Different Strokes

The kids took swimming lessons this summer. They each had their own private instructor and it was at a friend of a friend's house. They learned so much in only 7 sessions and really did a great job. Eden and Truman both learned to dive, back stroke, breast stroke, freestyle and butterfly.

Briar learned to jump off the diving board, hold her breath and go under water, and swim with 'big arms' (no more doggie paddling)

Briar and Lucie

Eden and Rachel


Truman and Connor

"team Marty"
The last day of lessons was "relay day" the kids had so much fun swimming their different strokes in different costumes and racing against the other teams! 

Girls' Weekend

Eden and I had a girls' weekend just the two of us! It was July 9th and 10th. We went out to dinner, stayed in a hotel in Bloomington, talked about the near future and the future-future, and laughed and played and hung out and talked some more and cried (that was actually just me)...then we had ice cream at DQ and sweet dreams in a comfy king-size bed...

Our room was on the 18th floor with a great view of the city





as you can see, Eden was pretty excited about it











The next morning I gave her a girly-girl gift and we had lunch on the patio at Cheesecake Factory and then we went to a paint-your-own-pottery place and painted for hours. I knew she would love it because she's such an artist. Then it was dinner at Chipotle (we both love Mexican food) and dessert at Culver's with a lot of talking in between...before we went back home.

Eden painted a sweet cupcake box

Yes, that's a burrito the size of my head and I may or may not have eaten the entire thing!

It was a completely dreamy time for the two of us and a special way to build our relationship and make sure we have good communication going into these next few years!  I'm so proud of Eden! She's beautiful on the inside and out and I'm so happy God gave her to me. I love being her mommy...

Independence Day 2010

Eden's 4th of July toes


I snapped a few pictures at church
After living overseas, we really appreciate actually being in the United States to celebrate this day. Although, no matter where in the world we are it is always special.


watchin' fireworks...


silly Joel

Take It to the Bank

Now that we are settled in the United States again, we decided it would be a great time to take the kids to get their own bank accounts and to start teaching them how to properly manage their money.

Briar even signed her own papers

They each got their very own ATM card and pass book to

record all of their deposits and withdrawls.