More Digging

The hole is getting deeper.  Another day or so and the foundation guy will be here!  The girls even got to help Mr. Sidney dig some dirt.  They love them some dirt!

The Dig

Starting to dig the basement.  I realize for a lot of you, these pictures mean nothing so I will try to explain...

This will be our driveway

Looking at the front left corner of the house

And the front right corner

View from the back of the house looking forward, toward the road

Ben's 32nd Birthday

We celebrated daddy's birthday with a doughnut and Starbucks for breakfast, a trip to the pool, one of his favorite dinners and brownies sundaes.  Love this man and all he means to us!  He is super duper!

Explaining their card creations

Presents...new workboots (on order) and a new book

BIG Day

It was a huge day for our family.  A day we have been waiting for for a long time.  Trees are getting pushed down and dirt is getting moved around.  We have the beginnings of our new home.  We are super excited for the process.  We know there will be a lot of ups and downs.  Lots of decisions.  Lots of thinking.  Praying.  Maybe some disagreements.  But what an enormous blessing to be able to experience it.  We are just praying for God's protection over the entire process.  Over our marriage, over the workers, over the decisions...everything.  We can't wait to see what He has in store for us in this new home.  Ben has been meticulous up to this point with just the house plans.  Thinking about every angle, every walk space, every door placement.  Now he's getting hands on with it.  He loved being out with the guys working.  Marking which trees are staying, which trees are going.  Moving the house a few feet over, a few feet back.  I'm thankful for the way his brain works.  He's really thinking things through.  Lots of researching on his part about numerous things.  Things I don't really care about, but I'm sure are important.  Research is not my forte.  The plan is this.  Get the basement dug and foundation poured before Ben leaves for training camp July 27th.  Then put all things on hold for the fall until we get back to Georgia after the season in January.  We'll see how it goes.  Stay tuned.

Nine Years!

Nine years with this awesome guy!  And getting sweeter and sweeter everyday!

Dinner at STK steakhouse.  Very delish!

Garden Update

Our first harvest.

One would think this seems pretty good.  And it is, but the thing is, the garden itself looks pitiful.  Everything is on the verge of dying.  We'll be lucky to get another bounty like this.  We're not sure where things went wrong.  Too much rain, too much fertilizer, newspaper, moles...sigh...But we are determined to perservere!  Next year, garden, next year!

Daddy's Day!

Daddy got a day full of his girls on Father's Day.  Church and an evening at the pool (and throw in a meeting with a builder).  It was a much needed family day and a great way to celebrate the best daddy ever!  Thanks for being totally rad!

Daddy's Home

Since mid-April Ben has been driving back and forth to Charlotte for the week for spring training.  We've missed him bunches while he was gone, but now he's back!  Some pics from practice...

Get it!

Goofing off with Greg Smith

VBS

It was VBS week at our church.  The theme was bootcamp.  The girls had a blast!  Lindsey's teachers sent some pictures from the days.  They both said their favorite part was the snow cones.  I think Lindsey's class had one every day.

Our little soldier

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Linds and her friend Elle

Ok, so this is so stinkin' cute.  If she turns out to be a doctor or nurse, this has to go in her office!  So cute!

Ohio for the Last Camp

We've been in Ohio the past few days.  Ben had the last "Ben Hartsock Football Camp."  It's been a good run, 5 years.  Wayne and Keith, and countless other people, have done a tremendous job running the show.  All involved helped touch the lives of many kids, some who may have never had the opportunity to attend a football camp.  Thankful I have a husband cares about those kids and wants to give back the way he does.

Playing with cousin Easton on the field

While we were there, we also made the rounds to see some family.  There's never enough time and we're always squeezing in something every possible second to make the most of it!  We...

Wrestled with Aunt Abby.

Met Grandma and Grandpa's new pony, Sullee.

Played with bubbles from Aunt Faythe.

Got authentic Hawaiian dresses from Aunt Meg and Uncle Rande.

Shared some popcorn with Grandpa.

And posed for more pictures...

We also got to spend some time with our friends Keith and Nikki and their boys, Casen and new baby Cam! 

Nikki made them tissue paper tutus...I don't think Casen liked it too much. 

Up way past their bedtime watching cartoons!

On the way home we ususally have to make a couple of stops.  One of the girls favorite things is getting to pick out a snack.  At a travel plaza in West Virginia, they wanted their picture taken with this bear.  Gotta wonder what goes on in their heads.

And evidence of a choclatey snack.  She's oblivious.