Laura's Shower

A few weeks ago, my best friend Meghan and I had the honor of hosting our best friend Laura's wedding shower. It was my first time putting something that big together, so I definitely learned a lot about list-making and organization, but it was SO fun to work with Meghan and pull it off. Pardon the phone quality (or lack of). I was just glad I remembered to get a couple pics before it was all over.

Thank God for Pinterest. 'S all I'm gonna say. 

I also learned a lot about burlap. A lot. For instance, did you know that burlap stinks??? Or that it makes you itchy? Or that it shreds and keeps on shredding if you let it? And that it's barely ironable? 

She got a LOT more than that, I promise. 

Best friends for 20+ years! 

Brookfield Zoo

For Peter's Christmas present, my mom gave us an Unlimited Family Membership to the Brookfield Zoo. Yesterday was the first day we got out there, and we were so glad the weather was perfect! It was Peter's first zoo trip, and even though he fell asleep half-way through, I think it was still a pretty momentous occasion. :)

Sibling Photoshoot

For Father's Day, my dad requested we kids give him a big canvas of a pic of all of us. This prompted us to schedule a photoshoot with one of our friends so we could choose from some actually nice photos. Here are several of my faves! A big thank-you to Faith Linell Photography!

My thoughts at this moment: "Oh my word oh my word oh my word my hand is in an ant pile!!!"

Char couldn't stay serious to save her life.

What's a professional photoshoot without a dead gosling?

Peter and dinner

Instagram unfortunately has kind of taken the place of my blog. It's just so easy to post straight from my phone without having to come up with, you know, a whole blog post. But I want to try to share everything here as well so at least those of you that faithfully read this can stay up-to-date. ;)

Here is a picture of Peter that I took last night. I was feeding him pears and had looked down to get another spoonful, and out of the corner of my eye I see his face break into the biggest grin I've seen in a while. He makes me laugh with his random and unabashed joy. :)

And another, because that face.

And this is the dinner I made last night, pre-cooking. ;) I have been making a lot of new recipes lately so I feel a cooking post coming soon, but I loved that all the color in my crockpot got captured on my phone. 

Peter // 6 & 7 Months

Poor little Peter. He has been on many major trips since his birth 7 months ago! He has been such a trooper with all the traveling. I am very thankful for a nice car seat, toys to distract, music to calm, and family to help. :P The top picture was taken on Peter's 6-month birthday, as we were on our way to South Dakota. Bottom picture is the only semi-decent one I got on his 7-month birthday on the 16th of this month. 

He is now able to sit up unassisted, with only occasional fall-overs. :) We've started some solid foods, and he LOVES it! So far we've done bananas and sweet potatoes, and they are major hits. Soon we will start something new! He is just beginning to figure out the whole crawling thing. Chris and I have caught him getting up on all fours for a few moments before collapsing again. :) I'll put him down on one end of the bed, and when I come back, he's scooted/rolled himself all the way to the far corner. The days of hanging out on the bed are swiftly passing. :( He weighs 19 lbs. 5 oz., and is 27 3/4" long. We still haven't seen a real tooth yet, but I thought the drool was bad a month ago......OOOOOH boy! Poor kid is drenched at the end of the day. He's in Size 4 diapers, and I was happy to find that Aldi diapers work just as well as any others, and are way better a price! Peter still loves his trips to the doctor, We figured out that my little guy was blessed with the same thorn in the flesh that I was - ingrown toenails. They sound like no big deal, but let me tell you, they are a constant annoyance and can get very, very painful. We can't do much about Peter's right now, but as he gets older we will be looking into some sort of operation so he doesn't have to live with that. 

Well, adios for now. Sure do miss blogging. I've actually had things to do lately which is good, but I get full of words and need to put them somewhere. :)

my best friend

"Because of you I can slowly but surely feel myself becoming the me I have always dreamed of being."                Tyler Knott Gregson


Recently the entire world of social media celebrated National Best Friend Day, complete with hashtags and warm fuzzies. I posted this picture on Facebook but wanted to share it here as well. 

This is my best friend, Christopher. We have a blast together. He makes me laugh and he laughs at me. ;) He patiently watches me grow in my cooking skills. He's always supportive. He plays piano with me and is almost as well-versed in Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera as I am! He can quote "Jabberwocky" from memory. He works very hard for our family. He loves Italian food and takes me to lots of restaurants even though he knows I order the same thing every time. He holds my hand when we pray. He lets me vent. He dances with me in the kitchen. :) He truly communicates and listens. I love him with all my heart and am so thankful for his friendship in our marriage! 

Faith - Ella Wheeler Wilcox

I will not doubt, though all my ships at sea
    Come drifting home with broken masts and sails;
I shall believe the Hand which never fails
    From seeming evil worketh good for me;
And though I weep because those sails are battered,
    Still will I cry, while my best hopes lie shattered,
                                 I trust in thee.

I will not doubt, though all my prayers return
    Unanswered from the still, white Realm above;
I shall believe it is an all-wise Love
    Which has refused those things for which I yearn;
And though at times I cannot keep from grieving,
    Yet the pure ardour of my fixed believing
                                  Undimmed shall burn.

I will not doubt, though sorrows fall like rain,
    And troubles swarm like bees about a hive;
I shall believe the heights for which I strive
    Are only reached by anguish and by pain;
And though I groan and tremble with my crosses,
    I yet shall see, through my severest losses,
                                 The greater gain.

I will not doubt; well anchored in the faith,
    Like some staunch ship, my soul braves every gale,
So strong its courage that it will not fail
    To breast the mighty unknown sea of Death.
Oh, may I cry when body parts with spirit,
    I do not doubt, so listening worlds may hear it,
                                 With my last breath.