A Tree for Our Little Man

My husband's grandparents planted a tree for all of their grandchildren at their house and I love that idea. They have watched their children grow and watched the trees grow along with them. I wanted to  do that for our children and we planted a tree when our daughter was born (before I started blogging) and most recently when our son was born.

Picking out just the right tree was more work than actually planting it!

We all helped plant the tree once we got it home

This little girl took a break

and found a worm

This little guy mostly just supervised...and played with the yard flags

Now each of the kids have their own tree, we labeled with a personally engraved rock.

~Angela

The Stump Becomes a Table

You may recall that I found this beauty while on a trip last summer. I had plans to use it in my house but wanted to leave it as close to its natural state as possible

It has been drying out for months since it was quite water logged and I made feet for it to elevate it off the ground a few inches. I sanded it so the top was smooth and with a wire brush, removed all the sand from the crevices.

Then I stained it to enhance the color of the wood and now we use it for a coffee table.

~Angela

Michigan

On Mother's Day nine years ago, my husband proposed to me at the top of a lighthouse in Michigan. We try to make it back there every year and have been there during all the different seasons. We went back again on Mother's Day this year, as a family.

We still checked out our favorite waterfall

And went rock hunting

We checked out a few new things as well, like a couple of Little Free Libraries:

This year we even took in a concert at the historic Calumet Theatre.

Its definitely a different experience with two kids in tow than the romantic weekend getaway it was when we got engaged, but it's fun to share our special part of the world with our kids.

Jon found this awesome piece of drift wood

I have a similar photo of my husband and I sitting like this years ago...

There was a girl who wanted to bring this 16 foot stick home very, very badly. I have no idea where she gets these ideas...

the desserts at the lighthouse are AMAZING

climbing the stairs to the lighthouse tower

The view from the top of the lighthouse, in the exact spot my husband proposed.

And then this happened...our little girl finally decided she LOVED her little brother.

And then my Little Man said "Mama for the first time." Let me just note that this was his first word. My heart is happy. A perfect Mother's Day gift indeed.

~Angela