A Very Special Father's Day

  

We were more than happy to celebrate Father's Day yesterday.  Jordan works incredibly hard to provide for us all - both materially and spiritually.  We had a big breakfast and gave Jordan some gifts, including this hilarious t-shirt:

Then last night, we had the awesome privilege of watching Annabel get baptized. It was especially meaningful that our dear friend Troy, who has known Annabel since she was 5, was able to do the honors!

To say that we are proud of Annabel and her life choices is an understatement.  We love you girlie!

Cousins!

 

My cousin Steve, his wife Teresa and their boys Chase & Zeke came to visit earlier this week.  It was so much fun to connect with this wonderful family!  They were only here for a day, but we did get to enjoy a fun trip in the Big Horns.  After a wild drive up the mountain in a crazy thunder storm, we were thrilled to see a whole host of moose, elk and deer - including some adorable babies.

Growing up in Maine, my sister and I didn't really get a chance to know our Michigan cousins all that well.  It's been a real pleasure to reconnect with some of them all of these years later!

The visit was over far too soon, and we really hope that the Marsman clan are able to make it out this way again, perhaps for an elk hunting adventure!

Spring Break - Take Two!

We were so disappointed in late March when crummy weather kept us from driving to Washington to visit Mama & Papa.  The silver lining is that we got to visit last week - right after we all welcomed the newest addition to Colonial Cabin Farm.  Meet Calffeine, an adorable Jersey calf that the kids loved to help bottle feed.

 

 

As always, we love getting to spend time with the cousins when we are in town.  It's always an adventure with these goobers around!  

 We packed a whole lot of fun into the week.  The girls went to an antique show and shopped in Spokane while the boys hunted squirrels and did farm chores.  We had dinner with our wonderful friends the Attwoods, and Uncle Dean and Aunt Kim took the kids tubing on the lake one day.

 

It was a great week, as always.  We are so grateful for Mama & Papa, who find little ways to make each of us feel special.  We miss them already!

Spring

The year seems to be flying by!  Annabel has kept busy with her advanced studies, her job as a lifeguard at our local YMCA and learning how to drive.  Thane, as you can see, has not veered from his love of hunting and fishing.  He's been turkey and bear hunting this year.  While we have a few turkey breasts in the freezer, the bear remained elusive. Jordan has stayed busy with work, fixing up the old 4 Runner and winter camping (there's still a lot of snow in the mountains).

In mid-April, I found out that I'd be changing positions at work - and that my part time job was changing to full time for awhile. I'm still not quite sure how I feel about that!  I made a last minute, quick trip to Baltimore for some training, and I feel like I've been running a marathon ever since.

We have had some things to celebrate however.  Mother's Day brought chocolates and sympathy cards (for the loss of my freedom & sanity!)  😂

I did VERY reluctantly pause to celebrate a milestone birthday. 50.  Yikes!  The kids gave me a lobster dinner, and Jordan's folks made me a delicious blueberry pie while we were visiting.  

Jordan felt that the occasion called for more than mere candles to commemorate.  Um, I feel like my hot flashes more than cover it!