Sunny Days Update

Haircut: 

Last Thursday, "Auntie" Shari came over to give Anna her second hair cut, but first one that actually took some substantial hair off her head. Now, it's still not a ton, but I think it's definitely noticeable and she instantly looked more gown up.

Here is her before look...nervous about the scissors. 

 The new look in the back. 

The curls used to be about half way down her back so I was nervous to cut it and lose the curls, but nope, they are still there, on the ends, and it still looks great in pig tails!  She's very proud to tell you, "Auntie Shari cut hair!"

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Weekend: 



We are just coming to the end of a fabulous weekend. The weather was wonderful so we were able to spend a lot of time outside, and we didn't have any major plans so we got to stick around home and get some things done outside. It was wonderful and productive!

Saturday morning we went to the park nearby with Anna's good friend Oliver and his parents.  We met about 10:30 and were there until almost 1:30.  We played, ate lunch, chatted and took in some beautiful weather.  Of course we both forgot to bring cameras and there were plenty of Kodak moments!  Anna was amazing on the playground.  This was really one of the first times this year we've gotten to the park and she amazed us with her mad-playground skills!  She was climbing on everything, ladders, bridges, sliding down big slides.  It was a complete transformation from last summer.  We were running to keep up with her rather than helping her up and down everything.  It was really fun to be there and her and Oliver had a great time.  They  play so great together. 

Saturday afternoon we tried to get a nap in, after all that sun, we really thought a 3 hour nap was in order, but Anna thought that 30 minutes was plenty and she was ready to go again.  So....back outside we went to do more yard work (which is our theme this summer).  We weeded some flower beds and we burned a bunch of brush and sticks that had been piling up.  We roasted marshmallows and made popcorn over the fire.  Best popcorn ever!  We can't wait to use our popcorn maker again when we go camping!  After a day of sunscreen and bug spray we headed in around 8, took a bath and Anna went quickly to sleep. 

Here are some pictures of the girly playing outside...and yes, she picks out her own clothes and shoes almost daily. 

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Project #1: 

Today we went to church and after we came home and had lunch we headed to Menards where we picked up some landscaping basics and came home to start one of our first projects in the yard for this summer.  Now, if you haven't been to our house you might not know that our yard is a nightmare.  And it has been that way for a while...but our focus on the house has always been inside...this is the year of the yard.  So, here we go.  First mini-project done. 

This was kind of our trial run project.  Neither one of us are landscaping experts or had any idea where to begin...so this is where we are...three plants and some mulch with timbers edging it.  Now, I forgot to take a before picture for those of you who may not have seen it...these plants were there before, but so were about 10 randomly planted tulip bulbs and some other bushes that I have no idea what they were and quite a few weeds.  We have some grass to plant around the edge where we pulled this little garden in from it's previous edges and maybe next year we'll add some color, but for now, we are appreciating the simplicity of it all. 

 This is my next project.  The person who lived her before us loved gardening...but didn't edge everything and we can't seem to figure out the set up.  So, we have finally reached a point where we are going to just get rid of what we don't want anymore and dump it...so if you are looking for some plants, our yard might have what you want!  We're told we have some really nice stuff. 

 And then the next project....

 So, consider those our before pictures and along with keeping updates of Anna, we'll update on our landscaping summer projects. 

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Project #2: 

I also wanted to share our other big project.  Anna's favorite project...her Big Bed!  She's so excited every day that we go through the garage and she can see more progress being made on her big girl bed.  And if you ask her, she will tell you, "Daddy makin' it." 

Here's the foot board.  

 And you can see the posts here for the headboard. 

 It's a full size bed frame for her full size mattress that she's already sleeping in on the floor. 

And one last project from Daddy....an Anna sized paddle for canoeing!  (Her's is the short one obviously...but you can see the size comparison to the ones he has already made.)



So, there you have it.  Our weekend in a nutshell.  It was a great weekend spent with our little family of three.  Anna cracks us up every step of the way.  Her latest is calling everyone "honey."  Apparently I say it too much to her, so all weekend long every sentence ended with "honey."  She is our little lovey honey and we can't wait for next weekend.  Hoping the weather is just as beautiful!