Haley's Here!

We've had her, all to ourselves, for almost a week now!

Are we having fun, you ask?

Oh yes, we're having fun!

Down on the Farm

On our last trip down, we stopped at an orchard to buy fresh peaches (boy have they been good, and you should taste Kyle's Strawberry Peach Jam!).

We got a little ice cream to share with the kiddos too.

It was the perfect summers-day event!

Sittin' out with Grandma.

And eating sweets with Grandpa!

Somehow there ended up being a lot of ice cream on this trip. Ah well, it is summer!

He's Walking!

All of a sudden, on Aug 18th (was that a week ago?) Stephen started walking. Four to seven steps at a time, walking! (The pictures are from his birthday.)

He's getting quite proficient now, staggering all over the house and all tickled with himself.

It's so strange to look around and see your baby's head about a foot higher than where your used to seeing it! Sure is fun though!

Gettin' Girly

Last year's visit by my cousins was interrupted by Stephen's birth, ten days early! This year we really got to enjoy being together, without any surprises. ;-)
We did a lot of fun girl stuff together - there was a lot of talking, music and yummy food - and I finally got to try out something I thought would make a fun group craft. Can you tell what it was?

Flower pins! Very easy to make, and sew fun to wear that we had to model them all! Thank you ladies for taking time out to spend with us. I just can't say how lovely it was!

Mid-summer Yummies!

With most of our yard flowers ending their season and the summer produce coming on, I've been as busy in the kitchen as ever. And while the finished product isn't quite as pretty and blog-worthy, it sure is tasty!

Summer Dresses

Bright colored dresses . . .

. . . for bright, shining faces!

I raided my stash of bright swatches to make coordinating dresses for Alaina and her good friend Madeline.

They were so fun to plan and make! I loved the look of the apron on Madeline's dress . . .

. . . and the silly kittys and green ruffle on Alaina's.

I got them done just in time for Madeline's party - the first birthday party Alaina has ever attended. Can you tell she was excited?

A race well run.

Grandpa Bud Lainio - October 26th, 1925-July 24th, 2011I'm grateful for:

-trips for ice cream

-games he never just let me win

-serious talks

-patient instruction on how to ride a bike

-unexpected humor

-vacations together (long and short)

-knowing the correct way to spell Mississippi (Capital "M")

-love, encouragement, and countless hours of time.

How blessed I have been by the time and love invested in me by all four of my Grandparents!

The Big Number 1!

What delight this little man brings into our lives! He is such a sweet, happy little fellow, and all boy (he mostly speaks in growls, at the moment). What a long way he has come in a year, huh?

Today, we are thanking God for the gift of Stephen!