Basketball Game

Yesterday, when Jackson and I got home from our weekly date, Papa Bear was already home!  So, J asked him if he wanted to play basketball, and he said "sure!"

There were lots of laughs and lots of trash talk!

It was the best part of my day!

Jackson is so good at basketball...

...Daddy, not so much!

They are so cute playing together!

I love watching Jackson when he scores!

He's the best!

Way to Go, Sarah!

Sarah is an amazing journalist for her school's newspaper, and Tuesday at dinner, she told us that next year, she's going to be one of the editors!  We were so proud of her!

So yesterday while she was at school,  I baked her a celebration cake!

Baking with my Baby

On Friday, Sarah was coming home from California, and we were all so excited!  Jackson and I thought it would be nice to bake her a brownie pie!

When I asked him to go get his chair to stand on, he said, "I don't need a chair, I'm a man!"  This was the first time he hasn't sat on the counter or stood on a chair to cook with me in the kitchen, and I'm not going to lie, it made me sad.  I can't believe how big he's getting!

Trip Essentials

On Sunday evening, Sarah left to go to California with her best friend and her parents for the week.  I sent the following essentials with her:  a card for each day she's going to be gone, homemade cookies and brownies, and a new book.  We already miss her so much already!  I don't know what we're going to do when she goes away to college!

Our Weekends

On the weekends, we really like to soak up family time.

So, the weekend before last, we made homemade pizzas!

It's been far too long since we've done this, and I don't know why, because as we were making them, we were all talking about how it's one of our favorite things to do!

After Jackson finished his side of the pizza, he said, "Ta-Da!"  When I asked him to do it again for the camera, this is what I got!

Then, this weekend, we made s'mores!

It was the first time in a long time that the weather was nice, so Papa Bear lit a fire, and we enjoyed the outdoors and lots of chocolate!

Sarah's Birthday

We celebrated our baby girl on her 16th birthday last Wednesday!

I made one of her favorite dinners, per her request--cheese enchiladas, then, we had chocolate cake with 16 candles!

Then, it was time for presents!  Frank Sinatra--one of her faves.

Tickets to Hamilton.

A pair of shoes that she mentioned in passing on one of our trips to Target.

A weighted blanket.

We also had a party for sweet Sarah with her friends!

We had a fajita bar!

Chicken and pork.

Then, all the fixins!

And there was also a dessert bar!

The cutest!

A few days after her birthday, we had the family over for brunch...

...and cake!

Driving

She used to buckle up her baby dolls next to her in the backseat of Daddy's truck.  Yesterday, she drove that same truck to school.

I cannot.

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

16 years ago today, God blessed us with our baby girl, and our life was forever changed, and we are forever grateful.  It has been one of the greatest joys of my life, watching our baby grow into one of the most beautiful, amazing, intelligent, and caring people I have ever known.  

She is Jackson’s favorite,

Daddy’s little girl,

and my best friend!

We could not love her more!  And even though she’s 16 years old today, she will always be our baby girl!

Anniversary

16 years ago today, I walked down the aisle and married the boy who had my heart.  I made a promise to him and to God to always love, honor, and cherish him.  I love him more today than I did 16 years ago, and I loved him so stinkin’ much then!

I love that he’s my best friend.  I love that I knew I was going to marry him in the 9th grade.  I love that we went to prom together.  I love that we complete each others’ sentences.  I love that there’s nowhere I’d rather be than next to him—preferably on the couch.  I love that we fall asleep laughing almost every night.  I love that our daughter thinks we’re “marriage goals.”  I love that we believe in each other.  I love our inside jokes.  I love that he’s kind and generous and hilarious and thoughtful and really cute.  I love that God made him for me.  I love our precious kids and the sweet life we’ve built together.

Tie Tuesday

Today at school, if you wanted to, you could wear a tie to honor the counselor, Mr. Ball.  Well, Jackson was all in, because he's in the Chess Club with Mr. Ball and on Safety Patrol with him, so he loves him!  He told me this morning that he also had to wear khakis, because Mr. Ball always wears khakis!  He's too cute!