Veggies-in-the-Making

Zach decided to try growing a few veggies in our yard this year. We have several butternut squash and some peppers. The peppers are not looking so great but nearly all of the squash look good. It was so exciting last week to go outside and see tiny squash appearing on the vines! Our thumbs are not totally black!

Strawberries

At the suggestion of a friend, we went to a local farm this week to pick strawberries. Mmm...there is nothing like fresh berries: red, ripe, each one perfect because you plucked it out of the field yourself! Austin was interested in the berry picking for the first few minutes, until we realized he was starting to smash our picks a bit. So then we took turns picking and wandering around the field with him.

Even working one at a time, we came home with plenty of berries. Just over eight pounds, I think.

Of course we've eaten a fair amount today. We also froze two trays and made some jam this afternoon. We'll be enjoying this delicious treat for weeks!

New Furniture

The sofa and chairs we ordered back in May arrived this week. Our living room looks quite different but in a good way...much more polished now. Zach prefers sitting on one of the brown chairs; I'm all about the couch. Plenty of comfort to go around.

Fun New Sounds

Austin isn't saying any real words yet, but the sounds he makes are getting more varied. We thought his latest is particularly cute.

The PAs in PA

Zach, Austin and I were blessed by a visit from the Pitigoi-Aron family this week! When we last lived in the same city, we were two childless couples with husbands in grad school (Zach at USC and Gruia at UCLA) and wives working in middle schools (Jamie as a counselor, me as a teacher). Now we live on opposite sides of the country and we have four children between us! Certainly much has changed in our lives but distance does not seem to matter much in this friendship. They are "Aunt Jamie" and "Uncle Gruia" to Austin and we are "Aunt Courtney" and "Uncle Zach" to their girls. While they were with us I never felt as if it had been two years since our last meeting.

It looks like Austin is trying to grab Brooklyn's face but I think really he was just grabbing for a toy. Sweet Sydney (in Jamie's lap) loved to entertain Austin with smiles and silly faces.

Lauren has no fear--I think she climbed to the top of every piece of playground equipment in town! On this particular day we were enjoying a picnic at Blue Spruce Park.

That's my Austin...smile at Mommy a zillion times a day but not when she is holding a camera. Brooklyn's smile is cute enough to make up for it, though.

Truly, this is a family I admire. A conversation with Jamie never fails to challenge me in my walk with the Lord, and I have gained much parenting wisdom from watching her and Gruia with the girls. PAs, you are welcome here anytime and I hope we can make it out to California soon as well!

Trip to the Midwest

At the beginning of this month our family took a little trip to the Midwest. Well, really it was a big trip--one and a half days in the car each way. But I think I prefer driving with Austin to flying--there are no rest areas in the air. Austin did pretty well in the car, although his Mommy and Daddy always felt some relief when he drifted off to sleep.

Isn't this cute? I love the little fists.

Didn't come to a rest area at the right time, so we had to settle for lunch in a parking lot one day. No problem.

We stopped in Chicago the first night, mainly because Zach wanted to have pizza at Giordano's. I don't think I've ever eaten so much cheese in one meal but it was delicious. We stayed at the Priceline-negotiated Hilton Suites and enjoyed the luxury quite a bit. And look, the comfy bed comes with a toy!

The primary reason for our trip was to attend my cousin's wedding in Iowa. Sadly, I did not take a single picture while we were in that state. Suffice it to say, it was a nice wedding and I really enjoyed getting to see my aunts, uncles, and cousins who I don't see often at all.

After the wedding we drove down to Independence with my parents to stay with them for a few days. Austin LOVED the time with his grandparents. By the end of the trip he walked up to Grandma and made it clear he wanted to be held by her every chance he got. He is really developing a sweet personality--he loves to give hugs and cuddles to his favorite people (and stuffed animals).

My sister and I had a playroom behind our bedroom when we were little. For many years it has been serving as a storage area but Mom recently brought it back to its roots for Austin. He especially liked the drums.

A few highlights of the trip...

My parents watched Austin overnight on June 8 so Zach and I could go away for our anniversary. We stayed at the Chateau Avalon. I know it's not likely that most of you will ever desire to have a romantic getaway in Kansas City, but if you do, that is where you should stay. Every room has a theme, sparkling cider is waiting for you in your room when you check in, a delicious breakfast in your room is included, and every room has a two-person whirlpool tub. It. Was. Fabulous. And we got to sleep until 7:30!!!!!! Those of you with an early-bird toddler know how exciting that is. (I used to be able to sleep later than that but Austin seems to have robbed me of the ability.)

We also took a tour of Kauffman stadium and got to see the dugout, visiting team's locker room, press box, and a few of the luxury suites and "clubs."

For Gran and Pops

I know, I know, I have been ignoring my blog for the last few weeks. There is plenty I would like to post about: our recent trip to the Midwest, a visit from some California friends...but no time for that tonight. For now I'm just throwing up some requested pictures for Gran and Pops. Happy Birthday, Pops!