SUMMER EATING

i don't know how it is where you live, but it's hot here.  i planned on simple meals this week so i didn't have to make it even warmer in our house with the oven running. but, i tried a new recipe for oatmeal squares found on pinterest (they were alright... i doubled the recipe and next time won't put so much cinnamon in them).  and then last night i decided pizza sounded really good... so we had homemade pizza and i've used my oven everyday so far this week.

i can't complain much... at least we aren't battling the heat PLUS wildfires.  we were pretty excited to vacation in colorado this august and planned on staying with family out there... but now they are evacuated from their home.  praying hard for everyone involved, workers, and for rain.

FATHERS DAY (a little late)

michael requested one thing to do on father's day--  relax.  so we did.  we went to his parents church then came home and napped.  we played records on his new player all afternoon.  it's the sweetest thing to see him dance around the house with elle.  she loves music.  we went out for frozen yogurt and spent the evening at my in-laws.  my husband is such a good daddy to elle and i have a feeling he'll still make her laugh later in life just like he does now... that man is a goofball sometimes, but i love him that much more for it.

michael david-- you are wonderful.

xo
lesley

THE CANDY HOUSE

my nieces and nephews were up from texas last week.  we went to seneca to visit them at my parents.  this darling little candy house is down the road from where i grew up in the country.  i can't believe how big those kids are getting! ....

LATELY.

+ playdates with our favorite shirley girls

+ in our backyard

+ elle doesn't sleep in past 7,  ever

+ fuzzy sunday naps on the sofa

+ my parents backyard  (my mom is a fun grandma)

+ sweet mornings

+ first bump on the head and a blurry hand

MY GIRL.

...

TEN MONTHS

ellie reese will be ten months old tomorrow.  it's really hard for me to believe.  it's also hard to picture what our life would be like without her with us. michael gave her extra kisses tonight before bed and said "i just love her so much" and it was the sweetest.  he's such a great father.

little lady isn't walking on her own yet, but walks along the couch and pretty much anything else she can keep her balance with...except us....if we try to hold her up to walk she immediately bends her legs to sit.  elle can wave hi and bye and she even sounds like she says "hi" or "buh bye" when she does it.  she'll also act like she's blowing kisses when i make a lip smack sound.  it's so cute!  lately she's been bending over like she's going to do a headstand.  the other day she kept doing it, looking at me through her legs and laughing hysterically at herself.  she's become quite the eater.  we've been sharing lots of watermelon lately.  she's still nursing strong.  two of her top teeth came through this week and two more are about to break through.  it changes how she looks so much.  we miss her sleeping in our bed, but this past month i've caught up on lots of sleep i didn't realize i was missing.  she's such a big girl (but not really, she's taking after her momma so far and is on the shorter side).

time to start getting ideas together for her big day!

first photo taken by naomi and the rest are from my phone.
ps. yes,  i changed my blog name back for various reasons, but mostly because this is a blog about my family and lemoncakes did not flow with our lifestyle.  thanks for reading, sweet friends!!

summer days.

it's getting hot out and the other day i caught myself wishing for fall.  what?  that can't happen yet.  summer is just beginning.  i was doing really well with jogging and being outside, but that heat!  luckily, the park i jog at has lots of shade and elle still loves the jogging stroller.  we've got a few weddings, birthday parties and mini-vacation to look forward to!  my baby will be one this summer and we'll celebrate three years of marriage on that same day.  i guess i can't complain as much as last summer.  we'll be spending our days at the pool with friends and family, eating ice cream and maybe jogging.

springfield blogger meet up!

lydia, naomi and i put together a fun little picnic this past saturday for springfield area bloggers!  we didn't have a large crowd, but it was exactly what we wanted:  laid-back and fun!  we had lemon bars, cupcakes, watermelon and babies galore.... which, of course, makes for one great day.   i can't say enough sweet things about the bloggers that came and their families.  and it's kind of wonderful how we just get each other.  we talked more than once how it was nice to really feel comfortable about taking pictures of every detail.  this won't be the only meet up (we're planning on having one in the fall) so if you live in the area make sure and follow the springfield blogger love page to keep updated!


and here's a million and one pictures of our get together:

 casey, anna, me, naomi, lydia
+ kristin in the other group photo