A little paint...

...a driveway....and 3 year old with complete freedom equals this

4th of July

We started a little tradition on the Kellen side of the family...not on purpose. But, it happens naturally when your mom and dad live on a lake. My brothers and their families and Dave and I and the kids, head to Lake Okoboji to my parent's for
4th of July festivities every year. This year was especially fun for Dave and I because our kids are old enough to jump off the dock and tube by themselves (instead of us being in the water with them or following 2 inches behind them as they navigate the dock). Layla has been trying to ski by herself, but just can't quite seem to get up. However, she had a smile on her face the whole time she was trying! Thank you Uncle Ben for tirelessly working with each child in the water as they tried over and over and over again! The most monumental moment of the weekend was when cousin Sam got up on the skis and skied his little heart out! He is the first cousin to accomplish this! It was a wonderful, wonderful weekend! It was a reminder of the awesome brothers I have. They have married amazing women and have brought terrific kids into this world!

JAM!

I grew up with homemade strawberry freezer jam. Once you get used to it, there's no going back to Smuckers! Luckily, I married a man whose mom made the same thing and she has continued to gift us with such yumminess since. This year, I decided to put on my big girl apron and learn how to do it myself. I cleaned 6 quarts of berries, Layla sliced and mashed them and mom did the measuring and mixing. We made a great team! Now, if only I hadn't left it all in mom's freezer!

Go, See, Do

I love summer! I love traveling, going, seeing and doing. Lucky for me, I have a husband who likes to do the same and kids who have learned to keep up. We've been able to maintain the "no organized activity rule" in our house again this summer (I'm fully aware this may be that summer I get away with it) so we've been able to travel, go, see and do. This week, we're enjoying Okoboji with my mom. The lake is COLD, but I still swam with Layla yesterday, The things a mom will do for her kids! I figured I could always get warm again and I did...eventually! Layla thinks she would like to snorkel, but I don't know that I want her seeing what lies under the surface of a lake, I'm not sure she would ever swim in it again.

Happy Father's Day

The night we taught Layla to ride her bike, it was really Dave that got her going. He put her on the bike and away they went. He diligently ran behind her and steadied her when he needed to. She caught on fast so I thought I'd give Dave a break and step in and help. I couldn't do it. I didn't know how long to hang on to her and when to let her go. He did. He knew when she was ready, he knew what she needed to hear and he wouldn't let her give up. She knew her Daddy believed in her. He's that kind of a Dad. He knows every detail of their care, thoughts, emotions and personalities. I think that says a lot for any man, but especially one that has to travel for his job. He never lets his absences be an excuse for not being aware and connected.

He is an amazing dad!

In the Blink of an Eye.....

...Layla graduated from Kinderprep, learned to read, learned to ride her bike without training wheels and we took a week vacation in Branson with friends. We planted our pumpkins, finished the building project in the barn, are 60% done with the new playground and 3/4 of the way through our house painting project.....and that is just the last 3 weeks. It sounds like a lot and at times it has felt like a lot. But, God is good!

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

We use the pond for fishing, but have yet to do anything with it...until last week. Dave brought home a canoe and the kids thought it was awesome!