Family portraits

The last time we had photos taken of our family, Daniel had just turned two. I remember he would not sit still and would not stay in front of the camera. We managed to get a few good ones, but it was hard work! This photo session was completely different. Daniel posed perfectly, smiled every time, and pretty much hammed it up! Our photographer was quite impressed with him. Here they are...

Weekend Away

We were very excited to get away for a few days this past weekend! Brian is super busy at work during this time of year, so every moment he has with us is precious. On Friday morning, we headed to Wichita. Our first stop was at WSU where Brian's mom works. She had no idea we were coming, and it was so much fun to surprise her...especially since it was her birthday weekend!

Next, we headed to the Wichita zoo where we met Brian's dad. It seems like the weather is typically about 110 degrees when we visit that zoo, so it was refreshing to have cool weather instead. However, you can tell by our stocking hats and jackets that it was a little cooler than we had hoped for mid-May.

Daniel with his back to a real gorilla.

And cozying up with the bronze gorilla.

Three generations

Daniel at my favorite exhibit, the river otters.
He was running alongside them as they swam,
and it appeared they were playing with him!

On the way out of the zoo, we spotted these baby ducklings. They were so cute and came right up to us. Brian actually grabbed one of them (this would not surprise anyone who knows my husband), and the mother duck had a fit! He quickly released it and all was well again!

That night we spent the night in a hotel and went swimming. It was so much fun to swim together, and it reminded me of swimming in hotel pools with my family when I was young. Good times! And the hot tub...bliss!

The next day, we met Melissia, Sara, and Kevin at Exploration Place. None of us had been there before, and it was a really neat experience. We started by attending a workshop for little explorers. Daniel learned some neat things about magnets!

Brian is "flying" a plane.

Learning about water flow with Uncle Kevin.

Coming down the steps of the castle.

After Exploration Place, we ate some yummy Mexican food, and then went to Melissia's to see her garden and open her birthday gifts!

Feeding the coy

Sara sharing her sucker with Dennis, the cockateil

We had a wonderful time, and we are already plotting our next vacation. Maybe the Oklahoma Aquarium?

Happy Mother's Day!

I love Mother's Day! I am incredibly grateful for the mothers and grandmothers in my life, and I love that this day gives us a chance to celebrate them. And I love, love, love being a mother. It is the accomplishment in my life that has taken the most work and has reaped the biggest rewards. Thank you, Lord, for making me a mother!

I am so thankful for my own mother. She prays for me, delights in me, laughs with me, and cries with me. She is the perfect mom for me. And she is stinkin' hilarious too! I love you, Mom!

I am so thankful for my mother-in-law. First of all, she raised my husband, so that is definitely praiseworthy. And more than that, she is caring, thoughtful, and always willing to help. Whoever said mothers-in-laws are hard to get along with has never met mine. We love her very much!

Did I mention that both these ladies are excellent grandmas too? Just ask Daniel...his grandmas are two of his favorite people in the world.

Spring has sprung

Halleluiah, winter is over! This past winter seemed interminable and particularly harsh to me. I am so thankful to see tulips blooming and to enjoy the fresh air outdoors. As I write this, I can hear a dove cooing outside the window, which reminds me of Song of Solomon 2:11-12... "For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land."

I have badly neglected this blog of late, but have high hopes to do better in the coming months. It seems all my time on the computer these days is spent preparing Sunday school or Puggles lessons. With AWANA ending for the summer, I should have a little extra time to record happenings around here.

Here are some photos from the month of April. Happy spring to all!

Daniel and Brian preparing to do some yard work.
Real men obviously wear bandanas!

Daniel with one of his best friends, Caleb.
Look at that neat tree house Daddy built for him!

Here Daniel is preparing for the Easter egg hunt at the library.
The little boy in the black jacket is Robert, another one of Daniel's best friends.

At FBLA Easter egg hunt

The two photos above were taken at the Easter carnival at our church. The kids decorated cookies, hunted eggs, got tattoos, did the ring toss, fished for prizes, etc.

Hunting eggs at home. Aunt Sara filled all the eggs with goodies and Daddy hid them. Daniel is showing off his great problem solving skills to get an egg hidden in the tree. He got it!

While Brian's mom and sister were visiting, we went out to observe my family burn a pasture. It was quite educational, even for a supposed farm girl like me.

Daniel reading his new Easter books with Grammy!

We missed getting a family photo in our Sunday Easter outfits, but we at least snapped these before church. Hope everyone had a blessed Easter!

Do cowboys cook?

Yesterday, Daniel was dressed in full cowboy attire--hat, boots, chaps, and vest. He was acting very tough and talking in an unnaturally deep voice. He had paused at his play kitchen to make some food. Suddenly he turned to me and asked in his little boy voice, "Mommy, do cowboys cook?" I said, "Of course they do! Everyone has to eat." He resumed his play until the next question, "Mommy, do cowboys eat oranges?" And later, "Do cowboys drink milk?" He wants to get the part right!

Daniel turns 3

We had a wonderful time celebrating Daniel's birthday this weekend. Daniel had been excitedly anticipating the big day for over a month. On the morning of his party, he awoke before 6 a.m. and went full tilt the entire day. Oh my!

At the age of three, Daniel has many, many interests. When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, he said either a fireman or a cowboy. He loves pretend play, loves dressing up in costume, and loves reenacting stories with his toys. Of course, he is a big fan of John Deere farm equipment and anything else farm related. He also enjoys "making food" for everyone with his set of play food and new kitchen!

Daniel loves books with his current favorite being "What Do People Do All Day?" by Richard Scarry. He often sits down and looks at books by himself for long periods of time.

When asked his favorite food, he said, "Black olives." He is probably right! His other favorites are pizza (with black olives) and Subway sandwiches (with black olives). I see a pattern here! Oh, and he inherited his mama's sweet tooth too. Everyday I field multiple requests for jelly beans, orange candy, and marshmallows!

For his birthday party this year, we settled on a Thomas the train theme (after much debate between that and fire engines). I baked the cake and my mom decorated it. Thanks, Mom!
Here are some more party pics!