Independence Day Weekend

The 4th of July is one of our very favorite holidays. This year we just stayed at home to save our vacation days because in September we are using a ton of vacation days to go to CHINA!!!




We went to a friends house for a 4th of July party...complete with great people, great food, and a HUGE firework setup! Travis was the host of the party...he is the one in the left in the picture below.



Fireworks are a big deal at Travis' house. He has a list of all of the fireworks he bought, and then he rates each one as it is shot off. I thought it was pretty hilarious.



It was so much fun to have Travis' kids around. I love the fun spirit that kids bring to any holiday.



The only safety incident we had was that a firework tip over on it's side and just about kill all of us... or so we thought. Luckily no one was hurt. I still can't believe that firework didn't do any damage!



All in all, it was SUCH a great weekend. We had so much fun relaxing and just hanging out together. We watched movies, played games, shopped, and enjoyed each others company. It was SO hot and sticky the whole weekend. We are feeling the heat in these pictures, but always still manage to have fun even with the hot weather of Arkansas!


(Someone Stole My Camera!)




We can hardly wait until next year's celebration! -SL

Memorial Day Weekend

Shortly before Memorial Day, Aaron's Grandma Drake fell and broke her hip. We had really been wanting to go visit her once she was well enough for visitors. Memorial Day weekend was our first opportunity. Grandma Drake and her son Randall and her daughter Robin and their families all live in Mountain Home, AR. Aaron's mom and dad (Jan and Don) were able to be there as well as Aaron's Aunt and Uncle (Lynette and Clark). We were able to take Aaron's Grandma for a drive out to the cemetery so we could place flowers on her husbands grave.




It was an awesome experience. This was also the last time we were able to see Grandma Drake before she passed away on July 10, 2011 (yesterday). I don't have any pictures of Grandma Drake in this post because she stayed in the car as we were placing the flowers on the grave due to her hip injury.


Grandpa Drake's grave site: Jan and Don & Lynette and Clark


Aaron's Mom: Jan

Great Weekend! -SL

Sam's High School Graduation

In May, my brother Sam graduated from Lincoln High School! Aaron and I drove up for the weekend, and we had an awesome time.



I guess I should back up and tell you that when my family was here for Easter, my brothers (Sam & Nate) were introduced to two super cute sisters (Cailyn & Shannon) from our church here in Arkansas. They hit it off pretty well ... SO ... naturally... we decided to bring the girls with us from Arkansas to Sioux Falls, SD.


We think they had a fun time...we sure did! Right before we left for Arkansas we ended up closing the deal on buying a car that we had been looking at for awhile. We absolutely LOVE it. It's technically my car... we drove my yellow VW Bug back to South Dakota and gave it back to my parents. Aaron and I both have Hyundai cars now.

It's a pretty hott car, and I LOVE driving it! Aaron likes it too... I think he's thankful to not own a VW Bug anymore. He wasn't too fond of it...



The graduation ceremony was GREAT. It was short, sweet, and then we were out of there!




Here are a bunch of random pictures from the weekend.








We love you, Sam! And we're super proud of you! -SL

Our Little Home

When I was younger I used to dream about my first little home as a newly wed. I used to think about how I would decorate it and what kind of house I would like.

Now that I AM a newly wed and we DO have our own home... I have to say...


It's perfect...just perfect.


Don't mind the grass... It was still early spring when I took these pictures. The grass hadn't quite grown in yet...


We started our flower garden, which will be a work in progress. We are still trying to figure out just what we want and how it should look. Right now we are experimenting with a couple of different things, but I love that we have that ability to have a yard and have the freedom to do whatever we want to do!


All in all.... we love it....


And it doesn't hurt that I have the most awesome husband to go along with my perfect house!


Love you honey!- SL