"Birth" days

Wow, what a last week it's been! About 7:00 AM last Tuesday, we got a surprise call that Tim's sister Chandra was in the hospital getting ready to deliver their baby girl - it being a surprise because little Sophie wasn't to come until September 6. But about 6:30 that night, Tim and I became an aunt and uncle again to little Sophie Anneliese. We got to the hospital about 10 minutes after Sophie was born and then were able to see both her and Chandra about 10 minutes later. Sophie is the newest baby I had ever seen and it was one of the most amazing experience I've had. She's a beautiful, healthy baby!

Uncle Timmy & big brother Ethan

The happy aunts

The proud Papa

And then this last Tuesday, August 21 I hit the upward slope to 30... I turned 26. Yeah, this birthday did hit a little harder than normal, but little did I know how special it would be. My in-laws had planned a surprise birthday party for me and had invited my parents from Ohio! We had a great cook-out (despite the rain) and lots of cake and ice cream. I'm so blessed to have wonderful parents and in-laws.

Need a little help blowing out all those candles... :)

Bring Out Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer...

You know, I really do love living near Amish Country. I realized that today as Tim and I were driving through Middlebury. Tim grew up in Middlebury, IN so he's used to buggies being just another "vehicle" on the road, buying produce from someone's front yard, and seeing "Miller", "Yoder" and of course "Bontrager" on every other maibox... but for me, it's still new enough that I feel like I'm on a site-seeing trip everytime we travel through.

Our reason for heading into Amish Country today was to take our first fishing trip of the summer (figured we'd better since it's already the middle of August!) Just one picture of many from our drive to the lake...


How many people load their boats onto a lake with a buggy and horse waiting patiently beside it? His owners were out on the lake fishing too.

The Bass Boat we use is actually my brother's - and my grandpa's before that. Nate asked Tim and I to look after and use it while he's away in the Marine Corps. Of course, you didn't need to ask Tim twice!

People who know me probably find it hard to believe that I love to fish. I owe that love to my Grandpa who taught all us grandkids to fish from a very young age. So yes... I can cut worms, bait a hook, cast and reel, hook a fish (hopefully) and take it off the hook. My goal yet is to learn to filet and cook them like Grandma did.

Although Tim and my day didn't produce any fish this time - just a nice sunburn, we still had a blast on a hot summer day. Time well spent in Amish Country...

Family Love

Just another weekend of summer fun...

.... a slumber party with our nieces Taylor and Kaitlyn while mommy and daddy had fun in the sun in California! Lots of story reading, chalk drawing and hide 'n seek!

... a cook-out with Kendra and Mom and Dad Stahl in Ohio.

... and a Sunday afternoon with our nephew Ethan (who will be a big brother in September!)