10 things

Over the last few days school has been out, hours have been unstructured, family time has been intentional and fun, and I have heard Liam declare more than once, "This is the best day of my life!" Each time it's given me pause to think about how the simplest, everyday things make our lives the richest. We just have to be present for them. Here are 10 things that have made these past few days some of the best days of our lives.


10. Watching the cement truck pour our new front steps.

9. Apple cake, applesauce, apple quesadilla and a slice of the world's best apple pie.


8. Time to practice more than piano.

7. Two hours of the funniest and most adorable game of 20 questions, keeping car time from becoming boring time.


6. Yummy little boy necks.


5. Picking out pumpkins before eating warm apple cider donuts.

4. Sibling and cousin love. How easily and abundantly it flows.


3. Proudly displaying original LEGO designs after having uninterrupted time to build them.


2. The lake at every season. And the thrill it brings every time we see it.

1. Adding our first nephew/boy cousin and getting to hold him just hours after his arrival. Luke Torrey, we're so glad you're here!