Buddy Bee's Mission To The Mailbox.

The sun was shining, the weather was warm, the Buddy Bee was antsy, and we both needed some fresh air so, we headed out for a walk.  Our mission was the mailbox... because sometimes the Buddy Bee wanderings need a purpose.  And every Buddy Bee misson needs an offical uniform. 

The mailbox uniform consisted of Buddy Bee's winter coat, a very cool fuzzy lion hat, and rock star glasses!

Buddy Bee rocking his lime green glasses!

I love this little face and his cuteness just melts this mother's heart.

"Let's complete our misson, Mom!" look for the Buddy Bee.

Sunglasses were required on Buddy Bee's mission to the mailbox.

We mailed our letter and thus completed our mission but,

 before we headed back up the hill we stopped by the little pond.

Buddy Bee and I loved watching the cattails move in the breeze.

Spring is coming Buddy Bee, spring is coming.

As we started up the hill I was amazed at our cabin on the hill surrounded by an amazing blue sky.

And just as amazing as the blue sky on our walk are this little boy's blue eyes.



Andrew's Birthday

It was Andrew's 28th birthday weekend and we had just come from Buddy Bee's first swim.  After an unsuccesfesful attempt at Buddy Bee's nap we headed over to Nana and Papa's house for a continued birthday celebration.

The Birthday boy and Buddy Bee enjoying some Goldfish before birthday cake.

Andrew's Lake theme birthday cake made by his mother.

Buddy Bee even got a pair of live goldfish.

Buddy Bee opted out of birthday cake and enjoyed a popsicle instead.

The birthday boy.

The end result of the popsicle...

The following day was Andrew's official birthday.

Our Sunday mornings are generally crazy so Andrew had his special birthday pancake breakfast the day before but nothing could be more special than celebrating your birthday in church, so we gathered up our Bee and headed to our amazing church.

Our Pastor asked Andrew if he was 29 AGAIN and Andrew's response was that he just now turning 28.

We had a wonderful time worshiping with our church family and after headed back home for Buddy Bee nap time.

And of course when we arrived home the first words out of my mouth were, "before Buddy Bee goes down for a nap we NEED a birthday picture"!

Andrew's birthday picture included our little Hannah.

While Buddy Bee napped I made Andrew a special birthday dessert from these beauties.

Later that afternoon Grampy came over to watch the Buddy Bee so I could take Andrew out for a special birthday dinner.

Picture taken after our dinner at Texas Roadhouse.

I would say Andrew had a fabulous birthday.  We absolutely enjoyed time as a family of 3 and Buddy Bee loved swimming! 

More on Andrew's special birthday flag later.

Buddy Bee's First Swim

It was Andrew's birthday weekend and Buddy Bee's Nana had a great idea to take our family swimming; a favorite activity of Andrew's when he was little. We dug out Buddy Bee's cloth diaper speedo, got him a new life jacket, and I got a water proof camera to document this new experience in our Buddy Bee's life.

The camera would be the worst purchase I would ever make.  I did not expect much from a disposable water proof camera but I at least expected pictures that were clear.  Instead we got photos that the photo center could not even print because of the horrible quality. 

So, tyring to salvage some of this very special moment in our son's life I turned the pictures black and white and played with the exposure.  Now, I have no idea what I am doing and do not have Photoshop but I did what I could in these dire times.  They are still really blurry but much better than the before.

So here it is, Buddy Bee's first swim!

Mommy and Buddy Bee all ready for the pool.

Buddy Bee splashing with Nana.

Kicking his feet with Daddy.

The Buddy Bee motor boat!

Learning to kick his feet.

Mommy and her little fish.

Buddy Bee with his tongue out trying to drink the pool water.

Swimming with Mommy.

Cousins Katie and Cassy even came to play in the pool with Buddy Bee.

Buddy Bee finally got the ball he was eyeing up.

Family picture at the pool.

We took Buddy Bee's life jacket off and let him swim free...

Buddy Bee loved his first swim and we can't wait to take him again.

If Buddy Bee is anything like his Daddy he will be jumping off the diving board by the time he is 3.

Andrew's Service Painting

Andrew proudly spent 2008 deployed to Afghanistan. 

I am very proud of my husband's service and very thankful he came home unharmed.

Andrew on patrol.

Andrew spent some time during his deployment in a remote village in an eastern province of Afghanistan .

His time spent in Afghanistan will always be with him and when he returned I wanted to honor his service. 

When Andrew sent me this gorgeous picture he took on a patrol I knew immediately how I would honor his deployment.

I enlisted the help of an amazing artist, Rachel Israel, to paint a surprise memorial painting for our home.

We just recently had the painting framed and it is proudly hung in our entryway. 

After Andrew's first deployment I vowed my support to his service for his country by promising to honor  each deployment by having a memorial painting created.

As the years pass we will add more service paintings to our home and in the end our family and love will be stronger for it.

Andrew is proud to serve and I am proud of his sacrifice.