we rang in this independence day just as i’ve hoped since Noah was born!  This 4th we celebrated in true american fashion as we grilled out with friends – thanks cara- walked to the beach – thanks crockett – and stayed up WAY TO LATE to see the fireworks.  Our kiddos were way past bedtime when the fire lit the sky but ooh the memories.  Good time good friends!

OMG!! Who is that adorable family you see in the middle of the parade… That’s right!  IT”S US!  !  Noah, ima, jaythan and I met up with Laura, marc and brynne and walked the westmoreland neighborhood fourth of july clelbration parade!

Both Jaythan and myself were tow-heads as kids – in essence white headed little people growing into the world of brown.  Who says you ever have to grow up!

Ima’s really coming into her own.  She’s tenacious – lunch was 2.5 hours as I waited for her to take one bite of peaches!  She’s acrobatic – a pic to follow as she reached the top of our pantry shelves to get her fishy game and a girl of unparalleled curiosity i.e. checking out the medicine cup.

Our plan was strawberries.  Big, juicy, organic, local strawberries.  Our reality – strawberry season ended last week!  So we walked around and identified different plants that produced some of their other produce – raspberries, snap peas, green beans, green onion and yes some outlying strawberry stragglers.  All in all it was a pretty fantastic day until I hear a little voice next to me “Mommy, I have to go potty!”  Now that’s a whole other story…

thanks fr the title Leah you rock!

is there anything cooler than watching your child discover something new!?! We played dress-up this am and it was hil-ar-ious as the kids took on new roles! I watched as Noah thought out who he wanted to be and then put it into action! Loved it!!

when we found out we were pregnant with Noah and got over the initial shock of the miracle that is our little man, I started to check out nurseries for ideas on what to do for our baby room.  I kept coming back to trees.  I love the growth, the element of nature, the comfort and security of a fully grown canopy… anyways, jaythan and I poured over ideas and finally found one in DIY we loved.

I’m so excited we’ve come into some breathing room to latch back onto this central theme and with a few minor tweaks to add some Ima element, we’ve finally started painting our new version nursery!   I can’t wait to share with you!!  Here’s Noah’s old room to hold you till we get this new one done!

It was an awesomely perfect day for a party as we played in the sun.  Scott chased elliott and Noah around the playground forever, rob made quincy laugh so hard he couldn’t talk, and ima made a new friend in Eli.  Thanks for the good times today friends!

This past week we were afforded the opportunity to housesit for our 500sqft partner jyll.  I leapt at her offer as we were sooo struggling to get our ac online and team elam was starting to show some serious wear after 3 weeks of HEAT.  We watched her 3 kitties – with emily in tow – and were delighted to be cool, completely entertained with the cat/dog show, and totally pretended to be in a new city as we explored the wacky world on the east side!

We ventured up to sassy cow creamery with leah and fam and had a picnic lunch amidst all the excitement surrounding the farm.