Happiness

Happiness is a beautiful evening on the golf course with your wonderful hubby and crazy kiddos.

Happiness is another beautiful evening on the golf course playing 7-person best ball with 3 kiddos in tow...

...especially when Grandpa and Grandma are playing too...

...and even if the little sister makes a mess of the sunscreen!

Happiness is your own personal concert right at home by the most handsome musician you've ever met.

Happiness is the cute calves in the pasture staring at you as you run by (although it's not as fun when the dog decides they all need to be herded).

Happiness is a beautiful bouquet of flowers from your yard on your kitchen table,

and another beautiful bouquet of wildflowers from the meadow along your run on your kitchen window sill.

Did I mention I'm happy?

Nora turns two!

We celebrated Nora's 2nd birthday on Saturday with a popsicle party.

My attempt at a popsicle cake.

Our birthday princess blew out her own candles this year.

The kids had a blast playing on the swingset.

Opening presents on the front lawn.

One of her gifts was a slip 'n' slide, so we set it up and the kiddos had a blast.

The whole gang.

Blowing bubbles.

Wonderful Sunday

Little Miss Nora in her new birthday outfit from Ben and Jen.

Grammy and her little diva.

Out little town had a parade Sunday, and Dane insisted on wearing his Vikings uniform to go watch it.

Patiently waiting for the parade to start.

Picking up candy between parade entrants.

Grandpa drove the old Mercury.

Ben and Jen.

Swinging with Mommy.

Presents

Nora got many other birthday presents that she opened before her birthday party. She loves her kitchen from Daddy and Mommy.

A Fancy Nancy doll from the Shepherds.

Fun blocks from our old NV neighbors. Dane thinks these are great too!

A cute folding table and chairs set from Grampy and Grammy.

Just pictures

The kids are very entertained by the large rows of hay bales in the neighbor's field at the end of our driveway.  They would run up and down the bales all evening if we let them.

Much to Daddy's delight, Dane loves to play ball.

A true farm boy, Dane is content to pull up a chair and watch the neighbor bale hay in our pasture.

The beach

The kids and I made a quick trip down to the Minneapolis area Monday afternoon and Tuesday.  We got to watch Ben and Jen and some of their friends put on a wonderful musical performance for us Monday evening. Tuesday, my cousin Jenny and I took our kids to a nearby beach.  Jenny has many more wonderful pictures here.

June so far...

Dane and Grandpa enjoy a Saturday morning chat on the front porch last week.

Playing baseball after Daddy's game. Mike plays with his hometown league on the very same field he grew up playing baseball on.
Nora helps Daddy pitch to the big slugger.

Nora, ever our little princess just as the shirt says, was so excited for these pink slides on the playground in town.

Tickled pink.

After 5 years of Nevada desert and 4 years in semi-arid Idaho, the green is almost overwhelming some days! I just love the skies here!

Beautiful blooms in front of our house.

Some pictures of our deck after our recent painting. I don't know if I have a very good "before" picture, but it wasn't so pretty!

Mike and Mark shined up the old Mercury.

Then Mike and I took it out for a Sunday cruise for our anniversary. It's the same car that we drove to my senior prom and after our wedding. You can see it behind us on the wedding picture I posted last week. The kids took a short spin with us. Lots of room!

Dane had his first day of preschool T-ball last week. Daddy got him all geared up for the big occasion!

Dane's turn at bat.

All the grandkids were here to celebrate Grandpa's birthday yesterday. He will meet his newest granddaughter in October when Mark and Anna have their second daughter.
The kids played outside most of the afternoon and brought us some radishes from the garden and some beautiful wildflowers.
Aren't my niece and nephew adorable?
Nora enjoyed her caramel rolls for breakfast this morning.