Catching Up

We've been so busy I haven't updated the blog in awhile.  I go back to work next week so I'm trying to squeeze in all the family time possible.  

This is just a picture of Stella in one of her cute outfits.

I felt crafty this week and made Abram a pillow and Stella a tag-blanket.

Abram is quite the artist and has graduated from crayons to watercolors. 

I love this picture.  It was around bedtime, you can tell everyone was a little tired.

Iowa City hosted a Book Festival which we went to a few weeks ago, Abram participated in crafts and...

got to watch a puppet show.  He really enjoyed the show even though it was 90+ outside.  It must be his new summer hair cut that kept him cool.

Josh and Stella were not so thrilled about the heat and humidity!

This picture has nothing to do with the kids.  We are getting a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share this year from Given Gardens.  Josh and I worked with one of the farmers, Nathan, at Lutheran Lakeside.  We get to enjoy the fruits of their hard labor throughout the summer. 

The vegetables this week were so beautiful I had to take pictures.  Yeah for farmers!

We spent a night with Grandpa and Grandma Livermore on our way home from vacation.  Abram got right to working planting a tree with grandpa.

Planting is serious business.

Hard working men.

This last picture is of me sorting through all of Stella's clothes.  We have very generous friends and she has gotten a lot of hand-me-downs and new clothes.  Josh is not one to pick up the camera at all - so it must have been a comical sight for him to want to capture it.

Family Camp

This past week Abram, Josh, Stella and I attended Family Camp at Lutheran Lakeside in Okoboji, Iowa, which is where Josh and I met. 

For those of you who live in Iowa, you will know that it was also the hottest and most humid week of the summer :)  We had a great time anyway and I don't have a lot of pictures because I was too busy running after two children and having an overall wonderful family vacation.

Every afternoon we spent time at the pool and each day Abram got braver and braver.  Here he is leaping to me.   He also went down the slide you see in the background.  He wanted to jump off the diving board but I had to draw a line at that one, at least for this year.

Poor Stella had to watch all the fun from the shade of her stroller with Papa.

Abram was exhausted by the end of each day and I had to snap a picture of him sleeping in his pack and play.  

Here is the only family picture I got all week.

Abram spent the mornings with the other 1 and 2 year olds and their counselor, Cassie.

Abram showing off his tie-dye.

Abram worked up quite an appetite.  It's hard to tell but he is clutching a piece of chocolate cake with white frosting in his hands.

This is the last morning of camp.  Abram made quite a few friends and will miss them.

Miss Stella

I thought I'd devote one posting to Stella since it seems like everytime I try to take a picture of just her, Abram jumps in.  So here are a few of just Stella.

 

Flirty Stella.

Well, this isn't just Stella, but I thought it was so cute how she is flirting with baby Vernon.

Serious Stella.

Happy Stella.

Still happy Stella.

Relaxed Stella.

Patriotic Stella.

 Sister Stella.

Stella, the friend.  

Hanging out with Jackson and Abe.

What a lucky girl to have two handsome guys to spend Independence Day with.

Birthday

 

I had a wonderful birthday a few weeks ago.  My two favorite men made my birthday cake.

Abram really gets into his baking.  Decorating (and tasting) is his specialty.

Abram helped me blow out my candles.

And if you look closely Caity's quick reflexes helped us all from having an Abram flavored cake.

Abram couldn't wait to try out his creation.

We LOVE parties!