61 Years Together

Happy 61st Anniversary to Grandma June and Grandpa Leroy! These two are such role models for me in my marriage. They are a true team. They love each other and they show it. I only hope that Jake and I can celebrate our 61st with as much joy as they do. 

Love you two! Here's to many more years together!

Bits and Pieces

Mike Mains concert in Bloomington/ Magnifying glass paper reading

Spanish Mass in Oldenburg/ Lunch date with sister

61 years together/ Bread baking

Fall Ride

My favorite place to visit during the fall season is the property behind my grandparents' house. So many girl scout camp outs, sled riding adventures, and quad rides through the years. Some of my favorite childhood memories were made right here. Jake and I took a ride on the Gator the other day on the property just to enjoy the scenery.  

Home Town Surprises

I have lived in the same house in southeastern Indiana all my life (well, my life before marriage). I felt like I knew everything my little area had to offer. But, thanks to my grandparents, I learned that my neck of the woods still has some gems to offer that I had no idea existed. 

 Grandpa told me there was a school-turned-restaurant around the Versailles area that "wasn't very fancy," but he thought I would like it. Grandpa knows me well.
 

Did I mention it had an antique shop attached? Yep. Surprise of the day was the only one that bought anything was Dad. He got a small marble topped dresser for a steal!

We then went down the road to an Amish bulk food store. So many spices, soup mixes, produce...I finally decided on a vanilla dark hot chocolate mix. Cuteness points go to the little Amish children in their overalls and bare feet riding bikes to the store.

Don't you love it when your home area surprises you? Me too.

Back 40 Junction

I'm currently on a little road trip with the family, Grandma, and Grandpa. We're headed to Bay City to a WW II museum Grandpa contributed to. On our way, we stopped by the coolest restaurant just outside of Fort Wayne called Back 40 Junction. Grandpa remembered going to Back 40 years ago and my belly is so glad he did. Holy moly, they had a whole buffet of made-from-scratch salads, main dishes, and desserts. Plus, the decor was the coolest!

The Infamous Trailer

For years my grandparents have been telling me about an old trailer on their property. They said it was full of furniture and mementos from my great grandparents. To a lover of old things like me, this sounded like the holy grail. The only hitch with the infamous trailer was that it hadn't been opened in years, and most likely will be filled with all kinds of critters.

Well, we finally got up the gumption to crack open the trailer last week. Of course, I made sure to wear my dad's knee high boots, just in case a raccoon decided to get a little too fresh with me. I was most definitely not disappointed with the contents of the infamous trailer. It was filled with my great grandparents kitchen chairs, bedroom furniture, and dishware. We found letters my grandpa wrote home during World War II. We even found the sides to my grandpa's baby crib. 

I think the best part of the experience was seeing Grandpa and Grandma react to the things we found. They could tell you where furniture sat in the old house and what year different letters were sent home. I'm currently cleaning up some of our treasures so that yet another generation can use them and remember the stories of where they came from. I just love that.

Young Love

I know I've already posted this picture of my grandparents, but I think it's worthy of a post all its own.

 

Grandpa insisted that Grandma should sit on the seat of his walker and proceeded to dance her around the kitchen, giggling the whole time. I hope Jake and I are doing this exact same thing when we're in our nineties.

Lauren Fleishman is a photographer who has a series of photos called "Love Ever After." The subject of each of her photos is a couple that has been married over 50 years. I think these two should be her next inspiration, being married 60 years and all. Definitely check out her work. It may be the cutest, most inspiring thing I've ever seen.

Bits and Pieces

Such great weather this weekend! We were very low key and worked around the house and in the yard. The other hours in the day were spent on college basketball. :)

  

Celebrating Kourtney's birthday/ Grandma and Grandpa dancing/ Hanging lights on the porch/ Mason jars on the porch/ Making curtains/ Bunny cake!

Bits and Pieces

Here's some bits and pieces of my weekend. Jake was out of town for a youth conference, so I visited Mom and Dad for a few days. We didn't have a lot planned for once and it was nice to just relax and spend time with the parents and Kels.

 

Flowers from Grandma and Grandpa's 60th anniversary/lazy Saturday with the family/Kevin and Michelle's ADORABLE lab pups/planning our Michigan Spring Break/Dad is ready for Spring, clearly