Good Things to Come

I have loved this story since the first time I heard it. We all go thorugh times of struggle and strife, but there is hope in the future. There is hope in the gospel. There is hope in working together as a family to organize our priorities and loving each other and supporting each other.

Happy Father's Day

What better way to say 'I love you' than with a pie? I couldn't think of one.

Happy Father's Day, Drew! Words can't begin to touch on how grateful we are for everything you do for our family. You truly are our hero, inspiration, example, and everything in between!

Front Porch Living

It doesn't get much more West Virginia than front porch living. When we first moved into our house, our porch served as our only yard space for the kids to play. Now we have expanded to the (non-busy) road in front of our house and the neighbors yard across the street (she's 89 and doesn't use it for much). She has a little strip of grass before the drop off, which Lucas tumbled down last week. So, I guess it does get a little more West Virginia.

Rewind to a couple of months ago... When we first realized we were becoming a little to assimilated into local culture:

Fixing our dead car in the street. I don't have pictures, but a couple of weeks later Drew had his car up on bricks in the street. Uh!

I don't know if letting your kids play on the garage roof is West Virginia, but we've definitely witnessed parents worse than us. (Don't panic--the garage is built into the hill (very WV) so the roof levels out with the ground; ie, they couldn't have fallen far.)

And we still have two more years!

Preschool Non-graduation

Because we started Elena in preschool a year early, the other kids in her class will be moving on to Kindergarten next year and she will come back for another year of pre-school. Although we didn't go to graduation (I guess since she wasn't officially graduating, the teachers didn't think she should go through "graduation - sore spot--moving on) we did get to celebrate with all of the other kids in her class.

It has been a great year at pre-school. Mainly because I can now take Lucas in and out of the school without a tantrum everytime it is time to leave. He just plays for a minute, packs up and says goodbye. Haha. I think Elena made great strides too. She has learned so much academically but also about being a good friend and sister. She is an amazing little kid that I know I take for granted. Her big heart and sweet disposition are such a blessing to me, our family, and those around her. I hope she always knows how proud I am of her.

Huh, It's June?

The weather has already turned hot and humid, Memorial Day has come and gone, Drew has finished his first of two months in Martinsburg, school is out. It occured to me this morning that May is gone and it's June. I missed May.
I had dreaded May because I knew that Drew would be leaving for a two month rotation in a town about 3 hours from here. My goal was to pack as much into the days so that the kids would be so exhausted by the time the day was over that they would fall into their beds. Thus expediting the process that makes bedtime my least favorite time of the day. For the most part, that goal was accomplished. It also helped that Drew was able to come home on the weekends to take over the duties =).
The kids have been amazing while he is away. I have also been greatly blessed by so many wonderful friends who have been aware of our situation and extended numerous invitations that make the days go so much better!