Happy Anniversary to Us

Twelve years is good. Pretty good I think. I'm so lucky that I love my husband the way I do and I'm incredibly blessed that he loves me the way he does. Of course we started off our anniversary week with an argument. We don't argue much, but it happens and Sunday sucked. Monday was our actual anniversary and my sweet husband surprised me with beautiful roses. Absolutely gorgeous. 

And then I made an instagram collage celebrating us, the roses and Groundhog's Day (the day of our anniversary). 

Here are some of my favorite "us" pics. Thanks babe, for sharing this wonderful life with me. 

xoxo forever, Your June

Rumor's Holiday Party - James Bond

I'm not even kidding, I love dressing up. Whether it's a costume party or just a night out, I plan my outfit, hair, makeup weeks in advance. Mark's holiday party was no exception. Julie decided to make a James Bond theme which was perfect! I was going to buy a glam gown, but then I remembered I have a dress that was my Grandmother's from the 60's. And that did it, I now know I was going to be a 60's Bond Girl, Portman Fraise (I made that name up.)

 The selfie mirror doesn't do my Nana's dress justice. It's so pretty and elegant, I love it!

My beehive hair was crazy to do, but turned out pretty good. Thank you You Tube hair tutorials! BTW, Mark thought I was crazy as I was watching them. 

Oh Mr. Yori, you look so handsome! 

So sometimes you get to capture little moments, snippets of life on a camera that aren't posed. This was one of them. The picture isn't perfect, but my husband is laughing and smiling and I am too just by looking at his beautiful face. I love this. Seriously, this picture makes my heart BURST! He's my partner in crime, the one I lay next to every night, the one I share my babies with, he's my everything. And in this picture he is happy and that makes me happy. I love this guy so much and I am the luckiest lady in all the land.

We had a fabulous time. Just smashing. 

Karsten Louis

Karsten Louis

"I love you 

much

(most beautiful

darling)

more than

anyone on

the Earth

and I like 

you better

than everything

in the sky."

Thank you E.E. Cummings, for expressing my feelings into words; about my beautiful boy. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

For all my special babes . . . 

 Happy Valentine Faces!

From the loves of my life . . . yogurt with granola and fresh flowers. 

Thank you for my special Valentine's! So blessed that I have so many hearts to be thankful for!

Christmas was a blur . . .

Whew! Five Christmases in three days for the Yori's this past Holiday Season. I've always celebrated Christmas numerous times with different family so running around is nothing new to me - it's just Christmas. :) I love getting together, bringing different friends and family to a house to be with each other. It just doesn't happen that often during the year. I am so BLESSED to have such amazing family and friends. I think of those who don't have as much love and support, and I am GRATEFUL for what I do have.  I have to keep myself focused during the busy times, focused on the reason for the season . . . LOVE, CHARITY, MAGIC. Here's hoping you found some of that too! 

Ella Jane with Uncle Dustin at the Wilson's Christmas Party

 The munchies playing football at the Wilson Home

 Sophie, the blind, amazing dog

 Mark and Mama K at Big Mark's house

 Christmas came early for the kiddos! 

Christmas Eve at our house

 Tay Wei and Ella Jane

 Mark III and lovely Christa

 Mama K and I having too much fun!

Christmas Morning . . . holy smokes! So many presents!

 Little ones with beanies on . . .

 The whole family got new bikes! Ella is suited up and ready to ride!

At the Gleason Family Christmas . . . . one of my favorite places to be ever in the whole wide world! This my long lost baby, Addie May. She lives in Tucson, but holds a special place in my heart.

My gorgeous cousin, Shauna (and Addie May's pretend mom) and her Dad, my Uncle Chip

 This is why I loved Christmas this year - I LOVE this sight. My babes on bikes (including my hubs), plus my little furry baby in my bike basket! It's a new era for the Yori family . . . watch out, we are peddling fools!

Indiana, Take Three!

We took our third and annual trip to Lake Wawasee, Indiana, at the end of June.
Being that we've been there twice before, we knew what to expect, but it seems to get better every year! There seems to be three strong themes that radiate throughout our trip which I've explained here:

Eat. Play. Sleep.

Three basic needs, but so much fun! It's so relaxing and wonderful! So here we go!

Taking off on a jet plane.

EAT

We had to stop as soon as we landed in South Bend, Indiana.

 Mark has never been to Steak and Shake!

 ?! 

Seeing as I am such a world traveler, I have enjoyed the fine dining of a Steak and Shake

 with my cousin, while visiting her in Illinois. 

Something everyone should enjoy!

The munchies helping Me-la make brownies at the house.

Home made ice cream cones with Ava.

Popcorn and Beer? Nope! Just some soda. :)

Seriously?! Could she been any cuter? Ava GRUBBED on some sweet corn!

Mmmmmm . . . Cinnamon Roll . . . 

PLAY 

Oh the jet ski. What can I say about my husband's girlfriend? 

We all enjoy the jet ski very much, but Mark and the kids love it so so much, it's hard to describe. 

So you'll have to take my word for it and here's a cute pic of my hubby and my baby.  

Karsten really took advantage of the diving board this year, since he is swimming now, he doesn't have to wear his lifejacket anymore. This pissed Ella off so much and she would try and sneak down there without putting it on. Good thing the neighbor kids would tattle on her and let me know! Good job, Lehner Kids, good job! :)

Karsten with Emma Lehner.

Ella jumping off the diving board (wearing her life jacket)!

A HUGE part of our "Play" was fireworks. Tons of fireworks! Actually, on the 4th of July, we didn't even go to see the Syracuse fireworks, Mark and Rich put on a display for us by the railroad tracks. 

There was only one time where we all had to run for cover!

Rich taking a ride with Gingersnap.

Watching the fireworks on Lake Wawasee on the 3rd of July in the Woody boat. 

Water balloon fight!!! It was the kids against Mark!

See them going after him?! So funny!

It took them so long to fill them up with water and about 2 minutes to go through all of the balloons!

"The Kids" The Lehner kids (minus Charlie), The Yori kids & The Ruiz kids (minus Charlotte). 

From left to right, Jack, Katie, Ella, Lily, Emma, Karsten, and Ava.

Those Lehner kids are so much a part of why our vacation is so wonderful each and every year. 

They are really great kids, their ages are all around and in between my kids' ages - 

they have a fantastic time together. 

Every year it gets better, they remember faster and have built memories together. 

I am looking forward to a lifetime of memories with these kiddos!

Legos!

SLEEP

And to finish things up, here are some of my very favorite people . . . .

And just a couple more pictures of beautiful Indiana!

This is taken on the porch, right outside our back door . . .

On the lawn, under the shady tree . . .

We always take a family photo on our last day of the vacation.

 I wanted to show each photo we've taken from the last three years:

2010

2009

2008

I hope these are just the beginning to a lot of summers spent in Lake Wawasee - it truly is the last best place and we are super duper lucky to get to enjoy it with our amazing family and friends. 

Until next year, Lake Wawasee, we will be back!