Bean Harvest

This year we planted three types of beans to be dried - Coco Rubico, Great Northern, and Jacob's Cattle.  Since Jason was out of town and I had a lot of lonely time after Ivy went to bed, I started harvesting the beans and emptying the shells. 

Here I've started emptying some of the shells.  shown here are only the Jacob's Cattle bean harvest.  I've only now started the Great Northern, and I'm letting the Coco Rubico continue to dry, as we recenlty had some rain.

 

Here is the harvest after all the pods have been emptied. 

And, finally, here is the harvest ready to use in a canister.

Six Year Anniversary

Today is Jason and my six year wedding anniversary, and we have so much to celebrate. I am, however, concurrently mourning his absence, as he had to travel to India for work today. I'm super bummed, but I know all will be well, and, when he returns, our family will only be stronger.

Our biggest reason to celebrate this year is obviously our beloved Ivy. Shown below helping Grandma with the camping dishes during our second camping trip this year.

 Not shown here - me.  I was sleeping inside the camper with a case of Hand, Foot and Mouth, which Ivy was so kind to share with me.  Such a generous, sweet babe.

Today, before Jason headed out, he insisted that we continue our yearly trip to the State Fair.  As some of you may know, the Wisconsin State Fair was included in our first date nine years ago.  We got to the fair first thing in the morning when it opened (which is the best time to go), and Ivy had the opportunity to taste her first cream puff.

Ivy must have been exhausted by the end of the morning.  She fell asleep in the car shortly after leaving the fair.  She was so tired, she fell asleep with her hand still attached to the car seat visor with which she was playing.

I am truly grateful for everything I am blessed enough to have.  I am the luckiest - in marriage, in motherhood, in family and friends, and in my health and well being.

Dad Life

This video is too funny.  I dedicate it to all of you dads.  This video particularly hit home as my own husband wore socks with flip flops at the campsite recently, he only owns gas station sun glasses, and he wears dockers with a cuff and crease.  And I LOVE him for it.

First Camping Trip

We all had a great time camping last week.

 Soaking in some rays of sun.

 

Reading before nap time.

 

Ivy kiss sandwiches in front of the campfire.

 

Lots of smiles.

  

Cute sunhats and swimgear.

  

More smiles while hanging out in our pajamas eating pudgy pies.

 

The family in front of the camper, unwashed and smelling of firepit.

Dad's Day

I truly have the privilege of knowing the greatest of fathers.

My dad, of course, who is also the greatest of granddads.

The father of my Ivy.  'You are the most important man in her life.'  [Meeker] ...and mine.

The father of the man of my dreams for which I am eternally grateful.

And, the father of the greatest nieces that ever lived.  [It is my sisterly duty to post incriminating photos of my brother.  Just look at that dedication toward entertaining my nieces.  That's love, right there.]

With love from Ivy, to family and to all of our friends who are fathers.

Quick Posts

Between tending to Ivy and trying to get somethings done around the house, I think it might be easier to do a 'quick post' per day rather than rally for a bit post once every couple of weeks.  So, here is the first installation.

Here we are getting ready to attend a wedding, which was a beautiful wedding, by the way.  The ambiance was very unique - fog over Lake Michigan - and I've never seen a wedding dress that was so gorgeous.  No bride could have worn it better.

Ivy is shown here in her dress and shrug (who knew they made strugs for babies?!?).  She is also shown sporting the 'tongue', which we have now determined to be in our DNA. 

 Mom (me) is shown sporting a necklace intended both for aesthetic function and for infant entertainment.

We had a lovely time at the ceremony and dinner.  Despite that we found our car battery dead when we left and had to rely on some very reliable and super kind people to jump us (We are very grateful!!!), we will definitely have fond memories of Ivy's first wedding.

A Month of Firsts

April was a month of many firsts.

My first Master's degree.  (And maybe last).  Ivy's in this picture.  Can you guess where?  As a hint, I walked in the ceremony last May.

Her first Easter.  (And first embarrassing costume.)

Her first time on a long enough road trip to stay at a hotel.

A first meeting between future friends.

Her first time getting around on her own.

 Whoops, need a little help here.

Her first taste of food other than milk or formula.  (This picture is crazy because I feel like I have a picture that looks just like this, but Jason has a ton of pictures that looks similar to this.)

Ok, I guess, May had a couple of firsts, too.

Her first stomach bug.  (And I'm not going to show pictures of that horrific affair.)

Our first apple tree.

My first Mother's Day.  (Ivy's wishing Grandma a happy day, too.)

First trip to the zoo.  (Albeit short lived.)

Her first birthday party.  (Shown modeling the yoda hat gift she made for her cousin.)