucked in our heart and we are so thankful for this very special little girl!

Happy Birthday Emmy, we love you very much!

Love-

Dad, Mom, Madison, Katie, Buddy & Isabelle

14 Years of Marriage!

We remembered! It is our anniversary today!

Jon and I BOTH have a hard time keeping the wedding date straight for some reason.

We know it's the 3rd of June, but always second guess ourselves and briefly get confused and think it's the 4th.

In any case, it was June 3rd, 1994 that I became his wife and he became my husband!

The day was full of colorful events...a flat tire, a speeding ticket, Jon saving my hair from going up in flames while lighting the unity candle, jump starting the battery of a stalled limousine, battery acid on the father of the bride's suit coat, a DJ who was less than sober, a broken arm, and all sorts of family thrown all in one place.

You hear stories of brides who are full of nerves and fall apart...I honestly remember it to be a very "chill" kind of day.

Everything about it felt right, relaxed, calm.

We didn't do things in a traditional way I guess...no big fancy wedding dress or tuxedos, no army of attendants, no huge sanctuary, none of the "usual" stuff.

We didn't choose a different route because we opposed the other, our day just took shape in a different way.

Jon and I met in that church, and he flirted with me in that very chapel where we were married. He threw a snow ball down the hall outside that chapel to "impress" me, which hit and set off the fire alarm summoning the fire department, which really impressed everyone.

Everything about that spot, that day, and this person were meant for me...and what a blessing it was to celebrate that gift in the house of the One who gave him to me.

Some are tired of my singing Jon's praises, so I will say only this... he is entirely, completely, without a doubt the very best thing that has ever happened to me (in the natural of course) and I am so thankful for the 14th opportunity to remember the day that changed my last name, my path, my heart, and my life forever.

Happy Anniversary Honey!

I met Sara Groves...

...at a charity event for International Justice Mission for which Ken and Helen hosted a table to raise money and awareness.
"International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression." from the IJM website.

Their work is important and it has offered so many freedom and we encourage you to visit their site at www.ijm.org to learn more about what they are doing and how you can help.

We were moved to do so and hope that others will be too!