One of my new favorite photos of Maddi. She of course hates it, but I just love it. I don't know if it is the bathing suit or the water that brings out just how blue this little girls eyes are. It is funny because it also looks like she has all of her teeth, but we know that ain't so!!!!

Can you say slackers?????

I can honestly say that I am not as good at updating the blog as I used to be, but I think that I can blame it on the season. It is summer and all the girls are home, so we are staying pretty busy from the time that they get up until the time that they go to bed. It has been a pretty busy week for us. We have been on the ballfield Mon, Tues, Wed, and Thurs. When we haven't had something to do with softball, then we have been in the pool or doing something outside somewhere. We did make time to go to the beach with our friends on Wed and we all had a good time. That is unitl the beach started getting so packed that everyone seemed to be on top of one another, so we packed up and headed home. We had already been there for like 4 hours, so it was a good time to head out. None of the kids complained about leaving, so that made our departure a lot smoother than we had expected. This weekend we do not have a whole lot planned, so that will be a nice change. We do have marina day on Saturdy so we will be attending that, but the rest of the day will be ours to do whatever we please. Poor Mark has to be in uniform, so it will be like a work day for him, but that is how it has been all week. Busy, busy, busy! I know he is ready for a bit of a break. Anyway, we hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend!!! Below are a few photos from our beach day. Until next time...

Our weekend at Yogi

Well I am sure that you all have heard by now, but we had an absolute blast camping this past weekend at Yogi. There was plenty for the girls to do, so they were pretty happy. Friday night we had some thunder, lightening, and rain, but the worst of it went south of us. We feel sorry for those that got affected, but we were thankful that it did not hinder our weekend of camping. I think we were all thankful that we were in a camper and not a tent. Anyway, Friday night Sharon and Dwayne came by and we had hamburgers and hotdogs that we cooked over the fire and then we chatted for a while and they stayed with the girls long enough for us to run home and take care of our 4 legged babies before the storm got too intense. Maddi says that they are her Michigan grandparents, so she was thrilled that they came and saw her and was willing to stay with them without a fight. Then the weather was absolutely beautiful on Saturday and the girls spent some of the day doing some of the activities that the campground was having and then the rest of it playing in the pool. They had a blast. We cooked bbq chicken, green beans, corn and rice for dinner and ate it outside on the picnic table, without the mosquitos eating us. Then our friend Melissa came and brought Cody, Shelby, Morgan, and Austin for the girls to mess around with. We sat around the fire pit and ate junk and talked and talked until after mid-night, so we had a wonderful time with them too. We did have to have the girls at church at 8:40am this morning, so we did not give them time to complain about anything! We think that Mark enjoyed his father's day weekend camping and cooked him up some fried seafood for his dinner tonight. He is a little spoiled, but that is ok! Hope you all have a wonderful week!

All because two people fell in love...

It is hard to believe that Mark and I will be celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary tomorrow. We can look back and remember all of the good times that we shared the year before we got married, but we are so thankful for all that we have been blessed with since we said, "I do." Our lives coming together was a true blessing from the good Lord above and we have no doubt that our lives were meant to be together. I think that our marriage has been a little easier than some, but maybe it is because we are more than husband and wife! We are each others very best friends. As all of you know, it takes work for a marriage to be a good marriage, but I am so blessed to have a man in my life that is so wonderful. Mark is one of the most kind, considerate, loving, honest, and caring men that you will ever meet. I do not know what I ever did to deserve him, but I thank the Lord that he blessed my life with him. My life is wonderful because of him and the three girls that he has given me. I just hope and pray that when our girls get older and find that special someone that they are meant to be with, that he will be as good to them as their Daddy is to me. It is a true blessing to know that someone loves you unconditionally and that they are always going to be there for you. I know this post is a little sappy, but I can not help but be so thankful for all that I have in my husband. I just hope and pray that we will continue to be blessed with a wonderful life and many many more happy years together!!!

One more day...

Well I think that my husband is getting a little excited! We leave bright and early in the morning to head to the NASCAR race here in Michigan. I can honestly say that I am sure it will be an experience for us. After all, it is a first for us and we are looking forward to going and spending the day with some friends. We are praying for some decent weather and hoping that the girls will make out ok while we are gone. Maddi has Courtney, so I am sure that she will make out just fine. Mark and I never get the chance to do anything as a couple, so we are taking advantage of this opportunity and looking forward to some alone time. That in itself does not ever happen either. Thank goodness for good friends that are more than willing to spend the day with our girls so that we can go and do something together! We are thankful in more ways than they know!! Anyway, I am sure that beings it is a first for us you will more than likely be seeing some photos next week! Until then, hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Pictures from the weekend...

Just a few photos that were taken at open house at the Coast Guard station this weekend. Most of them are posted on facebook, but not all of you have facebook, so we thought that we would post a few on here too! Have a good week!!!

Summer has officially begun...

Well as most of you know, school got out here yesterday and the girls are somewhat thrilled. They will miss seeing all of their friends on a daily basis, but they are glad that they do not have to get up so early every single morning. I took a minute and posted a few photos of Leslea's awards day. I did not post photos of her with all of them, but she is definitely most proud of getting the "Perfect Attendance" award. She was so worried that she was not going to accomplish this because she was picked up 2 or 3 times just a wee bit early so that we could make it to her sister's softball game, but she was there everyday for just about all day. I think that she only missed like 10 to 15 minutes on the days that we got her early. She so deserved it. I do not think that I ever got the "Perfect Attendance" award!! Guess someone really loves school!!! Anyway, we hope that you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Waiting for school to get out...

It seems as if Friday will never get here for the girls! They are so ready to start their summer vacation. Leslea had homework last night and was sooooooo mad about it. I will be glad when I don't have to listen to her grumble about doing her homework. That child does so well in school, but absolutely hates to have homework and it is a fight to get her to finish it. She is always wanting to do anything but what she is supposed to. Anyway, I have posted a few photos from Court's awards ceremony that took place last Friday. She made the honor roll all year and finished with a 9.96 average for the year. Being a little slack in band class got her an A- and brought her 4.0 down just a bit. Oh well, you live and you learn. The girl in the photos with her is one of her very best friends Marissa. They have been friends since we moved up here and I kind of wonder how they will function this summer without seeing one another each and every day. It is nice to have such close friends and I so approve of all of the ones that both of the girls have made here in Michigan. Leslea's awards are on Friday, so I am sure that we will post photos of her at the end of the week. Until then...