Happy 12th Birthday Miss Emmy Anne!

Hard to believe my Emily is going into 7th grade and only has one more year before officially being a teenager...
She is growing up so fast.  We got her a phone for her birthday, something I struggle with, but think is a good idea as it will give me a bit more freedom when dropping her off at practices and things like that.
She continues to be a sweet, hilarious, goofy gal.  She makes me laugh almost daily.  She is artistic, and sees things that other people don't.  She gives people the benefit of the doubt, and likes to help the "under dog"...just like her mom.  :)

I am excited and scared to see what the next few years will bring, but I know things will be just fine!  She has a strong sense of right and wrong, and as long as she keeps that song in heart, I know we'll be good.

I love you, Emily.

Spring and New Life

Spring brings flowers, blooming lilacs, green leaves on the tree's, baby birds, ducks, geese...I LOVE spring!

This year, Troy decided we would take in some baby chicks, and raise them in our back yard.  They will start providing us with fresh eggs around September.  The are living in our kitchen right now, under a light, until they grow big and strong and ready to go outside in the coop Troy made himself.  He worked many, many hours on this and he did an amazing job.
We took the chicks outside for the first time a couple of days ago, and they seemed to enjoy pecking at the grass blades, the dirt, and practicing their wing flapping.  They are cute as can be, but I can't wait for them to get outside!!

Happy 34th Birthday, Danny~

Wow....
my baby brother turned 34 on May 30th.  I can hardly believe it.
I miss him so much sometimes.  I miss his phone calls.  I miss his laugh.  I miss his butt headiness!!!
I wish his place of rest, (although he isn't there) was closer so I could go and sit there sometimes.  I don't allow myself to think about it too often, but it breaks my heart that it was so important to him to have a headstone so people could go visit him there, and I rarely get the chance to do so.  I wish it was closer....  I already said that, didn't I?

We had a little celebration last weekend for his birthday at my mom's house.  We had BBQ pork pulled sandwiches, shoestring chicken salad, and ice cream.

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Danny!
Happy Birthday to you.

Happy Birthday,
Happy Birthday,
Santa Claus shaved his beard and now
the kids think he's weird,
Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday,
Happy Birthday,
Easter Bunny broke his legs,
now there's blood all over the eggs,
Happy Birthday!!

Surely you remember me singing those gems to you, right?!

I love you and miss you Danny~

Baseball is finally here!!!

Another season of baseball for Mr. Caleb has finally arrived!!  They are doing great.  He is one of the pitchers, and I must say he is pretty stinkin good...He struggles most with connecting the bat to the ball, but boy when he does??  He always makes it to at least 3rd base....OR.....as HE likes to say " run like a butterfly, sting like a bee, rounded 2nd and I'm standin on 3!!"

He's so cute. 

German Festival

Emily dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and performed two solos at the German Heritage Festival a couple of weekends ago.  She sang on stage, and did such an amazing job.  She also sang with her choir group.  This has been such a great experience for her, and we are sad its over until Fall....She is learning skills, hard work, dedication, meeting people, boosting self esteem...how great is that?!