New toddler bed made by my Dad, Andrew and Me!

This is the bed my Dad, Andrew and I made. I found a bed similar to it online and showed Andrew what it looked like. From there my Dad and Andrew got some wood, mattress measurements and designed the frame. After that I got some batting, some fabric, an iron, a sewing machine and POOF! A new bed was born! I am very proud and it even looks good. If you are in the market for a sturdy toddler frame let us know! I'm sure we could work out a deal to match you up. 

 Daraby loves her new room and bed. I have a little bit of work to do in order to finish the room but I'm more than tickled about the final result. I worked on the curtains and such so more pictures are forthcoming!

Pictures taken by DaronShort.com

We had a fun time in Nebraska over Memorial Day Weekend. These are just a few of the pictures from that time. Daron Short our brother-in-law is one of the best photographers in my opinion and he took these photos. If you or someone you know needs a photographer in the CO area check out his website http://www.daronshort.com/

Although I don't have time to fill you in on life I hope that you will enjoy the photos. Until we talk again- All our best! AnDDD

Graduation and Growing Girls!

Our life has been crazy busy. Every night, it seems like, we've had some event- track meets, chapel, concerts, spring play, senior tea, bridal shower, etc... It is the rush before the end. The seniors graduate tomorrow and everyone will be moving off campus if they haven't already. It has been sad for me to see them pack up their cars with their dorm room stuff. It will be a quiet summer with the kids gone. On one hand it will be refreshing to recharge for another year but I will miss the kids that I've come to know.
Meanwhile our girls are growing and changing daily. Daraby is still full of life and go. She rarely stays still for more than a minute. She is talking all the time and her vocabulary is full. She even speaks sentances. "Abby go out." "I have poopy." "Dakota is cryin', cryin', cryin'." "I go outside." "We go walk." Many times Daraby is upset because I don't understand what she is trying to tell me. I'm catching on more and more. Besides talking Daraby's two favorite activities are being outside playing and reading books. I guess she has a bit of her dad and her mom in her. I love my books and Andrew loves being outdoors.
Dakota is growing like a weed. She is 24 inches long and over 13 pounds. Another long and lean girl. Her clothes have to be just right to fit her. She is much longer than Dara at that age so some of the cute clothes Dara wore won't fit her. I get the sads when I have to pack up clothes that no longer fit. It means she is growing up and this may be the last time we have a baby. I am not a keeper of things but I don't know if I can get rid of the baby clothes for a long time. Perhaps that is why I snuggle with Dakota so much. I don't want her to grow up. She is a cuddler anyway so she takes full advantage. We say she is addicting. Daraby wasn't a cuddler and still isn't most days. I can't believe how different the girls are from each other. Dakota is mello while Daraby is high strung. I enjoy both of their personalities.
Dakota is starting to gaze at people and watch them for a long time. She will sit in her vibrating chair in the kitchen and just watch me work. She is constantly cooing and ahhing. It melts my heart when she smiles which reveals a small dimple in her right cheek.
As for us- the couple in the this family. We are doing well. Andrew has been super busy all day and most nights so I am excited to see more of him this summer. A couple weekends a month we like to travel and for the most part the girls do really well. We also take advantage of babysitters and go out together. We like our alone time so we can connect and parent together. Tonight he is taking me out for a shake. No big deal for most people but to me it is. I get his attention all to myself and he gets mine. Yipee!
Enjoy the photos and keep us updated on your lives as well.

Dakota has really good eye contact and often gazes for a long time at people or items.


Daraby loves Papa Ray's cell phone. The phone must flip open for her to like it. We are afraid she may call 911 by accident some day.


My niece Dawn is home from National Guard training. It is nice to see her after she was gone 6 plus months.


My friend Toni, my mom, my sister and me. We went to visit my sister over Mother's Day weekend.



PaPa Ray and Daraby hanging out after the spring concert at our home.

Dara likes to come down the slide but most of the time she prefers to come down on her belly backwards.

Daraby is starting to really enjoy playgrounds. I like the little kids safe jungle gyms.

Our new stroller from my parents! Amazing, it goes right down the gravel and sandy roads no big deal. I've been able to get out and walk 2 miles everyday with the girls and my friend, Jalynn, and her kids.

Dakota has huge eyes that change from a smokey color to purplish blue.

I have a holding addiction with Dakota. She is a cuddler! As long as she is held she is pretty happy.

The girls hanging out together. Daraby likes to look and talk to Dakota and Dakota gives her big smiles and coos.

We have a lot things planned for the next couple of months-a trip to Nebraska and then a trip to Michigan in late June. We pray for a refreshing and safe summer as we scale back from the busy school season. Thanks for following along!

2 months in, 3 weeks out

We had our Junior/Senior Banquet last weekend in Pierre, so we dressed up for the occassion. It was a great night of pictures, eating, and was capped off with a fishing trip until 1 am with some coworkers from Sunshine!


Daraby greets me at the door everyday for lunch. We all head over to the school cafeteria for lunch with the big kids! We have a dress up day every Wednesday which has prompted me to expand my wardrobe.

Dakota is growing up before our eyes. She's got wonderful smile with a little dimple on her cheek that she's been showing off lately.

Over the weekend our girls got some time with the cousins.

Dani is a proud big cousin and serves as our "interpreter" for when we can't understand Daraby.

Two months in signifies Dakota's two months of life with us outside of the womb. Three weeks out refers to the 3.5 weeks left of school this year. So many things have happened since we rolled in that cold, blustery month of January. In some sense it feels as though we've been here for a lot longer than that but then there are days which seem like it was just yesterday we were chasing buffalo in the sandhills.

Parenting two children has it's challenges and we are dealing with a screaming girl at 10:45pm as I write this. However, all the heartache melts away when both of them cuddle up in our laps and long to be held. We have to laugh at Daraby's attempts to mimic Darcy by "nursing" her baby.

We are looking forward to seeing family and friends over the summer. We hope to be in Nebraska over Memorial Day weekend, and then in Michigan for two weeks over the fourth of July. Let us know if you want to be invaded by the Boersma clan! Thanks for tuning in and we hope to see some of you soon!

A Wedding and Easter Wishes!

Easter Morning! We got the girls up and dresses put on! Andrew is overwhelmed by all the girl's clothes. "Tights? How do these go on?"- Andrew


This was Daraby's first egg hunt. The local park had a egg hunt and the kids raced to get their baskets full. Daraby got 9 eggs or so. Pretty good for a 20 month old!


After egg huntin' most of the kids played on all the playground. Many dads joined in the fun too. Daraby and Andrew took a ride on the horsey!

I'm excited to let you all know that my nephew got hitched to a pretty and sweet gal, Rachel. Their wedding was in February and they just had a reception last weekend in Pierre. Rachel's daughter, Marley, is two months older than Daraby. I am starting to feel old when my nephew is getting married and we have kids together. I just tell myself that Brady is like a brother to me and then I don't feel so old. Truly, I'm only 5 years older than him. We never knew if Brady would ever bring home a girl and then he did. He is head over heals for Rachel and we couldn't be happier for them.

Ok, so Daraby was a bit ticked that we took her away from playing. She is stoutly independent.

We didn't think we had any photos with Andrew's parents and Dakota, but we do!

Andrew loves to cuddle with his girls! Daraby loves to help take care of Dakota. She fetches the bottle and pacifier and bring them to us. She pushes the swing perhaps to hard at times. She pets the baby and calls her, "nice!" It has been and adjustment for all of us but we are doing well. Dakota is a really sweet and content baby that wants to be held all the time. As long as she is held she is happy, usually. I don't have to do any tricks. I don't know if I could anyway. I get so tired! I look at all these women that have multiple kids that are close in age. I think I would just go nuts! As it is I don't get a moment to myself. Even when I go pee I have a helper in the restroom taking towels, brushes and curling irons out of the cabinet. If I shut the door I have fingers under the door and a little voice saying, "Mama!"

Everyday is full of adventure. Dakota is growing so quickly and Daraby is starting to be quite the little woman. Yesterday as we were playing outside with the girls it hit me that we are parents with two little girls. I still feel like I'm a college student. Where does the time go? At the end of the day I am shocked at how fast time has gone. My to do list just gets passed onto the next day and my house looks like a disaster. The toys are breeding like rabbits especially the toys that stab one's foot in the middle of the night! Hopefully, our late night stumblings are getting to be fewer and fewer as Dakota wakes up less and less.

We hope you had a Happy Easter! It has been nice to have Andrew home for 4 days. This is the last break before the end of the school year. Spring is here and we've been enjoying it. Happy Spring!