Front Porchin' It

We love sitting on the front porch in the early evening. This week the weather has been amazing so we've gone to the pool, taken Lily to her first church festival, grilled out, and of course...sat on the front porch!

While we can't exactly take credit for the landscaping in the front yard, it has been 3 years (hard to believe) that we've maintained it all and kept everything living! We've added some annuals and perennials to the mix as well. That's sort of a green thumb, right!? Regardless, I'll take credit. :)


All my favorites on the porch.

Yes, that is crazy out of control. We're going to replant one and give another away. It brushes the car when we pull into the driveway!

Mom, I seriously love this front porch thing!

Hey Boomer, do you want to read my book too?

She loves the Boom-diggity.

It looks like she's reading to him here.

Butterfly Exhibit!

I'm excited, but I'm not quite sure why yet!?!


We took our little Lily bug to see the Butterfly Exhibit at the Krohn Conservatory. It was one of those typical hot muggy summer days in Cincinnati, so being inside a greenhouse did not make it any cooler! She really liked looking at the butterflies and especially seeing the waterfall.

We really didn't stop to see if a butterfly would land on her because it was just too dang hot! In one of the rooms they had little cocoons and caterpillars and I couldn't help but think of the book we always read her (and almost everyone had as a child!) - The Very Hungry Caterpillar. We always talk about what she must be thinking when she sees new things for the first time. How awesome to be able to experience so many "firsts" with her.

Keeping her just out of reach..."you can look but you can't touch!"

The desert room - had to be the hottest place in Cincinnati that day.

She looks like she's ready for a Jimmy Buffett concert.

Pink cheeks = had a good time, but ready to leave! After all this heat, I'm ready for the pool.

Happy Father's Day!

Greg and I visited both of our fathers this past weekend and enjoyed spending time together for Father's Day! We are both blessed to have amazing fathers.

Without being a "copy cat" and repeating Greg's Mother's Day Post - I thought I'd just add a few of my favorite pictures of Greg with his favorite little Lily. He's such a great dad and seeing the way he is with her...he's just a natural. Lily is a very lucky little lady.

I also really liked this poem that was in the bulletin at church this past weekend. Pretty much sums it up!

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The wisdom of ages,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it...
Dad





Dad is grinning and saying, "Lily, you better get used to being on the field!" I interject with, "soccer field, Lily...soccer field."

Dad with his sweet little girl.

Oh, the places you'll go...

Getting So Big!

I had Lily sitting in one of the office chairs the other day and thought to myself, "geez...she's getting big!" She was just sitting there "talking" and playing with her little book. When I look at the pictures even now, I think her facial features are getting a little bit "older" and I'm noticing some small changes. Amazing.

It's unreal how she finds the tag on everything.

Can you check my nose please?

Happy as a clam.

She read the Complete Works of Thoreau after this one.

Almost 8 months!

Summa Summa Summa-time...

We've had a great summer so far. It's so nice having Greg home as well now - when else are we going to have a summer like this one!? While Greg is still busy coaching and doing camps (and going to Vegas and out of town conferences) we're still fitting in time for morning runs, zoo trips and especially dips in the pool since it has been so hot. Here are a few pics of our summer activities!


My friend Courtney taking pictures of Lily! I'll have to post Court's "real" pictures as well.

Uncle Trevor feeding Lily.

Grilling out with the Cole family.