My Favorite

A couple of years ago I went to funeral of a very important and influential man. I didn't know this gentlemen very well, if at all. He was influential to me because of my wife and the people who spoke at his service.

You see, at the service of this man his children (all girls) all stood to speak about their father. Almost every daughter started off their speech with "I was my dad's/his favorite..."

I loved watching all these people celebrate the love that this man showed them and others everyday. I loved how they all felt like they were his favorite. I have no doubt that it is true that they indeed were this his favorite for one reason or another.

This past Sunday I realized something: Madilyn Hope and Abigail Grace are my favorites. Each for her own reasons, but my favorites none the less. It all started the other night when we were watching the Oscars and Madi started dancing to the music that was playing in between the winners and speeches. It was so cute... I am blessed and these girls (and "the one in the oven") will always know that they are my favorites!!!! These are the photos that I could get... Enjoy the photos and

Random Abbyness

So lately we have been having some random conversations with Abby and it has been very funny!
We thought it would be funny to share them with you.


While at the park and telling Abby that I needed to put the dogs in the van in order to help her with ride her bike.

Me: "So who do you think should wait in the van? You, Me, Mom, Madi or the Dogs?" Abby: "Maybe the dogs could stand with you and Madi could sit in her car seat"


Rebecca helping Abby with bike riding

A couple of days ago Rebecca (my wife) and Abby had this conversation...

Abby: (very serious look on her face) "Umm, Mom I have a question for you... When we get madi her own dog where is it going to sleep?"
My Wife: "Abby we can't get a dog for Madi, it is too expensive and our house isn't big enough for three dogs."
Abby: (turning to Madilyn) Well, Madi looks like you can't get a dog... it would be too expensive and our house isn't big enough... Sorry"


This is Coco Abby's Dog...




Some people just wanna re-live their childhood.

Thanks for stopping by and please feel free to leave any comments...
~Justin

Race for the Roses...

This past Saturday was one of my favorite sporting events of the calendar year. It was the Kentucky Derby (in case you were under a rock). I love the fact that it is so quickly over ("The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports") and thrilling throughout. I recently discovered my youngest daughter's obsession with it (really she loves the horses).

We knew that Abby loved horse racing... I remember when Abby was 1 and watched her first race and I can't really remember her getting this excited.

Every time a horse would come on the screen Madi would scream (something loud and unintelligible) and clap her hands... Abby flipped through pictures online of all the races for about 30 minutes telling my wife (Rebecca) which ones were her favorites. I believe she picked out about 5 or 6 different horses....of course when the race was actually over she was jumping up and down clapping "That was the EXACT one i wanted to win!!" haha

Since the race is also called "The Run for the Roses" and we got our first blooms of the year, I thought it would be good to post some pictures of the roses... Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the photos.


~ Justin

Cherry Bloosom Festival

This past Saturday I got up at 5:00am to go to Washington, DC every year in DC is the Cherry Blossom Festival. The Cherry Blossom trees that was sent to DC as a gift and they are truly beautiful but very fragile. If the sun comes out early in DC then they bloom early. Any harsh cold weather or lots of rain and the pedals will all fall off. So I was extremely fortunate to have gone this past weekend because the weather has been beautiful and they are thriving...

I wanted to make to DC in order to get some sunrise shots, however I learned that the Metro (DC Subway) doesn't run until 7am on the weekends. Well, I was bound and determined that if I was getting up that early I was gonna see the sunrise. So I drove to DC... If you haven't driven in DC before it can be a little difficult because not many of the roads are east and west or north and south. DC is more like a big circle. However I made it... Here are some of the shots that I was able to get... Hope you enjoy them!So after about 2 hours and the sun went behind the clouds. I started to realize that my family was going to met me in DC around 12noon or 1pm... That was still 3 more hours away... I was thinking that maybe I would just drive home and let them enjoy the festival without me... I am really glad that I toughed it out and waited for them. My family (& Sister-in-law Sarah) met up with me at the WWII memorial and we had an awesome day... Besides if I had gone home I would not have gotten these pictures....

Well, we hung there until around 4 or so... Which made for a extremely LONG day... But I am really happy with the family time and the photography time that I was able to get in... And it made for great a workout because I think I walked about 5 miles or more... The Moral of the story is if God gives you some time to spend with your family and enjoy sight seeing at the same time DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED!

Here is a link to enjoy some of the photos that I have posted.
My Cherry Blossom Festival Photos

Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave comments...
~Justin

4 years later and God still amazes me

4 years ago this past Monday my life turned completely around. My wife gave birth to a wonderful little girl Abigail Grace!!!! Well, she turned 4 years old on Monday and I think she's going on 24... This little girl has a way of either saying or doing something every day that just simply amazes me. I very often find myself just shaking my head in wonder.
God truly blessed me and my wife with 2 wonderful little girls. I love when they greet me at the door. (Which usually is Abby running in the living room screaming "DADDY" and Madi pointing and smiling) I love hearing them giggle and laugh. I love our play time upstairs. I love that they both hit the stair hang over (Notre Dame Fighting Irish Style).
photo taking from the internet.
I love sitting and watching "Wonder Pets, Dinosaur Train", and whatever else. Our only problem right now is getting the girls to share and play with each other nicely. There is 3 years separating them and they don't like to share. If Abby is playing with something then Madi wants it. (But usually it's not an age approporiate toy) and vise versa. So Rebecca and I are taking any suggestions that the masses might have out there. Thanks for reading and please enjoy the photos!

~ Justin

TAKING A NAP...

So here are some cute photos that Rebecca took... I love em! I just thought I would share with you all! Now I feel like taking a nap!!!!! Thanks for Reading

~Justin

SAHD!!!

S is for - Sniff, Sniff... "Daddy, Abby's sick"

A is for - Am I crazy to think that I can do this???

H is for - How in world does my wife do this every day????

D is for- "Dinosaurs, Daddy will play Dinosaurs (for about 2 minutes then Abby gets bored) or "Daddy, I want want Mom to come home"

So, today I am trying to be Mr. Mom. I was able to work 40 hours in 4 days in order for Rebecca to work a little bit. I am sure that she needed the little bit Independence and freedom. I think next time I am going to have some sorta check list.. First Abby wakes up and watches some "shows" while that is happening feed Madilyn. Second, burp Madilyn and get ready for the ten million questions of why? or are you burping Madi?" Third, now that Madilyn is sleeping again, get ready to play with Playdoh, and dinosaurs until Abby is bored with that and wants to move on. Fourth find Abby some medicine. Fifteenth (I lost count) make Abby some lunch (and pray that Madi stays sleeping) and finally put Abby down for a nap (and pray Madi stays sleeping.I am just glad for the last 15 minutes when both children are sleeping and I can clean the house and prepare for round 2...

Enjoy the pictures!!! Thanks for Reading

~ Justin
Ps. I have greater respect for all the SAHM out there (Stay at home moms)