Dinner For Ten

Some anniversaries call for a weekend away, a dinner for two out on the town, a change of pace...

And some anniversaries just beg to soak up the ordinary.

One of the greatest gifts that our 14 years of marriage has brought is our five amazing children.

This anniversary was spent at home, in the loud joy of our full, little farmhouse. 

After our daily lessons were complete the kids helped me set up the sun room for a romantic dinner for ten. Every other Tuesday our friend Sabrina comes for dinner. Her husband is deployed and it's been such a treat for our family to have her and her kids become a part of our family. I didn't tell her it was our anniversary because I knew if she knew, she wouldn't come over. But the Cowboy and I LOVE opening our home and it just might have been one of my favorite anniversaries. 

After the kids were in bed the Cowboy asked me in the dark of our room if I had a good day. I was grinning from ear to ear when I told him that I loved the lights above the table, the kids that filled the benches, the spaghetti that filled their tummies, the salad that was grown in our own garden, him sitting next to me. He started laughing. "It's the little things that make you glow, huh?"

And it's true I suppose...

{The Spunky Girl loves to tuck in her shirt... It always makes me think of my Mom. She always wanted me to tuck in my shirt, but I was never interested. My mom would have loved my Spunky Girl. Not because of her tucked in shirt, but because she's spunky and she's fun and she's lovely and she lives loved. :)}

{Loving my days with these five truly amazing gifts... Solo just wants to walk everywhere!}

At the farm table the Charmer informed us all that he was unable to eat his dinner because he was full from the grass he had eaten earlier that day. He had said he just thought it would taste good. It made me laugh.

The girls helped me write qualities we loved about their Papa on paper signs that we hung up in the sun room for decoration.

My Spunky Girl cared for her little brother while I chopped the lettuce for the salad. 

My Siah prayed for the meal and thanked the Lord for his Papa and Mama and their 14 years of marriage. As he prayed I thanked the Lord too, for my boys and my girls, and my man. 

Sometimes the ordinary days are anything but ordinary. 

One happy happy day in the farmhouse.

A Card from the Cowboy... He often gives me cards that make me smile.

Recess W/ The Farmhouse Sisterhood

Today is the Cowboy and my 14th Anniversary. 

He held me long in the kitchen before leaving for work.. I love when he holds me long. :)

Its been a sweet day with the kids at the one-room-school-house. 

The girls asked if I could put the soundtrack from Isabelle on during Recess.

I said sure.

Two minutes later they came downstairs all fancy and stuff.

They turned the music up loud and I captured the two of them with my lens. 

I love the joy of the farmhouse sisterhood...

{I love taking pictures but I don't understand lighting. I LOVE the lighting in these pictures. I wish I knew how and why the lighting was like this in these pictures. I've been working at understanding my camera for the past 6 years. The learning is slow, but fun. And capturing moments, real moments, of my treasures and our life here in this place makes my heart smile. :)}

Its our 14th wedding anniversary.

I love living life with my man... real, messy, stunningly beautiful life. :)

Just Fun

{The Charmer was sad because his sweet sister, who had already given him two big handfuls, was done sharing her cotton candy. Poor Charmer. :)}

The day started with some nice intense fellowship between the Cowboy and I. 

I'm supposed to put my keys on the key hook every time I walk in the door so that the next time we have somewhere to go I know where the keys are. 

The idea of it sounds fabulous. 

The practicality of it just might be what puts me in my grave. 

Needless to say, on Saturday morning I couldn't find my keys. Friends were coming at 8 and I_couldn't_find_my_keys. I hate that feeling when you get a pit in your stomach over your own carelessness. 

The whole crew searched every nook and cranny of the farmhouse.

{There are a million bonuses to having a big family.}

Eventually we found the keys.

I told the Cowboy I was sorry.

He winked at me... and told me that it would be great if I could just remember to put the keys on the hook.

I told him I'd try my best.

We loaded the van with all the snacks and backpacks and treasures and friends, and from then on, things just got good.

{My two sillies... always...always... doing silly poses and making silly faces.}

{I LOVE little El's hair!}

{Solomon taking his first steps!!!!}

 {The youngest couple ever to appear on Dancing With The Stars! :)}

You know those days that are hardly extravagant but they're just sweet and they feel joyful and refreshing? 

Saturday was one of those days. 

The drive was beautiful.

We found a fun hike.

The kids ran through the forest. 

We ate ice cream by the river. 

We had dinner in Fort Collins. 

The Dancing Girl played Silent Night on the piano in the town square. 

The kids jumped off of statues and did cartwheels and dangled their feet in the fountain. 

The baby took his first steps and the Cowboy and I cheered and laughed like happy fools as strangers looked on. 

It was just fun...