Father's Day

What would make the perfect father's day? Fishing...steak...boating...cigars...big breakfast...and your kids. Well, we did it! We were so lucky to get the chance to spend Father's Day weekend with some of our best friends, at their lake house. And I mean good friends all around. Sara and I have taught together for several years and see or talk to each other just abut every day. Tony and Dustin have their own picnic table business together. Ellie and Tanner were practically born on the same day, and today, started playing "married". And Garrett and Matthew get to tag along with the big kids, trailing behind them, in awe of everything they do. It was a weekend full of boating, fishing, grilling, playing, and hanging out!

Could this picture not go in the "perfect father's day" hall of fame photos?


I see this picture and can't help but think the "Three Stooges", umm, I mean, the "Three Amigo's"


The two youngest ones, hands in the live minnows, and loving every second of it. Matthew reeled in his line at one point that had been baited with a live minnow, and apparently forgot that that little fish started out on his hook, and was SO excited to have "caught" a fish. He made us save it in the bucket of ice right along with his Daddy's fish. So sweet.


Enjoying what she kept calling the "beautiful, beautiful morning". (ahem...it was 6am)

Again, the Three Stooges. Matthew needs a little conversation bubble here saying, "hey guys, let me in too!"


Dirt. Sweat. Sand. Chocolate doughnut. Fish slime. Happy boy.
Cleaner. Cute. Enjoying the atmosphere.

Happy Father's Day, Tony! And thanks, Pierces, for a great weekend!

Life Lessons

Ellie's new love/obsession is writing letters. She has been using up all of my stationary but I suppose there are worse habits for a four year old to have. Just about all of her letters say, "Mommy please come to Ellie's tea party." We've have a LOT of tea parties and a LOT of invitations. The other day I was encouraging her to branch out in her writing, telling her that she can sound out just about anything she wants to write. This morning she took a leap and wrote a letter to her meddling brother....


For those of you who aren't elementary teachers, and may need a little help translating, it says, "Matthew can you stop touching my drum". Not only am I proud of her for such great writing, and I am also proud of her for taking an approach other than yelling at him. She is learning that the pen is mightier than the sword!

And here is Matthew, busy with his newest obsession...MESS. Well, really, Playdough. This boy can play Playdough for a long time. And make a BIG mess.


Notice Piglet under the table, hoping that some of that mess is food, and that some of it will fall off the table soon.