Good bye to a friend...

It's taken me a while to really be ready to post this on our blog..but it needs to be done.

On June 9th we lost our dear friend, Benson.  I don't want to get into the details on here, but he went comfortably with Nick and I holding him close to us.

Nick and I got Benson together when we first became serious.  He was the sweetest little pup, full of energy and love. When Nick moved to Texas to take a job and I stayed in Arkansas awaiting our wedding, Nick brought Benson with him.  Nick said he couldn't have made it in a new place so far from home without such a loyal friend with him. 

I remember being told when I was pregnant with Blake that we would never look at our dog the same after we had a child...and while there is truth to that it make me laugh remembering just an hour after Blake was born Nick looking at me and saying "I still love Bubba." 

He was here to welcome each of our sweet babies home.

It's true he had started to change as he got older, we dubbed him "the grumpy old man" but he had earned it putting up with this crazy family for over a decade.  I will remember him as our sweet, happy, energetic (and yes barking) dog that was so loyal to us.  My one regret (not knowing he would get sick so suddenly) was not making him a juicy hamburger and letting him have the whole thing just for himself. 

To to pay proper tribute, enjoy some of the pictures documenting our
11 1/2 years with Benson "Bubba" Barker.

Picture Update

Lindsay Blake 3 1/2 Years

Kathryn Bailey 14 months

It is God's gift to us that these two blessings are ours...and I thank HIM daily for his GRACE that covers each and every one of our days, be they easy or be they hard. He is truely more than I could ever ask for.

PS. I have no idea why blogger is uploading my pictures just fine then they look all grainy...

For Nick

Nick doesn't get enough blog attention, so I thought I'd throw this in for him.
His new (used) toy. Isn't she pretty (when ridden slowly, with a helmet on, on a non-busy street).

Around the...Yard

Having two little ones we spend TONS of time outside. We take a walk or bike ride almost every day. The girls love being outside and I love that we all get a little sun and exercise.


Blake is old enough this year to be "in charge" (and trust me she likes to remind us) of watering the plants. The reality that these red flowers are still alive is a testament to her diligence :) Flowers and plants usually have a short, hard life if I am in charge of watering them.

Filling her watering jug.

So proud...

Have I mentioned on my blog that we have an A+, Number One, PERFECT neighbor? (Like, replacing my garbage disposal before Nick could even get home to look at it/ fixing our fence when it blew down a few years ago, amazing.) He is a generous and caring soul, honestly. I love him like he was part of our family. His name is Vern, he lost his sweet wife, Carolyn, last year and is Blake and Kate's honorary Texas Grandpa. Here are a few pictures from his yard (that we frequently take over.) If we ever do move my greatest sadness will be leaving Vern. We often joke that we will have to find two houses for sale next to each other so we can take him with us.

So there you have it, a look around our front yard...maybe next time we'll do the back yard!

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