Wegerzyn Garden Metro Park

Wegerzyn Garden is one of my favorite places to go in the area. The landscaping is just beautiful and the girls had a blast! I have been here several times and hope to visit many more before this summer is over as well.




This was the neatest maze. It was made from only twigs and small branches. The girls really enjoyed exploring it.

Mini-meet

Brenna started gymnastics a few months ago for the first time. She is really enjoying it, and is learning a lot. They had a pirate themed mini-meet last Saturday. It was a friendly competitive event where the girls could show off what they have learned. She won 4 ribbons and everyone got a trophy. We had a really good time and I am looking forward to enrolling Natalie soon!



Natalie cheering for her sissy!

Cincinnati Zoo

I took the girls to the Cincinnati Zoo with some friends from church on Tuesday. It was like 95 degrees outside, but we had a really good time. I have started a list of things I want to visit before we leave Ohio next year and this was one of the ideas. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice the zoo was. That's a pretty shady part of town so I didn't know what to expect! I'm looking forward to a lot more fun activities this summer with the girls and hopefully Ben can join us on some of our outings as well.



Natalie absolutely loved the train! Brenna was behind us, but I couldn't get a picture before we took off!

Natalie's new skill!

Natalie has gotten really good at riding her tricycle. Her legs were too short last year, and it didn't take but a few attempts to get it right this year! She has really changed over the last few months. She is talking all the time, her hair is finally growing, and she is working on potty training. It's so hard to believe her third birthday is just around the corner!

A.W.A.N.A awards

Brenna attends an A.W.A.N.A program, (Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed) at one of our local churches. It's a lot like boy/girl scouts. They win badges as they memorize bible verses. She attends every Wednesday night during the school year, and she really looks forward to it. They had an awards night at the end of May. She finished her entire book this year so she got her first book award. We are planning for her to attend this fall as well. It's such a great program, and I'm glad she enjoys getting to learn God's word in a very fun environment!

Natalie's Big Bed

We moved Natalie into her big girl bed as soon as we got back from our vacation. I guess it's by the grace of God she never climbed out of her crib! Everyone that knows Natalie knows she was more than capable a very long time ago! She absolutely loves it and has done amazing. She hasn't even asked to get out of it once. She has gone to bed for naps and at night time without a peep! I'm sure it has got to be just so much more comfortable than a crib mattress. I know I always say I'm not a baby person, but it makes me so sad when it's my baby that's growing up. I love how much progress she has made with her speech and other areas, but I know I will long for the days when I could hold that little 7 pound baby in my arms. I love you baby girl!

10 years!!!

Ben and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary on May 19th! I just cannot believe we have been married that long. I never thought I would leave Indiana, and look what the last 10 years have brought us! We have both changed so much from when we met at 17 and 18 years old. Now that I have two daughters of my own, I can understand the look on my Dad's face when Ben proposed to me at 18 years old!

We celebrated by going to Gatlinburg TN for four days without the girls! Thanks to our parents who so graciously watched them for us. We had an amazing time enjoying lazy mornings, relaxing in the hot tub, lots of yummy food, shopping and even one night in at the chalet we rented in the mountains. Ben prepared me a very delicious Italian meal. We ate by candlelight and listened to the rain outside. We even got to watch 3 movies that same night! It was just so nice to be able to have a conservation with each other without constant interruption and do what WE wanted to do! I am so thankful for being blessed with such a determined hard-working husband, and two beautiful girls. I look forward to what the next 10 years has in store for us with them all by my side. I love you!!!

We made it!!!

We finished up our last day of home school on May 20th. This has been such a hard year, but I'm so glad we persevered and made it through. The most rewarding part of the year has to be that I taught Brenna to read. I couldn't end the year without one last art project. Her favorite subject of course! I bought puff paint and let her decorate a t-shirt however she wanted. She had the idea of making it look like she had a necklace around her neck, and then the big patch of blue is the water for her beach! She is so creative, and is really beginning to change and mature in so many ways. We have decided to send her to private school next year, which I think she will just love and really thrive. I will be sad to not have her home every day, but I am really looking forward to some one on one time with Natalie. I will always cherish the time I have with my girls while they are home, and am so thankful I can be a stay at home mom!