Happy Father's Day!

Jed made it home last night just in time for Father's Day.  He's been gone the last few weeks for military training and boy were we glad to have him home again!  It felt like a very looooooong two weeks.
Love the hair. :)

We visited my dad today too and gave him a BIG KISS.  :) 

Love you Dad!

Diggin' into that yummy caramel popcorn.

Happy Father's Day!!!!

Fifteen Years Ago Today

Fifteen years ago I decided to take a chance on this man who asked me to marry him and build a life together. 

(Engagement Pic)

Here was a man who could make me laugh when no one else could.

(Engagement Pic)

 Ours was a friendship that later grew into something more.

He was someone I felt safe with in every way.

He was my best friend.

Most importantly, I fell in love with the man inside of him.   

I knew he wasn't perfect . . . nor was I, which meant our relationship wouldn't always be perfect either. 

 BUT, I also knew he was the kind of man that would always keep striving to be the best husband and father that he could be.  I knew I would be marrying just as much of the man he would become in the future as the man I had right before me.

More importantly, this man LOVED me.  All of me.  My quirks.  My weaknesses.   Even the things I do that frustrate him to no end.  :)

The wonderful thing about marriage is that we've fallen in love with each other over and over again throughout the years.  Each time is a rebirth of our feelings and covenants that we've made to each other so long ago.  It is what has gotten us through all those rough patches that invade and sprout in every relationship.

Together we've created precious, little lives that binds us together even more in purpose and deed.

And after all these years, he still looks at me like this - 

He still loves me.  Desires me.  Wants to always be with me.  Misses me when we aren't by each other's side.

 Thank you, my dear husband, for a life that we, together, have built. 

I love you truly.

Happy 15th Wedding Anniversary, Jed! 

Baseball Season Begins

Ronin had his first baseball game of the 2012 season yesterday.  :)

It just so happens that his coaches this year are my cousin, Jeremy, and Ronin's Grandpa.  :)

Once again, Ronin is playing his most favorite position - catcher.

My dad does a really good job making sure the kids are learning proper technique and practicing them during the game while he's pitching. 

Pretty awesome for a guy whose had both knees surgically replaced - we just call him Bionic Man.

Ronin hit the ball every time he was up to bat.  He's really quite good.  :)

Going for second base.  Go, Ronin, go!!!!!

In the meantime, while Ronin's stealing bases, Rigdon's on the sideline stealing little girls' hearts. 

We don't even know this little girl, but she took one look at Rigdon and grabbed his hand, hugged him tightly, and didn't let go for half the game.  She was all smiles when telling her grandma about her new catch.   It was the funniest thing to watch all of Rigdons' facial expressions - perplexed, amused, embarrassed, flattered, and a tiny bit annoyed all at once. 

There was a point where once he realized she wasn't going to let go of him, he drooped his shoulders as if to say "I'm stuck and there's no getting out of this."  Sooo funny and cute to watch all at the same time.  :)  LOL!!!

He did get a little bit of a break near the end of the game, but he was still watching for that little girl to see where she was.  This evening I brought it up to him and said, "that little girl sure liked you."  He replied, "she sure do!  WOW!"  with a huge grin and a large exhale.  *giggle*

Going for home:

Yay!  The end.  :)

PS: Watch for pictures from Aubrey's first upcoming softball game this Thursday!

Gettin' Down and Dirty

Since Memorial Day weekend was a total wash out with all the rain, planting our garden was pushed back to this weekend instead.  Today was sunny and hot.  A great day to plant all those tiny little seeds.

Of course when I say "our" garden, it means the garden we share with my parents. 

Aubrey single handely planted 12 rows of corn by herself.  So whether they totally bomb or produce, it's all on Aubrey this year.

Rigdon was totally excited to help plant this year.  He was the first one running out the door and did a great job placing every single seed perfectly.  I was quite impressed.  Oh, and he didn't complain one bit!  A super great example for the rest of us.  ;)

Rigdon took a break from the planting to say hello to my aunts' horses.

Our little "horse whisperer."

By fall, this patch of dirt will be full of corn, tomatoes, onions, string beans, peas, cucumbers, and pumpkins.  :) 

But between now and then, there's a whole lot of weeding and caring to be done.  :)