~ How To Have a Country Wedding

Find the perfect spot...

Make sure there's an awesome barn...

and a tractor (of course).

Surround yourself with people you love...

and people that love you.

Find ways to make it meaningful.

The bride's two grandpas had passed away, but their belongings hidden behind a tree made the day special for the bride.

The couple's chuppa had belonged to the bride's grandmother who passed away.

Keep it simple...

No unity candle here - just salt and sugar!

Old fashioned fans for the guests

Add a touch of whimsy...

Do what country folk do -

Have a campfire!
Roast a pig!

Keep it family friendly.

Remember every detail...

Savor every moment...

and linger long after the sun goes down.

All photos were taken at the wedding of a friend's daughter. It was held at the amazing Cedar Hill Barn in Markesan, Wisconsin on a perfect August afternoon.

~ Baseball, Hotdogs, Apple Pie & Chevrolet

Oh well, three out of four ain't bad!

Today, we're wavin' our flags and celebrating the all-American way because Ellison and Aidan are officially American citizens, finally!

When their citizenship certificates arrived in the mail, we knew we had to celebrate. And since today's their birthday, we decided to make a day of it!

So we headed to the city for some traditional American cuisine at the Dogg House.

And then we spent the day at a friend's lake cottage.

After a full day of family fun, we headed home, grateful for our country and for the two little Americans who have made our lives so full and interesting these last 10 years!

We never did find that apple pie!

(This is the sunset we followed home. The photo doesn't do it justice. It was a ball of hot pink fire. Occassionaly, the road would turn and it would disappear behind trees. When it would reappear, Bennett would scream, "There's another one!" I think he counted 10-15 different pink balls in the sky!)

Happy 10th birthday Ellison and Aidan - we love you!

Morning in the Park

He ran everywhere he went. He always does.

His eyes sparkled with each new discovery -

a brand new fawn,

ducks rushing at him as if he were a new playmate,

crimson red cardinals fluttering about (and playing kissy face),

and then he heard the whistle from the little wooden train and he took off...

What a lovely way to spend the morning -

chasing a three-year-old through the park!