{179}

Wisconsin River bluff.

{178}

Splash

{177}

Relax

{176}

Vacation!

{summer in a nutshell}

Whew...that went by too fast!

is anybody out there?

This past weekend, we got to visit with David & Misti and their girls for an afternoon.
David sweetly encouraged CHASTISED me for not updating the blog often anymore.
I wish I could tell you my reasons were virtuous...
...because I'm too busy volunteering all my time in my kids' classrooms...
...because I decided to go to college...
...because I've been traveling around the world, serving the needy...
Ahem.
No.
None of those things.
I have no reason! Except perhaps laziness!!
So please forgive me, and enjoy these excerpts from the past few months:

Spring decided to show up!!

Easter came and went...
Thank you Grandpa and Robin for the treats!!! The kids LOVED IT ALL!!!!
That last picture is a cookie Piper decorated to look like our babysitter, Elizabeth. hahaha!

This year, Piper's big ballet performance was the CAC School of Ballet's rendition of
"The Nutcracker", called "Clara's Magical Dream".
Piper was a peppermint.
The sweetest of all!
Yes, I am biased.

Mother's Day!
The top picture is the bag Piper decorated that held my Mother's Day present.
Notice she loves me...awww...
...but also that she is FARTING. Ahem.
On Mother's Day, we made the trek to Michigan to hunt for mushrooms.
While this was NOT my idea of the perfect Mother's Day,
(we just HAD to go THAT DAY or ALL the mushrooms would be GONE)
we all had fun and I enjoyed hiking through the woods with my little fam.

Randoms, from top to bottom:
1. Self-explanatory!
2. The last Friday of the school year.
3. Piper's class made a different recipe every Friday, then compiled them all into an adorable cookbook!
4. The first fire and s'mores night of the season.

Today is their LAST DAY of school!
We are very proud of them...they both worked hard this year.
They both made improvements.
They both learned new things.
But most importantly, we saw real spiritual growth in both of them.
THAT is a gift and blessing from above that this mama treasures in her heart forever.

'tis the season

'tis the season for...

...sipping a hot beverage while ruminating by the tree...

...going over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house...

(for Thanksgiving)

(in Wisconsin)

...for crisp breezes bringing in puffy clouds...

...for stop-and-go traffic in Chicago...

(who am I kidding?? the traffic didn't GO at all!)

(8 hour trip turned 12!)

(with 2 bored children and 2 frustrated parents)

(crammed into a Honda Civic)

(these are memories we're making, right?!?!)

...for beautiful sunsets that remind us God is always in control and always good...

...for fun rounds of boisterous games with family...

(lots of laughs!)

(precious memories I will cherish forever)

...for loving on my niece & nephew weens...

...for finding a NEW way home that was much more peaceful...

(much more scenic)

(NO Chicago!)

(turned an 8 hour drive back into an 8 hour drive instead of 12)

...for old life to rest and make way for new life...

...for cuteness...

(ok, it's always the season for cuteness!)

...and for snuggling in with your favorite people and your favorite festive entertainments.

We hope you are also enjoying this season with family and friends and loved ones!

This year we are being intentional about stopping, about savoring, about remembering.

It is for FREEDOM that God gave us his son, may we all rest in that freedom this Christmas as we remember the LOVE he has for us...the love we cannot even comprehend!

waaaay over due...

I think perhaps the only readers I have left would be my Mama and my Grammy and my Grandpa Broyles!
This poor little abandoned blog.
But even if all that's left is Mom and Grammy and Grandpa...
they are worth EVERY post
because I love them dearly!
So...Mom, Grammy, & Grandpa...
here is your waaay overdue update.

Piper had a birthday!

I can't believe our baby is five.

We celebrated with CoCo China,

and when we got home she had precious parcels from Naples awaiting her!

With a new bike and countless blessings from Grandpa & Robin,

her birthday was all a sweet little five year old could wish for!

Turning five means Kindergarten.

Kindergarten means check-ups.

THREE of them!

Eyes, teeth, and body...

all in tip-top shape.

This little Peanut is ready for learnin'!

We invited the Gerber kids to spend a WHOLE DAY with us!

Fun was had by all...big and small.

Mom took the kids for a few days.

It was HEAVEN for all of us!

Well...maybe not for Mom & Dad...

but the Baker five were extremely blessed by Kamma Kamp!

In between all the major events,

we've been soaking up our summer.

Bike rides, kisses, playgrounds.

Splash pads, swimming pools, and water slides.

Campfires including the s'mores, silly faces.

Burnt french fries to remind us of Papoo.

Mack's Mother's Day gift - two tiny shoots in a styrofoam cup

that have now grown into a beautiful marigold plant.

We hope you are also enjoying an extremely blessed summer!!!

this holiday break we...

...went over the river and through the woods

to two different grandmother's houses!

We enjoyed wonderful time with our family in Michigan.

...delivered sweet Christmas spirit.

...celebrated Jesus' birth with our amazing church family.

(Mack got to be Joseph! The kids did a "dance"...it was very difficult to get any pictures!)

...enjoyed Christmas day here at home.

With Uncle Kyle.

And Skyped-in Kamma & Papoo.

And LOTS of presents from all over the United States.

We are blessed. We are spoiled. :)

Our break has been perfectly quiet, relaxing, lazy, and even snowy.

We hope you are also enjoying this holiday season!