celebrating kenton with friends

 We gathered at Emerald Park with our friends for a picnic celebration of Kenton's birthday. We ate & played & enjoyed each other's company before having to skip off to swimming lessons for the boys. It worked out well & the kids got lots of play time together. I think the grown-ups were wishing we could chat a little more, but tiring out the kids is a good goal too. ;)

dinner with friends

 We've been doing weekly dinners with the Williamses & Gosses for several years now, adding kiddos to the mix along the way. I never take photos when we're together & I don't want these days to slip by any quicker than they already have. Tonight was a beautiful, warm & sunny spring evening. We ate dinner in the Williamses back yard, after some of the kids ran around in the sprinkler...some more clothed than others. :] We enjoyed leftover birthday cupcakes for dessert. ;)

Cedar & Alma

Elsa

Harriet

Jacque & Edison

Stu, Alma & Carolyn

Jesse & Harriet

Kenton, Finley & I were all present as well...just didn't make the cut. ;)

late summer/early fall randomness

 I didn't take enough photos of any of these moments to warrant a post of their own. So here are some random photos of times I don't want to forget.

 The Augustines (mostly) cooperating for a quick photo shoot.

 We met up with the Sharptons for dinner while they were camping nearby.

 Elsa & Everett bonding over snacks.

 Somehow I didn't manage to get pictures of the Mamas. :P

 Amazing sky one evening in September.

 Our littlest helper/climber!  :]

 Chillin' with Mama in cozy jammies, eating yogurt from an airplane spoon.

elsa turns one

 Elsa's first birthday was just days after we returned from our California/Nevada road trip.  We decided on a low-key, backyard, dessert & appetizer celebration with our families & friends.  Thank goodness for nice, August temperatures in the evenings & a backyard that didn't get too scorched over the summer.  :]

My gift to Elsa was a new, twin sized quilt for her to grow into, after I (tragically) misplaced the baby quilt I made for her.  I decided to go bigger, better & to get over it.  I can't make it magically reappear, but I can move on & pour my sadness into a quilt that will last her a lot longer than her tiny baby quilt.  (Still hard not to feel so, so sad when I see that tiny quilt in photos.)  :`(

Sweet Alma

 I kind of went with a handmade theme when choosing how to decorate the backyard & gathered homemade quilts from around our home & from my mom to lay down on the grass.

 A scrap fabric banner from quilt remnants & scrapbook paper fans along the fence.

 White cake & carrot cake cupcakes. Bruschetta, veggies & dip.

 Two new scrap fabric mobiles to join the paint chip circle mobile that already hangs in Elsa's nursery.

 Another scrap fabric garland from Elsa's nursery.

 Easy drinks in mason jars with fun paper straws.

 The Augustines

Carolyn with Hattie, Katrina with Elsa, & Jacque with Edison

Two of my favorite friends were pregnant at the same time as me & we all had babies in August (hence the nickname for these three babies - eek! 1 year olds!).

 The balloon tent was fun, but mostly resulted in the constant startling sound of popping balloons.  :]

 Sadie & Edison

 First taste of sweets.  :)

 Cool trick, Elsa!

 Kenton & me with our birthday girl.

 She is truly such a joy.

 Elsa loves her homemade bunny from Carolyn.

 She stayed interested in the present opening for the entire time.  I was surprised by how much fun she was having!  :)

Happy first birthday, Elsa Roedel. We dreamed of having you in our family for so long, but never truly grasped how wonderful it would be to have a third child. We thank God for the blessing you are & do not take it for granted that he trusts us to raise you up. You bring much joy & delight to all around you! We can't wait to see what the next year will bring...but don't grow up too fast! You're still my baby.  :) We love you, oh, so much!