Father's Day

We had a very nice, laid back Father's Day! I am so thankful for loving men in my life! I am definitely the woman I am today because of the love of my father and husband! God has also blessed my girls with an amazing father and grandfathers!

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

Three generations!

Of course, since it was Father's Day, Daddy wanted to take his girls fishing!

They never get sick of fishing!

Claire reeling in her catch!

Father & son fishing alone with their Barbie fishing poles! So funny!

Night Out

Ben & I had a nice evening out with friends last weekend! We don't get to do that very often, so it was definitely a treat to eat dinner and chat withput any interruptions from little girls!

Ben and his best friend, Philip!

Philip & Leah

Me with two of my high school friends, Leah & Deanna. We were all on the swim team together many, many years ago!

Vacation Bible School

We had VBS at our church last week and Claire participated and I helped out. Anna also tagged along and enjoyed it as much as Claire! The theme was 'High Seas Expedition' and we all had a great time learning that God's word is true, comforting, surprising, life-changing and for EVERYONE! Let's GO! The set was amazing as well as the performers! The kids and adults were all entertained and more importantly, the truth of God's love and salvation was presented clearly every night!

Both of my girls were enthralled with the music and motions! I was shocked at how quickly they learned the words and movements. We bought the CD and they ask to listen to it all the time!

The "Cabin Girls" were the highlight! The girls loved watching them dance and sing!

Fountain Fun

We love going to The Greene, an outdoor shopping mall, and playing in the fountains! We live just a couple minutes away so we go often! Many times we get slushies, have lunch there, and maybe even get a little bit of shopping in! We didn't plan on going to the fountains this day so the girls didn't have their suits, but they didn't mind getting their clothes wet!

Connor, Lauren & Jillian went with us! We are so happy to have them back in Ohio!

FUN times!

Cuties!

I am loving this time with my girls! They are at such fun ages!

LOVE THEM!!

Big Girl Bed

Guess who's a big girl??? Miss Anna is in a big girl bed now and doing great! She doesn't get out of her bed and calls for me in the morning when she's awake! It was a little bittersweet knowing we may never need a crib again, but thankful for our big, healthy girls and a smooth transition!

It just seems like yesterday I was putting my newborn in her crib. Look at her now!

Our Chipmunk

To make a long story short... we found a baby chipmunk in our backyard that was clearly sick or injured. I put him down his hole, but within a couple hours he was back on patio and seemed even slower and sicker at this point. Being the crazy animal lover that I am, I couldn't just let him die in the pouring rain so we decided to go get help for the sweet baby!C'mon now... have you seen anything cuter? Really, be honest? He was one of the cutest things I have ever laid my hands on and so very sweet! Ben & I had been watching him for the last couple weeks in our backyard so we grew quite attached to the little guy.

The girls were beyond fascinated with the little creature. They were truly worried about him.

I love that my girls learned a valuable lesson about taking care of innocent animals in need. I think it's a wonderful thing to teach your children. What a better way than this hands on experience!

Bruckner Nature Center

We made the 40 minute trip to the Brukner Nature Center to drop off the baby chipmunk to the wildlife rehab center for treatment. I am sad to report that our sweet chipmunk didn't make it through the night. We were all so sad and Claire even shed a few tears, but I wouldn't give up that great life lesson for anything!

Since we were already there we decided to take a tour of the nature center and look at some of the animals they have there! It is such a wonderful facility that truly helps wild animals in need!

The girls outside the wildlife rehab center. Claire is holding the chipmunk in a shoebox!

The girls walking into the nature center! So sweet!

We got there right as they were beginning a talk on the red-tailed hawk. It was very interesting and educational!

Touching the feathers of a hawk!

Anna in front of a rehabilitated red-tailed hawk that has been a resident of Bruckner for almost 20 years. She broke her wing and is no longer able to fly. What a beautiful ambassador!

Anna touching a turtle!

This was a WILD squirrel! The girls enjoyed watching his crazy antics!

A very neat nature table. Grammy started a nature table with the girls at her house a while back and has some pretty cool things as well!

Tarzan & Jane (or two Janes, I guess!).

A very loud bull frog! So much to see in God's amazing creation!

Strawberry Pickin'

The girls, Grammy and I went strawberry picking a couple weeks ago, right at the end of the picking season. We still got some yummy strawberries and had fun being outside on a pretty day! We also purchased some delicious treats at the market!

They are such good little strawberry pickers!

Claire was so proud of all her good pickings!

Anna was proud, too!

Anna ate quite a few of the strawberries out in the feild!

Mmmmm!

MORE Fishing

Sorry... MORE fishing pics! The girls ask all the time to go fishing! We've created fishing monsters! They have NO problem touching and holding the slimy creatures! Ben is not raising sissy girls, that is for sure!

She loves this!