41 years

my parents.

they've been together a long time.

41 years today.

and that's just counting the years they've been married.

the picture below is from when they were dating

in high school.

before they got married.

my dad looks so proud

to be beside her.

not much has changed.

he's still so proud to call her his wife.

there have been lots of good times.

i know there have been trials, too.

what marriage isn't full of them?

but, they've come so far

and accomplished so much together.

so much more than they would have ever accomplished

going it alone.

i am so thankful for God's faithfulness to them

and their faithfulness to one another.

he just keeps on giving and multiplying through them.

"...all because two people fell in love."

happy anniversary, mama and daddy.

love you.

remembering the 4th

i love the 4th.
or any holiday, for that matter.
i love a reason to celebrate.

was it just me, or did you find yourself belting out,
"ohhh, say can you seeee..."
throughout the day?
no one could do it better than Whitney.

we basically spent the day
enjoying our freedom.
to do nothing.
it was nice.

we live in the quaintest little neighborhood
and have some of the sweetest neighbors.
they let us tag along
to watch the fireworks...

the ever-so-spunky miss selah.

miss addison. so adorable.

yeah, dawson seems to thinks so, too.

oh my goodness.

time to bring out the sparklers.

(thanks, jeremy.)

stacie and selah.

hope your 4th was a blast.

build and grow

i recently made a discovery.

did you know that lowe's has a program

called "build and grow"?

complete with everything you need.

adorable mini apron.

(for the most adorable little dude.)

mini hammer.

and the whole mini packet of supplies.

just the right size for little hands.

anselmo got to help, too.

dawson couldn't wait to put the wheels on.

wow. look at that.

are you sure we didn't miss anything, daddy?

now for the stickers.

and don't forget our favorite characters:

alex, melman, marty & gloria.

no, daddy, they go inside the van.

like this.

we even got a patch.

it was all free.

yep.

hard to believe.

i know.

so thankful for these opportunities.

free.

but priceless.

i'll take that any day.

a taste of blueberries

the only reason I would tolerate summer any longer

is because of these.

oh. yes.

bring on the blueberries.

i can't believe i didn't like these as a kid.

so glad dawson hasn't followed my example.

my aunt cynthia grows them.

oh my goodness. seriously.

 so yummy.

and she shares them.

that's what makes them the best.

i tried to get dawson to open his hand.

to show me his blueberries.

this is as far as i got in coaxing him.

clutching those things for dear life.

"dawson, don't eat too many. slow down. that's enough."

 pretty hard to convince him.

he's a sneaky one.

and i don't blame him.

how can you not just want to shove these in by the handful?

thanks, cynthia.

for everything.

the love.

the conversation.

the blueberries.

a father's day gift

anselmo loves this game.

me, not so much.

i'm not very strategic.

i'm sure i could learn.

yeah, um, maybe if i had started at dawson's age.

my little man just wants to put the pieces back in their place.

perfect fit.

 now. here's a game more on my level.

oh my goodness.

i just love watching his little mind

at work. 

he's got a lot to figure out.

but, i'm sure with such a wonderful daddy,

he'll be just fine.

love you, babe.

can't wait for our next one to meet you

and be loved by you.