Spring has sprung!

Plants and flowers are popping up everywhere in my flowerbeds! I love it! We've been working hard on the front yard, making the three beds at the road a lot larger, and adding in a rock pathway through the front flowerbed. I have to show off all our hard work:

How on EARTH?!?

Somehow, I just found my old blog! Remember this post???
Well, somehow I found it today- wish I could merge it with this blog, but I can't. Although I just had a glimpse into my life before Olivia was born! Maybe now I can read about things that happened when she was a baby and I can remember what really went down during that time (I have no recollection).
So with no further a due... I would like to re-introduce for you our first blog! (sorry, for some reason not all the photos on it are working when I look at it!)

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!!!!

Approaching Middle Age

Apparently this year is a significant year for me. I am turning 29 for the second time and it has caused me to do some reflecting on aging. On a run the other night a thought flashed through my mind "Am I becoming middle aged?". I have three kids, drive a minivan, and staying up "late" is 11pm. Do I think I am younger (and younger looking) than I really am? In my mind I still must be 22 or 23 tops.

Here is what is going on in our house right now:


Jake: "Dad, are you becoming a grandpa?"
Dan: "No, why?"
Jake: "Because your beard has white hair in it." (now, close to tears)
Dan: "No, that is just what happens when your hair gets old"
Olivia: "Well, can you water it?"
Dan: "No"
Jake: "Can you please shave the white off? I don't want it to be on there. What does it mean??"
And so goes the conversation for about 5 minutes. Jake is very concerned. I'm hearing the conversation unfold as I type this. Dan's telling the kids how his hair turns white when he has a stressful day but it can turn back to brown when his kids are very good.

Never a dull moment in our house!

Little League Fever

We have officially entered the Little League season of our lives! Jake is playing for the Phillies and is completely loving it!

A dramatic jump in to home plate (or over home plate)

Jake and Josh

On the run to first base! Here comes Jake, the power hitter!

Jake, catching....

Feeling Cheeky...

...I just couldn't resist.....

Sweet friends

Olivia is always asking for a friend to come and play. Today her friend Lucy came over! The two of them are so sweet together! Olivia already has been blessed with several sweet girlfriends from Christian homes!

I never thought this day would come....

Jake and his buddy Joshua have been friends since before they were born! Although they've played together since they were babies, I never thought the day would come where they'd play quietly and peacefully together!! The secret to this was Battleship! The two of them sat there and nicely played the game.. . at least for about 15 minutes (until one realized the other was not playing fairly!)

OR Coast Trip

We were so lucky to be able to go on a vacation to the OR coast. We stayed in a beautiful beach-side house in Oceanside. The best part was that we met up with my brother and his family. We had so much fun collecting Sand Dollars, chasing waves, exploring, playing games, and visiting.

Sam's first trip to the ocean:

Jake, replenishing the ocean.... (look closely- what a goon- Livi sure thinks he's funny!)

To get to this beach you have to walk through a little tunnel in the rocky hillside. When the tide was out one evening we went out here and collected Mussels and actually cooked them when we came back home!

Here's the tunnel:

The house on the top in the middle was where we stayed!

Sammy and me on the beach (my attempt at a self-portrait)

Walking to a lighthouse to see whales, Puffins, and seals.

Suse and Tianna on the beach

Coffee in hand and the ocean in front of me... I'm in my element!

Walking to the lighthouse with my Livi

No need to explain this- but at the same time, I can't leave this awkward photo out of the batch. RIP little seal.

Our sweet family of 5 at Cannon Beach, OR.