In the summer we like to....

Have lots of fun!
Yes, I know I have been reserved in the posting area lately, but we are having quite the summer and have been busy.... (not a very good excuse, I know :) But, here are a few pictures for you dedicated readers...
1. Father's Day: That was awesome. I seriously have the best daddy. ever. He's our teacher, book-reader, hug-giver, encourager, cook (sometimes :), and so many other things. He leads us to Christ in the every day things, no one is perfect,  and my daddy has his days, but he is forgiven by Christ and is becoming more like him all the time. We had a good day and went to the Blue Bunny ice cream parlor with my cousins and grandparents.  
2. Erin's 8th Birthday!! Our little butterfly turned 8, and I can hardly believe it!! I love my little sisters. She had a cupcake themed party, and instead of asking for presents at her party, she asked people to give money to buy a cow for our sponsor child. God is moving in my sister in lots of ways, and I am so thankful to Him for that.
3. I went to Okoboji... That was awesome, and so kind of my friend to ask me along :)

 4. Cousins!! Our dear cousins from out of state came for a long visit and a family reunion. We had so much fun with them...Including a giggle-filled sleepover, and tea party breakfast. The boys also had a sleepover, but they opted out on the teaparty :)

 5. Goodbye Kitchen! Yep, it's gone. We gutted it down to the studs and are starting from scratch. Although it is very difficult cooking for our family with out a sink, stove, or oven, we are very excited for the finished results!

Our makeshift kitchen :)

 6. Lou Lou's 2nd Birthday!!! Our baby turned 2 on the 1st. She really isn't a baby anymore... We all love her to death and she is a constant fountain of joy!

 She absolutely loves Elmo, Abby Cadabby (Dabby Abby!), Big bird (bi bid), Ernie (enie), Bert (bet) and Cookie Monster (toootie monter) My mom bought some balloons that were elmo and she said, " Doo tit dat! Elmo boons!" (Look at that, Elmo balloons) and then later, "Oh my doodness!" (oh my goodness :)

I made an elmo cake, which she couldn't keep her fingers out of...

 7. Getting Wet: Yes, this is probably one of our favorite summer activities, pools, waterballoons, water guns, and slip'n'slides!

I hope you all are having a fantastic summer, and Happy 4th of July!
~Bugg

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to the most wonderful mommy! God has blessed me so much with such a great role model in my life. You are such a servant and even though you aren't perfect, and can have your 'days', you look to Christ as your example and strong tower. Thank for all that you do, and words could never begin to express the love I have for you. You are a cook, baker, chauffeur, laundress, seamtress, dish doer, teacher, floor scrubber, good night kiss giver, band-aid putter onner, encourager, lover, and most of all a servant of Christ that is willing to submit to whatever task he sets before you, even if it isn't the most pleasant or what you wanted to do. Thank you for pointing us to the cross, and being there to tell us that you and daddy love us, but most of all Jesus loves us. I love you sooo much and I hope that we can grow closer and closer together throughout the years!
~Bugg

Happy Birthday!!

Whooo Hoooo!! Yet another birthday here at the Hennhouse!! Happy Birthday Daddy!! You are the best dad I could ever ask for, and you are an amazing example to all those around you. You are a great teacher, mentor, singer, guitar player, tickle-giver, tucker in-er at bedtime, out loud reader, listener, talker, photographer, provider, protecter, decision maker, friend maker, cook-er, planner, get-'er done kind of person, encourager, writer, correcter, and so many other things I could sit here and write all day! You definitely have your moments, and your boiling points, but you come to see your sin quickly and apologize... =) I can't believe God let me have such a wonderful daddy, and I hope I can celebrate every birthday you have with as much fun as we celebrated your 41st!! Only 41 more years and you'll be 82!! I love you so much daddy and I'm so glad you you were born!!

I LOVE YOU DADDY!!! Post a comment to wish Buzz a Happy Birthday!!
~Bugg

Happy 1st Birthday!!

Our little Squeakers just turned one yesterday! She is growing up to be such a big girl. Wednesday night we went to the mall to eat dinner, then went birthday shopping for her at Target. It was super easy shopping for her and only took us an hour or two. Thursday we spent the day finishing unpacking, ( we spent last week with our cousins in Chicago, more on that later...) cleaning the house, making cakes, and wrapping birthday presents. It was very hot so we went down to the swimming pool and swam! Friday was the PARTY!!! Squeakers was the star of the show all day long! Aunt Susie came over in the morning a brought doughnuts! Yum! She brings us doughnuts so often that she has been officially dubbed 'The Doughnut Lady'. Thanks Susie! We had blown up a little wading pool for Squeakers and she sat in that for most of the morning. I took too many plenty of pictures, she is very photogenic. :)

                                    

 These next pictures are exactly a year ago. She has gotten soooo big in the past year, I can hardly believe it!

I just love my sister! I will post a few more pictures, if you don't mind..... In my opinion, pictures speak much better than words. :)

 We had quite a bit of family and some dear friends come to celebrate with us. Thankfully, it was a beautiful night, despite the bugs and the kids played outside most of the time! We played  freeze tag, soccer, cops and robbers, and did a skit! It was a very fun night. Squeakers had a cake all to herself, and she was very dainty with it. For the first two minutes she didn't hardly touch it! She eventually dug in and ate it though! We praise God for Squeakers every day and have no idea what our family would do without her! Post a comment to with Squeakers a Happy Birthday!!
~Bugg

Teeth, Teeth and More Teeth!!

Or lack of teeth, I guess! =) About 2 weeks ago Dash lost one of his top teeth. Just yesterday Erna was riding off of a bike ramp in our driveway, but she didn't quite enough speed to make it all the way over. She flipped over and landed on her face! Her legs and knees are all scratched up and her upper lip is scabbed and red. Poor baby! But she looks soooo cute and her other top tooth is very, very wiggly. She hasn't stopped flashing her new toothless smile and whenever you see it you can't help but smiling too.

Both of the toothless kids! Are they adorable or what?!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's day Mommy! (A 2 days late) I hope that you had a great day and I meant to post this on Sunday. You are the best, most amazing, patient(most of the time) loving, caring, thoughtful, sympathetic, smiley, happy, playful, smart, mommy ever in a million years and I love you soooooo much.  Thank you for all the work you do around the house laundry, cleaning, teaching, cooking, driving us around, doing projects with us, making our birthdays special, packing to go on trips, lesson plans...... But most importantly thank you for loving God with all your heart and leading us on the right path through his word, I have learned so much about loving God and serving others and relying on the true Savior through you. You aren't perfect or always a good role model but I still love you sooooooooo much. It is just one of those things you can't put into a word. I love you Mommy.

~Bugg~