Welcome to our World

I felt like our son's childhood showed up in the mailbox this week.  We received his t-shirt quilt back and couldn't have been happier to finally have this project we have been planning for years complete.  As an unexpected bonus, we can snuggle up with all these memories when he's out with his friends instead of hanging out with us! Speaking of Danny, we got to have a very special lunch with the amazing woman he is named after.  There was much to celebrate with her graduation from college, upcoming kindergarten teaching job, and engagement to be married.  I will forever be grateful to her and the amazing life she brought into the world. Someone realized she hadn't hung out with her friends in the month of June other than music camp so has been making sure to spend time with friends more in July.  She enjoyed a day out with her besties, played tennis with a friend, went paddle boarding with another friend, volunteered at a farm with another, and still had time t...

The weather got toasty just in time for a softball game at the field where Natalie's team practices.   These girls proved that they can handle over 90* weather wearing all black and still win.  I didn't have the best view because after a few minutes in the hot sunshine I decided to keep to the shade but when I did try to capture Natalie at first base (she also played left, center, and second during this game) you can see how well the sun was shining.  At least the hip hop dance class she went to that morning had air conditioning. The weather was perfect for Michelle's 9am match -- her first one out of town -- but it was getting a little warm on the court by the time they ended with a tie breaker at almost 11am!  This was such a fun and neat experience!  As a bonus, there was an In-N-Out burger nearby where we got to have an early lunch (to avoid the crowds) and an outlet mall in the next parking lot over.  We got her some great things at the GAP outlet and ...

One of the highlights of every June is getting to celebrate my favorite son's birthday.  Danny has brought so much to this family simply by being himself.  We are so lucky to have him!  For his birthday Danny got to get his learner's permit after attending in person driver's ed and acing his permit test.  He's been driving the truck, which is pretty fun to watch and I keep saying it would be easier to learn on our VW like Kate but he is doing well in the larger vehicle and it's keeping him humble.  The DMV experience was great and Natalie took a note from when Danny first drove with his best friend and made sure to wear all three seatbelts on Danny's first drive.  He chose to keep driving as the main celebration and was satisfied to have Polish food for dinner and a Costco cheesecake with fresh blueberries on top for dessert.  Of course, Michelle and I did take him to the local skateboard shop and he did get outfitted with a brand new board set up, gra...