life together cookout

Many churches have small groups that meet every week and chat. I don't know what kinds of things other groups do (because this is the first group I've ever been in), but the Life Together Groups through Crosspoint -well, we simply share life together. And it's amazing. It's NOT a bible study. It's NOT formal. And it's definitely NOT stuffy. It's just life. When someone in our group is sick or has a baby, we all take turns taking them food. We share secrets that need prayers and stories that deserve laughs. We trade off kids with each other, we do a secret santa for a family in need at Christmas, and we go to concerts together in the summer. And, when the weather calls for a cookout, cornhole, and a bonfire, well - that's just what we do!

Scott grills hamburgers and hot dogs!

We hang out and catch up on what's going on in each other's lives - selling homes, having babies, work stuggles and achievements...

We run around the back yard!

Sammi and Maggie sneak up on daddy after making smores together!

And we eat a smore -- or two, or three....

We share with our sister!

We play cornhole!

We LOVE our Life Together Group!!!

...And I must say, we love our church too. Last week we all we asked to reach under our seat and pull out the envelope taped underneath. Each person was given either $5, $10, or $25, and we were told to go bless somebody with it. "Do something that will make God smile. Anything you want." (Right now we are learning about how to achieve financial success and keep our financial priorities in line - complete with famous speakers in service and trained professional counselors for families. Dave Ramsey kind of stuff.)

If you're looking for a church that provides the nicest people on the planet, the best coffee in town, and the least-judgemental "We're still figuring it all out too" kind of mentality, check out Crosspoint by clicking HERE. (They aren't paying me - I'm just passionate because I've never seen a church move the way this one does.) :)

she's sleeping. really.

Every Tuesday my parents generously watch our girls for us so that we can have a work day together. Saying they "watch" them isn't really accurate though - because they play, swing, run, laugh, fly kites, visit Panera, swim, climb, dance, do errands, create art projects, and oh, so much more! Needless to say all four of them are exhausted by the end of the day! Last Tuesday I picked the girls up, we drove the 5 minutes it takes to get home, and when we walked in the door Sammi literally walked over to the living room, collapsed on the floor, and fell asleep for an hour. In this position:


Mom and dad, thank you for wearing out our kids every Tuesday! We couldn't do it without you and the kids will have the most special memories with their grandparents that are absolutely priceless!!! We love you!

spring is here!!!

Happy Spring!!!

The weather has been perfect & we've been enjoying the upcoming spring! We've been enjoying lots of time outside playing and grilling out!

Our friends, Sarah and Josh, came in from Dayton to visit us on their spring break! Our plans were to go to the zoo but apparently 8 million others thought the zoo was the perfect place to hang out that day too, so we decided to walk around Broad Ripple and get something to eat instead!
We love you, Sarah and Josh! Thanks so much for visiting! Please come back before our zoo membership expires so we can try to go again! :)
Spring also = SPRING CLEANING TIME!!! I can't believe I'm actually going to show this photo but here it goes.... We had some recent spills so instead of just spot cleaning them, I took every shelf out, washed and disinfected them all, and cleaned out the inside walls too.
And two hours later... It feels like I got a brand new refrigerator! If I could only conquer my laundry the same way........

..And the way we know my favorite time of year is really here... SPRINKLERS!!!! Last week is was almost 90 degrees out so we set up this "Summer Ball", as Sammi calls it, and had a blast!!!! The girls laughed and splashed and ran as I swept off our patio and put out all of the patio furniture!







Welcome, Spring! Oh, how we loooooove you!!!!!

happy hoppy easter

Happy Easter!

We had a long Easter celebration with many days of Easter fun! This is a long post so I'll try to keep my rambling to a minimum! :)

Easter Day One
Surprise Easter packages arrive from Great Grandma Parker!

Lots of eggs with candy, books, and new "friends" (stuffed animals)!

Thanks, Grandma Parker!

Easter Day Two
Decorating eggs at home! First you put the coloring in the water...

Then you put the white eggs in...

Then you wait, only like a patient 3 year old can!

WOW!!! We have colored eggs!!!

Last touches - adding funny faces of course!

Tonight's new friends are tomorrow's deviled eggs...yum!

Easter Day Three
Word was the Easter Bunny was visiting Grandma & Grandpa Sherman's neighborhood - so we got dressed up to go see him and find the eggs he left behind!

The Easter Bunny really is here! Sammi was amazed and her face lit up with delight! She couldn't stop staring at him!

The Easter Bunny had already hidden 600 eggs early that morning for all of the neighborhood grandkids to find, so when it poured - and I mean POURED - down rain, we went out anyway!

We found lots of eggs and came in to get bundled up! We were SOAKED and we were FREEZING!

...but we got lots of goodies!!!

One more visit with the Bunny before heading back to Grandma & Grandpa's! Who knew he could pull eggs out of your ears!?

Back at Grandma & Grandpa's we found MORE eggs and presents hiding!

Natalie found a present here...

Then Jordie and Ashley joined us for Easter dinner! WOW!!! More Easter baskets FULL of toys and candy! These two little girls sure are LOVED by their families!

A whole loot of princess gear!

And another loot full of farm animals! (We've been working on animal sounds!)

Natalie tested out Sammi's new earrings. :-)

Easter dinner was delicious! The girls have their own special table to eat now that Natalie is old enough to sit & eat on her own.

Watching some cartoons with Uncle Jordie...

Easter Day Four
On our way to Fort Wayne we saw the most amazing rainbow I've ever seen. I grabbed my phone to snap this photo but it does it no justice - We could literally see the entire arc including the ends on both sides. It was radiant and beautiful and it made me smile thinking about the real reason we celebrate Easter!!!

We slept at Grandma & Grandpa Brands, to find that the Easter Bunny came to visit there too!!! We woke up to presents and baskets full of candy and toys!

All of the grandkids got these super cool sports chairs!

Then it was off to the extended family dinner and egg hunt! After eating a HUGE meal (how could you not with all of the many fabulous cooks and DeBrand family at these gatherings?!) Natalie fell right to sleep and missed the egg hunt. She didn't mind too much. She really needed to catch up on her sleep!

Sammi ran all over the grounds of Aunt Vi & Uncle Ed's property finding eggs, candy, toys, and stuffed animals!

Her favorite find may have been their cat, which she played with for hours!

Sammi's cousins are sooo good with both girls and they often take Sammi under their wings & make her feel welcome to tag along. It's so nice!!! They took a walk together to visit the neighbor's dog...

After the egg hunt the kids made Easter art projects!

Natalie woke up and had a late lunch with Grandma Brand since she fell asleep so early!

We always love seeing Great Grandma Brand too!!!

We are very blessed to have such wonderful families and we enjoyed seeing all of them to celebrate Easter this year!!! Thanks so much to all of our families for giving us such wonderful Easter celebrations!!! (And thanks, of course, to the Easter Bunny too!)

*love*