Thurs. June 20, 2013 - Happy Father's Day!

 My first mountain bike ride of the season (not Chad's first of the season; despite the WI weather Chad managed to mountain bike all year long) 

 Its way too big for her but Micaela wants to ride, too!

 Vacation bible school students ready to put on a program

High fives all around

 "We are strong!"

 And guess who immediately started learning the moves

 A mama duck and her ducklings waddling through our yard

 Chad bought himself a nice Father's Day gift...11 cu yd of cedar mulch to distribute around our landscaping

Everyone had to pitch in and help

 It was hard work

 But Riley managed to mostly fill a wheelbarrow

 Time for a break

 As you can tell, the new mulch really brightens up our landscaping

 Time for presents! (Riley picked out the "Jake and the Neverland Pirates bag)

 Before preschool ended for the year they made gifts for Daddys: a bookmark made from Riley foot

 If the excitement on Chad's face doesn't look genuine, its because its not. We got him a spare hitch so Daddy can hook the chariot trailer to his bike when we go for family rides. Since our only hitch is currently on my bike, this may be a bit of a gift for me and the girls, who are thrilled to ride behind Daddy's faster bike

 But we made it up to him with some Basel Hayden

 Daddy and his girls

 After finishing spreading mulch, it was time to mow with a toddler on his back

 FINALLY relaxing by the grill with a beer

 We had a great dinner outside

 Followed by a strawberry rhubarb pie

 My little helper made her own crust and pie

 Micaela loved her piece

 I was trying to get a nice picture of the kids by our beautiful flowers but I got this instead (I love that Riley and Seamus are both giving Micaela the "What are you doing?" look)

 The girls like to pretend they are the dolls from "Its a Small World" while I sail by on a boat

 Greens and radishes all from our garden

My little monkey hanging around

FINALLY gorgeous summer weather. Its completely changed our days, for the better of course. We play outside everyday, running in the yard, blowing bubbles and drawing with sidewalk chalk. One of our favorite ways to spend our mornings is biking to a park (pulling those girls around in the chariot is quite a workout), playing, then enjoying a picnic before we bike back home. Our garden is thriving and so are we.

Riley went to vacation bible school in the mornings this week. She really enjoyed it and came home with stories every day. Chad and I both have fond memories of vacation bible school and we're glad she is creating her own.

On Friday Chad had 11 cu yd of cedar mulch delivered to our driveway. I reminded him that it was his weekend to relax, being Father's Day and all, but he wanted to get it done, so we had a very busy, physically demanding weekend. We (mostly Chad) finished spreading it through our landscaping by Sunday afternoon so we were able to enjoy dinner outside on the patio. It was great to end the weekend celebrating our wonderful Daddy. He gives us so much and all 3 of his girls love him to pieces!