Olivia.

Olivia had a week where she didn't want to put pressure on her leg.
We brought her into the Vet & we were informed it might be a bit of lyme's disease.
She got some medication & seemed to get better in a day.
During the same time as her leg incident, she started to pee a little in the house
(which was very unlike her).
We thought it would also get better with her medication,
but after a couple weeks it didn't.
We were really sad for her & us.
She was our first 'child' & we loved her dearly.
But we couldn't care for her or help her anymore after a couple visits from the Vet.
She was not herself & we didn't want her quality of life to be how it was.
So we made the decision that it was time to put her down.
She was 12 1/2 years old.
It was a very sad day.

She loved having a Frosty Paw treat.

She loved laying on the kids blankets & pillows & being by them.

She loved basking in the sun.

She loved her zipline in the backyard.

She loved being in the woods.

The morning we decided to put her down I went on a long walk with her through our trails.

She picked her resting place.

And that's where we buried her.

The boys spent some quality time with her before Luke took her to the vet.

We all made her cards & got her cross ready for when she got home.

In the meantime, I cried & cried & couldn't stop crying.

It was sad.

Saying goodbye to our best friend.

Rest in peace Livy.

My little's.

Our two littlest ones.
Vance
&
Vivienne.
They sure are close.
He bugs her,
she puts up with him,
He helps her,
she gives him a kiss!
And the cycle plays out several times a day.
I wouldn't have it any other way.

Vance & Viv also got themselves a horse this summer.
I just had to get it, because I have fond memories of mine as a kid.

Vivienne got a snow globe for her baptism from G & G Herdina.
She would bring it around with her all over the house.
Until the day it broke.
She was sad.
We were sad for her.
Poor thing.

One nap a day is just sometimes too hard!

This girl loved Spring soccer.
She played the entire time...everytime.

Her last bottle.
My last time feeding a baby a bottle.
It was surreal.
I think I did okay with it?!

Tub time.

Because every mom just has to get pictures of their babes in the tub.

Liking her new sippy cup & helping me make cookies.

Visiting with the chicks at Runnings.

Playing outside when the weather finally got a little warmer.

Hanging out while the boys are at school.

Handy Manny in the house!

Viv playing with her babies with her pacifier she used as a tiny baby.

So sweet.

My little helper feeding his little sister.

She thoroughly enjoyed it!

At 16 months she was telling us every time she had to go to the bathroom.

We couldn't believe it.

Relaxing watching a little PBS.

Having fun at track & field day.

1st picnic at home.  Loving the great outdoors.

What a honey.

June.

June brings with it so many wonderful things.
The end of school.
Warmer weather.
All the kids home together.
No schedules.
Does is get any better?!

Brock had his kindergarten concert.
He sang & did great.

Mrs. Marholz.

She was the absolute best.

Brock was so happy that he never had to 'move his stick' the whole school year.

I think Brock had to have been her favorite!

He was such a sweet, lovable, learner in class.

Schools finally out & we're ready to have fun.

Grandpa Wayne got himself a new lawnmower.

Vance & Viv decided to try to run over the older boys as they ran aimlessly on the farm!

Grandpa was thoroughly enjoying himself!

We noticed some neighbors helping do some yardwork for another neighbor.

We decided we should join them.  

Raising our boys to be helpful young men.

Summer also means going for bike rides around the lake & through the trails.

This year our family riding consists of Vance on the tandem with dad, 

Viv in the baby seat with me,

& the two older boys on their bikes.

If Luke & I run around the lake then Vance rides him own bike.

This summer is his first year riding all the way around the lakes 

& he's doing a great job.

Grandma & Grandpa Johnson stopped over on Vance's 4th birthday.

Vance's family birthday party.

He wanted a bobcat-john deere cake & that's just what he got!

Cousins Ethan & Sawyer spent the night after Vance's party.

What a great way to kick off summer!

Picnic on the front steps.

As years go by our kids still love reading The Berestain Bears books at bedtime.

I capture these moments because I know time is flying by

& I will soon miss these nights of reading & tucking the kids in.

Both older boys decided they wanted to play tennis for community ed this summer.

Vance, Viv & I spent a lot of quality time playing tennis too!

I think we ended up being more of a distraction for all the kids, but what do you do?!

I always pack snacks, toys, & blankets for when we head out to sports.

I usually end up with all the other kids playing & sitting by us too,

but I can't blame them; we're having fun!

The kids love our inground trampoline.  

Most often, they turn it into a water play feature!

School is out, which means it's time for Music in the Park on Thursdays.

Great friends, beautiful weather, good music & supper on a beach blanket.

Hello summer!

We typically will swing by our friends house on the lake & take the deck boat to the park!

It doesn't get much better than that.

More tennis.

The kids decorated their bikes & wagon so they could be in the kiddie parade 

for Becker Freedom Days.

We circled the parking lot a few times & decided it was not really our kind of 'fun'.

So we live & learn & probably will not be participating in it again.

We thoroughly enjoy the parade,

especially when the kids get to sit by their best friends from school.

We went to the YMCA Camp Manitou Open House 

& realized they have an amazing outdoor swimming area!

I'm so excited that we have such a nice place so close to home.

We will be back for sure.

The Camp's splash pad.

Archery at the Camp.

Father's Day.

The kids made dad special cards.

And gifted dad a helmet so he can protect his brain after his concussion episode.

We took grandpa Eddie out to Granite City & a splash pad park for Father's Day.

They decided to have a sleepover in Vance's room tonight.

I loved them all upstairs again for the night!

Luke's 36th birthday bash.

Complete with a cake & his handful of kids!

Going on a ranger ride with grandma; checking out the farm.

It was also Valley Daze, so we loaded up the troops & headed to town

for supper & a tractor pull.

The tractor pull cheering crew.

Vance went first.

And he won!

3rd place trophy for that boy.

He set the bar pretty high for his brothers.

Giving it all he's got!

Like Tractor Mac always says, "heave, tug, pull"!

Later that evening we put the 2 little ones to bed at grandpa & grandma's

& went to the local drive-in to watch Finding Dory.

The boys loved the whole experience!

Erin recently made the decision to chop her hair off 

(since it was so unhealthy with all of her health issues)

so she bought a couple wigs while her hair grows out a bit.

She tested it on dad!

And we all just died! 

Tractor rides with grandma.

Summer mornings relaxing on the couch.

The little girls had a chance to play this summer too!