Megan, Jamie & Talisa

My beautiful cousin Megan is my eldest girl cousin on my mom’s side of the family. We’re similar in that we both take after the Lowman side of the family and we tend to be bossy in the very best of ways. We have an on-going joke about how Megan (and the other cousins she bossed around (ha, ha!) formed a Cousin’s Club when we were younger. Danielle, Megan’s younger sister, and I were not invited into the club. Now that I’m grown, I’m pretty sure that Danielle and I would have been co-presidents of the club and that’s why Megan said we couldn’t be in the club.  Anyhow, Megan asked if I’d take some pictures of her with her step-daughter and her step-daughter’s partner. I love how they turned out. 

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Free Range Chicken at the Market and Anniversary Love

Before I post an onslaught of photos from months ago, I want to acknowledge that today is our 6 year wedding anniversary. I’m never very good about writing about our marriage or controversial topics (not to say that our marriage is controversial, it isn’t) on our blog. Usually when I want to be mushy or opinionated, I tend to squash it down with a bunch of words or hidden meanings.  But our marriage, and our life together, deserves quick recognition. Barry and I met when we were 21 and got married seven years later. 13 years together. I’m proud of that, mostly proud that we’re still deeply in love and committed to continue to build on what we’ve already established. (SEE! I’m not good at this. Marriage is private and we like to keep it that way….but cheers to our anniversary and loving the one you’re with.)

hb_Because April seems to be the month that got away from us this year, I’m doing a quick drop of pictures from that month that I haven’t posted yet. As you can see, we were up in A-Town and met up with our A-Town playgroup for a playdate. This batch is only from the second half of the month, because I seem to have dropped off the face of Earth after the 15th. Looking at these pictures makes me appreciate our ability to go visit family and friends on a regular basis, I know not everybody has that and I tend to forget that a 1.5 hour drive really isn’t that big of a deal. 

As I type this, April seems like eons ago. This morning, the 16th of August, we got up and went to the Farmers Market. But before the girls and I had even rubbed the sleep from our eyes, Barry ran 12 miles. 12 freakin’ miles. We were up by the time he got back home, but certainly not far from a deep slumber.  He does that sort of  thing, running, and finds such joy in it. By 9 o’clock we were all showered (not Maggie, but Audrey who jumped into the shower with Barry) and out the door to the market. It was the first time that we let Audrey roam the market like a free range chicken, and she loved it. We made the mistake of letting Mags pick out some kettle corn….all Audrey wanted to do was pound the popcorn while strolling through the market. It was funny and we’re working on saying ‘yes’ to things that aren’t a big deal. It was the first time that I really felt like we had big kids with us. Both girls walking, both having opinions. (The opinon thing has been since birth for both, but you know…)

So, April seems forever ago. And someday today, the day we went to the Farmers Market and Audrey walked like a free range chicken while eating popcorn, will feel like a century ago. And I’ll be a mixture of happy and sad. Because thinking about the day that I got married, I was so happy and I couldn’t even fathom what our future would be….that’d it be full of free range chickens and coffee (because we didn’t start drinking coffee until last year). 

Without being too mushy, I, again, want to point to today’s day on the calendar and put a massive heart on it and smooch everything it stands for. 

sisters little house swing

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S’More Fun

We have an amazing fire pit area in our backyard that hardly gets the use that it deserves. We’ve got lights strung up that turn on each night and call our name, but it usually looks most appealing right as the girls are melting and ready for bed. A couple weekends ago, we stayed home all weekend and had a late afternoon campfire and s’mores in the pit and it was a nice reminder how nice our yard is and what fun s’mores can be. I’m sure we’ll be out there again sooner rather than later…..because the ‘mallow roasters have yet to be put completely away….

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