Oh how I love that adorable face!

Faith in her car seat at the beginning of Summer. I'm so prejudice, but isn't she the cutest baby? 

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

This year we were in Columbus for the Ohio Trade show during my mom and dad's 32 wedding anniversary. We had a pizza dinner at mom and dad's and then carrot cake for dessert. It was so nice to all be together - us, mom and dad and Tab & Matt. I can't remember the last time we had a nice visit together on a lovely summer evening. After dinner the guys and Maddie played Frisbee in the back yard while Aunt Tab and Grace drew pictures with chalk on the blacktop. (As you can see, Gracie is quite the artist and loves to draw and be creative!) Here are a few pics from that night, and I'm sorry to say I didn't get any of my parents!

Eight years down...eighty more to go!

I like to post things in order and so I wanted to add this note because I missed it. Shortly before Grandpa Denning went home to the Lord, Quinn and I celebrated eight years of marriage. Wow does time fly! The Lord has been so good to us, and while everything hasn't always been roses, the blessings have far outweighed those times! Especially three little versions of us that the Lord has brought into our now expanded family of five! Quinn and I aren't perfect and we don't claim to be - we're all just sinners saved by grace, after all! But it's so wonderful to reflect on how God had grown us in our eight year marriage and how He brought us together with each other in mind to complete each other in a way nobody else can! We love the Lord and want to honor Him with our time, money, relationship with each other and parenting our children and the list goes on. By God's grace and if the Lord tarries, we will spend many more years together and I pray that our love will only grow stronger as the years pass! Quinn, you are my best friend in the whole world and a wonderful husband and awesome Daddy to our girls! The last eight years have blessed me so much, here's to at least eighty more...


P.S. - For a look back - here is a picture from our wedding day - June 13, 1998 and then one taken last summer in Oregon. (We don't really have a good recent pictures of both of us - mostly of three little blondies we happen to know!)

Grandpa Denning's Homegoing - June

Two days after Father's Day, we got an early morning call that Grandpa Denning had gone home to be with the Lord. This was not the news we were expecting to hear, but it seems he died peacefully in his sleep and that in itself is a blessing. It was just a little over four months before he died, that Grandma Denning went to be with the Lord, though under more traumatic circumstances. We were all grateful that this was different. After the funeral, we went to the graveside and the Color Guard did a 21 gun salute and played taps. It was very moving to see the flag draped over his coffin and hear taps being played. Grandpa was a World War II Vet. Have you ever heard the number amount of the WWII Vets who die every day? I can't quite remember, but it is staggering. I am so thankful for the men and women who haved served and who continue to serve our country to give me my freedom every single day. We will miss you Grandpa Denning!
The first picture is of Quinn, Al (Quinn's Dad), and Rod (Quinn's Uncle) helping to carry the casket. The second is a close-up of the casket with a big beautiful spray of flowers. The third is the most recent picture we have of Grandpa from Easter of this year.
 

You Can't Catch Me I'm the Gingerbread Man

Last night we went over to Nana Nita & Papa Al's house for dinner . Nana, the girls and I baked and decorated Gingerbread cookies. They had a great time - even rolling out the dough (hard work!) and using the cutters and transfering the cookies to the pan with a spatula - all by themselves! Then we let them ice the cookies however they wanted. These are the finished results! We even talked about the story of the Gingerbread Man (it's a tradition with Nana Heidi to read the story and make cookies) - so we had to at least talk about the story! Next are some pictures of the girls this morning - Daddy bought us doughnuts for breakfast and the girls went into their room and got all ready for the day on their own - even down to jewelry and lipgloss! Mommy helped with their hair! Lastly there's Faith - what a sweetheart, that's all there is to it!


 

Thank You Aunt Shadra!!

Aunt Sandy sent the girls some really cute shirts and coloring books for Maddie's birthday. We just got them and they had to put them on! This is just a thank you note from them! We love you! 

Happy 30th Carissa!!

One of my dearest friends, Carissa Valenta, celebrated her 30th birthday last Friday! To surprise her, I invited a few friends to meet us at Spoons, our local coffee shop. I brought balloons and a yummy cheesecake and we all had coffee, of course! She was surprised and a great time was had by all! We also played Catch Phrase (fun game) and then went to my house afterwards for more snacks and good laughs! I love this picture of her - isn't she pretty?
The next one is her surprised look (wink,wink)! (With coffee and cheesecake already in hand, I might add)
The gift - a new crockpot!
And a group game to add some fun!

 

The whole clan!

Here's a pic of all of our girlfriends who helped celebrate Carissa's Birthday at the local coffee shop!
Carissa & I - she is such a special friend and so dear to my heart. It was a joy to do something spoecial for her birthday. I love you Carissa! 

More Party Pics!

I'll just write who everybody is in order of the pictures. For some reason when I try and put a caption next to the picture, it keeps getting moved up to the first pic anyways and then they are all off! First up is Laura & Angie. Next are two very preggo Mommas - Christin (6 weeks out from birth of baby Adelyn) and Jen (3 months out from birth of baby boy Staats). Aren't they pretty? And certainly glowing! I tried to get them to take a belly to belly picture, but they didn't like that idea! Next is Carissa and Dara, followed by Erin & Michelle!














 

Erin & Ruby

I took these shots of my good friend Erin and her 6 week old daughter Ruby. They were over at the house after Carissa's Birthday party. I love the way they are looking at each other in this first one! There is nothing like a Mother's love!

 

Faith's 1st Cereal

My three look alikes!
Faith's first bite of Cereal!
I Like it Mom! 

My Baby & Me

Faith is 16 weeks old today - it's going by so fast! I love this stage (age 3 months to 10 months) - she is such a joy and so much fun. Here are some pictures Quinn took at the park yesterday. I love the expression on her face. What a sweetheart! She's definitely a Momma's girl!
 

Maddie's 3rd Birthday Party

Today we had a birthday party for Madison (her b-day is actually tomorrow). We had mostly family with a few close friends. Strawberry Shortcake was the character of her choice this year - as you can see the cake. I've made it my personal goal to make all of their cakes while they are growing up (if I am able to!). I love doing it for them and seeing their faces when they see the finished result! The party was lots of fun, even if it rained and we had to go inside early! Happy Birthday Sweetheart!



Isn't she a cutie? I can't believe she's three years old - where does the time go?
Blowing out the candles - it was so windy outside anyway! I love this shot!
Her gift from Mom & Dad - a new Dora scooter. Nana Nita provided the new pads and helmet set.