My third child!

I often describe Andy as my third child. He has such a childlike way about him that draws kids to him like a magnet. He is just a really FUN person. I remember when we lived in our first house, before kids, when it was just him and I....I would be on my way home from work, thinking about us grilling out dinner together, sitting and discussing our day over a glass of wine while sitting out on the patio table. It seems like a dream now when I look back, thinking about all the "free time" we had. But in reality it rarely worked out that way.

The neighborhood kids caught on quickly that Andy was a lot of fun. He would play ball with them, jump on their trampolines with them, have them come in to play computer games, and take them sledding in the winter. I really think they thought that Andy was one of them. They would come to our house to ask if he could come out and play. I'm not joking people....this is all true. There were a lot of times when they saw his then pick-up truck driving down the street on his way home from work....the kids would come running from several yards (front yards) away to see him. Of course, I was the mean neighbor lady who would tell them, "guys, just let him come in to pee and change his clothes before he comes out." I rarely had a conversation with him until I would call him in to eat dinner. Some days I would get so frustrated, I felt like I was competing with these kids for my husbands attention.


Flash forward to today and I totally get it. He is the fun parent. I love that the kids can't wait till he gets home from work. He is the parent who will get the car shopping cart (remember my view on this issue) and then drive around the store like a crazy person. He is the parent who will let them eat dessert in the middle of dinner. He is the parent who can make a game out of anything. But most of all, he LOVES to just play with them. Now don't get me wrong, I also love to play with my kids. But you know how it is, you have to do so many things during the day, that when we do play, its a nice game of Uno or Candy Land. It isn't the rough house kinda play that dad does. It just isn't the same.

My point is...that I feel very blessed that God has given me this third child, this playmate for my kids, this wonderful Daddy for my children and this fabulous husband to me! God is so good.

Playing in the Rain!

Monday was a beautiful Memorial day. It started out a little cool and cloudy, but turned warm and sunny by the afternoon. We had a great morning at a fun little farm park for our friend Dax's 3rd birthday. Here are a few pictures from that adventure.



We spent the rest of the afternoon outside, planting flowers, playing on the play set, daddy mowed the grass and just relaxing. It was so nice just having the five of us (Charlie, too) hangin' out together. We grilled out for dinner and then the clouds started to roll in. They came in pretty fast and just as we were finishing dinner it started to rain. It was the kind of rain I remember playing in as a kid. No lighting or thunder, just warm, clean rain. The kids had a blast running along the curb barefoot, riding their big wheels in the rain, and using their buckets and umbrellas. Then the sun came back out and a beautiful rainbow topped off the day. I was reminded how great God is and for all the beautiful things he creates.

God is so good!

What could be better after playing in the rain,
than a nice warm bath.

When Dad is Away, Max will...

Play dress-up with the girls!

Maggie had a friend over the other day while Andy went for a bike ride. When he returned, this is how he found his son!




Poor Max had to get his clothes changed and go play outside with his Dig-Dig!

I think I'll keep the first pictures for his wedding video!