Busy, Busy!

My friend, Denise, suggested we post something about all we've been doing to prepare for Ben's arrival. Here are some pictures of all the work we've done in the backyard, buying gifts, painting signs, getting haircuts and hairdos, and making the house full of warmth and welcome for our weary, beloved traveler.

Getting *just* the right cut for my bangs was hard, and still may be a work in progress. I haven't made up my mind yet. I guess they'll do for now, though.

*gasp* look at this Grown-Up Girl with her Grown-Up Hairdo!!

Violet loves to play with hair clips and ribbons. 

We painted a sign for the front of the house, and spent hours in the back yard, repairing the damage from the racoons, sprucing up the flower beds, and putting the waterfall back into the pond. Violet is loving the weather today....though lately we've seen LOTS MORE OF THIS:

In fact, with the exception of yesterday afternoon, when we mercifully got an afternoon of sunshine just in time to wash and wax the van, we have seen nothing BUT rain for about 9 days in a row!

Of course, once the sun DOES come out to stay, we'll be spending lots of time together on THESE!!

Mommy got one, too, and Violet got a seat for the back of Daddy's.

This is Ben's special welcome home present. He's been struggling with a $20 charcoal grill from Wal-Mart for over a year, so we thought it would make a good Father's Day/Welcome Home present. It's a lovely charcoal/wood grill with a smoker attached! I can already smell the salmon grilling....yummm!!