Around here {Part 3}

Our vitex tree was extra beautiful this year

Mrs. Patty took us four girls out to a lovely French cafe

We've been making (and enjoying) this wonderful granola recipe:

Crunchy Overnight Granola

Ingredients:

4 cups old fashioned rolled oats

2 Tbs flax seed

2 cups of nuts and/or seeds (use whatever you have in the pantry)

2/3 cup coconut oil (melted)

2/3 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 Tbs ground cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup dried fruit (add after cooking)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, mix oats, flax seed and nuts. Then add oil. Stir until oats are coated. Add honey, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt – mix well. Spread mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cook for 10min. Turn off oven and leave overnight or approx. 6-8hrs. Add dried fruit to cooled granola when putting it into jar.

Happy smiles from Mrs. Patty and Grandma Margarete!

What do red, white and blue cake pops mean? (July 4th post on it's way)

The butcher barber, in action

Focused

Our big baby ;)

Swim lessons with Ms. Lis!

Giggles before heading off to bed

Good morning!

Thing 1 and Thing 2 

Josh's last day with us :(

Us girlies have been helping Dad a few days last week to get his big summer job done

We were trying to be stylish -- carpentry style :)

Real women use chop-saws

Learn the value of hard work... by working hard

The Master Craftsman

Cheers!

Ahoy, matey!

Femininity does not equal weakness

Coconut smoothies from Mom (who took on our indoor responsibilities on top of her own!)

We miss you Josh! :)

Making sugar cookies for our visiting relatives (post on its way)

Is there even a limit to the amount of sprinkles you put on cookies??

Late night cookie making = crazy, tired wackyness!

Ready to eat!

Around here {Part 2}

Why are they covering their eyes?

Because Dad was revealing Vanessa's HUGE surprise...

Voila!

We are so blessed to have such a hardworking, talented daddy!

Vanessa had to wait several weeks while Dad worked on her hope chest. Dad said that if she peaked at it he would pass it down to Johanna. Needless to say, she never peaked ;).

Here it is after it was stained, polyurthaned, cedar-lined and the hinges were put on.

Aint she a beauty?

Our room smells so lovely now.

The J.s and M.s dropped by for a haircut/visit.

Sweet Nana/Lindsay time

And Nana/Taylor time too!

It was so bittersweet - Mrs. Paige and her wonderful family are moving away and this was her last time chopping off our locks!

Nana love

Love you guys!

Grandma and Grandpa stayed for a week on their way up North for the rest of the summer.

Grandma taught Johanna how to fry her famous bacon

Thumbs up!

Granddaughter and Grandpa smiles

Johanna and Mom planned a little tea party with G & G and Grandpa very graciously obliged Johanna by wearing a hat. Not just any hat - the very pinkest one :)

The Hostesses!

They made these very rich chocolate truffles

And tea of course

And lemonade with flower ice cubes

And teddy bear pb&j

We played scrabble...as you can see by my letters, I wasn't doing too well :)

Yummy blueberry pie...

...and zucchini lasagna

Grandma showed Johanna how to sew

We love spending time with Grandma!

Unwinding in the evening with wii bowling

Grandma's turn!

Must have been a bad release ;)

Josh has been working with Dad the past few weeks...let's just say he's quite the drama llama

There we go :)

"Kaitlin, we can't stand around getting our pictures taken all day...we need to keep working!"

And they did

Our littlest homemaker

Fruit salad making

I've always loved her pudgy hands :)

In his not spare time, Josh helped Johanna build a castle

Measure once, cut twice...hehe

Our good friends, Ms. Farida and Simon, came over for dinner and to ask advice from Dad about renovating the new home they bought.

Group shot!

She's not a watch dog. She's not a hound dog. She's not a sheep dog. She's not a service dog.

She's a cuddle dog.

Katy and Joanna stopped by to return some books one afternoon. We were blessed to serve as doulas for this wittle one back in March.

Joanna Joye and Johanna Joy :)

Those eyes!

We love spending time with our beautiful doula babies and their families!

Slobbery smiles

Loved seeing you again, Katy!

Our little homemaker has been diligently putting her own recipe book together. Allow me to give you a few examples: 

Posto

noodlls, mixt. veshtbols and set the timer tow 400

(translated: Pasta

noodles, mix vegetables and set timer to 400)

Agss

Put stove on med crak the agss in tow the pan than mix the Agss.

(translated: Eggs

Put stove on med. Crack the eggs into the pan then mix the eggs)

Part 3 coming soon...