Maple syrup time!

We tapped 3 trees in our backyard for syrup. Did you know that you can not only tap maple trees but you can tap other trees for their syrup? We tap 2 boxelder and 1 maple and combine the sap. The syrup comes out with a wonderful taste, a hint less sweet than pure maple but

very delish! It's really fun to see the process and it is very exciting to go out and find the buckets have lots of sap in them.

We got a new van to replace the one that we have on lease. The lease is due and we wouldn't have a family vehicle- but now we do! A beautiful, red, jazzy, roomy mini-van with a few

cool bells and whistles too! It has the dvd player, backup camera, and a remote starter. Isn't that fun! We love it and can't wait to spend more time in it on a road trip sometime soon.

Emily is growing and learning, just as she should! She copies so many things we do and sounds we make now. She loves to dance and clap and have a good time! She has the "fun" gene as Jeff puts it. She brings a lot of joy and laughter to our already fun-loving family. Jeff and I are so very thankful for all three of our children. They are such a blessing to us!

And my husband too, well, he's the BEST! Boy, he blesses me every day it seems!

I couldn't have asked for better.

And I included a picture of Shadow. He's about 3 years old and he is sooo lazy! He lays by the

dog's water dish and leans over to take a drink. He doesn't even stand up to do it! He's adorable but very, very lazy. :)