Where has the summer gone?

Wow, how in the world did it get to be mid-August? Summer has gone so quickly for us. I traveled to Chicago yet again for Beedoh's bachelorette party, which was lots of fun and I've had the last week and this week totally off from school. Kate and I have been having SO much fun. I've caught up on lots of things I've been meaning to do including cleaning my house, planting lettuce in the garded and posting to the blog of course.

We went camping last week and a nice camping trip went bad when Loren's wallet and phone were stolen by some high school kids who went out for steak dinners and filled up all of their cars with gas on our credit cards.

Camping photos:

After this week, the chaos begins again. We are going to Kerr Lake for the upcoming weekend for the annual Thomas family lake trip (my mom's uncle and cousins). Then the following weekend we are headed off to Beedoh's wedding in Iowa City. The next weekend will be Alison's bachelorette party, a visit from Val and Kate's birthday. My mom comes on Sept 8 and Beedoh comes on Sept 14 (straight from her honeymoon in Australia!).

Kate has been active as usual. She politely refuses to use the potty, "no thank you mama" when asked, and has picked up saying "ummm" when she is thinking (now where did she get that from??). She can tell you different shapes and the colors we've been working on are finally starting to stick (for a while everything was green). She loves singing "twinkle twinkle," "Jesus Loves Me" and "doggie name-o"(=BINGO) and can buckle her own car seat straps.

Kate's puppy: put in time out by Kate

Kate is also tall enough now to get things off the counter.

Taking baby for a walk

and talking on the phone...Kate constantly asks to call people..."call Beedoh? call Annie? talk to BradenRyderColby? call Uncle Alex? talk to Nana?" She picks up the phone and says "Hi Beedoh. How are you? I'm fine. See ya later!"

Project update

This is the dress I made for Kate to wear to Beedoh's rehearsal. The pattern is called "Feliz" and I am absolutely in love with it...so I'm sure it will be replicated many many times!

and here is my first "sale"...a friend had me make this apron for her and actually paid me! Wow! The pattern is "Emmaline" by Sew Liberated and the fabric is Amy Butler.

Here is Feliz #2...this will be for a photo session we are doing with Andrea Roberts while we are in IA City. I can't wait!!

Cool Chick

Kate asked for "sungackes" for about a week before I was able to get to the store to find some. I let her pick the ones she wanted and she went for the J-Lo look.

Beedoh's Graduation and Shower in Chicago

I'm forever trying to catch up with blogging for the summer! These photos are from our trip to Chicago at the end of June for Beedoh's graduation and bridal shower. The shower was given by her bridesmaids. We held it at Unique So Chique- a tea and chocolate house in Chicago. Beedoh's friend Jackie found it and really took care of much of the organizing. It was perfect! They served sandwiches, desserts and tea. Dad and Alex kept Kate so I was able to give Beedoh my full attention!

It was wonderful to get to see Gagy, Mom Dad and Alex, Beedoh and Brad.

Here is the apron on its beautiful new owner!

Beedoh graduated from Northwestern with an MA in Counseling Psychology.

Kate and I stayed with Beedoh and Brad in their condo in Old Town. Kate discovered that Aunt Beedoh really is much cooler than her mom. Kate loved Aunt Beedoh's shoes and playing dress up in cool Aunt Beedoh's things.

Will this fit me??

Kate still asks for Uncle Brad and Uncle Alex! Kate with Great Gagy

Prayer request

I've got a prayer request for everyone- our nephew Braden has speech difficulties due to problems with the formation of the back of his throat. He will be having surgery on 7/2 to help correct the throat and allow him to speak more easily. We'll join them in Washington DC on Thursday to help care for the rest of the family while they are with Braden in the hospital. Please pray for Braden, for his surgical team, his family and for our safe travels.

Projects

Here is what has occupied my evenings after Kate has gone to bed!

A reversible apron and matching oven mitt for my sister's bridal shower this weekend:

and the "Itty bitty baby dress" for a baby shower

and some bigger Itty Bitty dresses for birthday girls:



I've knit 4 dishcloths so far to use in our kitchen. I've been working on these while I'm on the bus, which is wasted time otherwise! I started with a very simple pattern and have been gradually getting more adventurous

Where do I even begin? 3. Garden

My garden has really taken off in the last few weeks. I have:

Basil: Huge! Froze a bunch yesterday, maybe will try to dry some next week

Chives: doing well. Put them in everything we eat!

Cucumbers: lots ready to harvest, what am I going to do with all of them?!?

Zucchini: almost ready

Broccoli: had one for dinner last night, others are starting to grow heads (slight caterpillar problem with these guys...)

Lettuce: almost done for the spring season. We've had salads almost every night

Onions: some ready to be cured

Tomatoes: lots of big green ones

Green Beans: flowering now

Long Beans: flowering now

Random Beans planted by Braden and Ryder: flowering now

Hot Peppers: tiny fruits now appearing

Banana Peppers: green ones just about to ripen

Bell Peppers: blooming now

Spinach: maybe the one failure...I think the seeds went in too late and now they are shaded by the giant zucchini

Bok Choi: some bolted, some ok. I think they are too hot now.

My flowers are so pretty right now as well! Blooming right now I have lots of roses (pink and red knockouts), daylilies, salvia, hostas, yellow and white black-eyed-susans, pink coneflowers, catmint, pansies (almost too hot), astilbe and veronica.

May:

June: