Happy 10th Birthday Kate!

Hard to believe our first-born turned double digits today!! Where have the years gone?!

Happy 10th Birthday, Kate!

You are such a fun-loving, enthusiastic, energetic, and beautiful girl both inside and out. We are so proud of all you have accomplished the past 10 years and can't wait to see what life has to offer you in the years ahead. May you always follow your dreams and live a life full of love and happiness. Thank you for blessing our family each day!

We LOVE You!!!

Our Community Garden

This year our church started a Community Garden giving families the opportunity to grow fresh produce while teaching their children how to garden. All members are allowed to partake in the fruits of our labor...only have to pay $10 a year and work 1 hour a month. Any food that is unclaimed when ready to harvest, is given to a local food shuttle.

We went a couple of weeks ago to put in our hour of work. The girls thoroughly enjoyed trimming tomato plants, picking strawberries, debugging plants, weeding, and planting pumpkins. We have already enjoyed 2 types of lettuce, spinach, herbs, and strawberries!

We're looking forward to more produce in the weeks ahead!

Weeding around the broccoli plants

Trimming tomato plants and debugging

Preparing the soil for planting

Planting pumpkins!

I Can See Clearly...

It looks as though Kate has inherited her mother's eyes as opposed to being blessed with her Dad's 20/20 vision. Last week after a thorough eye exam, it was confirmed that Kate is nearsighted and would need glasses. She was thrilled! How times have changed since I was her age.

After trying on several frames, we selected the ones below (Mom's first choice). She absolutely loves them and the world has once again become clear!

Happy 7th Birthday, Lauren!

I realize this post is VERY, VERY, VERY late! (As my loving brother pointed out in one of his previous posts.) So better late than never...

Happy 7th Birthday

to our kind, loving, sweet,

energetic, zebra-crazed, and beautiful daughter.

Your smile and laughter brightens our day

and your lovable personality touches the lives

of those you meet.

We wish you only the best life has to offer

in the year ahead!

We LOVE You, Lauren!

Mom, Dad, Kate and Kasey

Happy 9th Birthday, Kate!

Happy 9th Birthday

to our fun-loving, enthusiastic, friendly,

thoughtful, jump roping, beautiful daughter!

We are so proud of the wonderful person you are

and look forward to all you will accomplish

and experience in the year ahead.

May all of your dreams come true!

We Love You!

Mom, Dad, Lauren and Kasey

(Sorry for the late post...it was a weekend of parties! More pictures to follow!)

Cake Decorating

A week and a half ago we celebrated Biz's (Mom-Mom's) Birthday. I was in charge of fixing dinner and baking the cake. I made a chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting (from scratch!!!). The girls asked if they could have the task of decorating the completed cake.

Here's what their efforts produced! Very colorful and artistic!

The Finished Product

Happy Birthday, Mom-Mom!

Everywhere Fun Fair

The first weekend in August, our entire family participated in Vacation Bible School (VBS) at our church. This year's theme was Everywhere Fun Fair! The theme focused on 5 different countries (Japan, Zimbabwe, United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan) and how we're all neighbors.

I was on the committee that helped organize the event plus volunteered as a Crew Leader the entire weekend. The girls were participants while Mark helped with one of the stations.

Kate invited 4 of her friends from school and Lauren invited one friend. The activities throughout the weekend included Bible stories, crafts, science experiments, food, music, and a Midway with games and popcorn!!

Although exhausted after 3 days, we all had a ton of FUN!!!!

Kate's Crew

Lauren and Dad at the Midway