Growing up ... July

My girl. New shades, and starting to look every inch a “junior-higher.”

Middle Earth Board Game ... July

Asher and I recently made board games (we love the Harry Potter one we made last year and play it ALL. THE. TIME! He was making a Series of Unfortunate Events game and I was making a Middle Earth game. I finished mine today, so he and I and Gabriel played it. It was a blast! Grandma and Papa came over to visit while they were out on a walk ... they arrived just as we were in the middle of playing, and Grandma really really enjoyed watching us.  Later on in the evening, after they left, she sent me such a sweet text: "Just gotta tell you what a totally awesome momma you are! Making that game with your kiddos is such a fabulous thing to do with them! They will remember that when they are parents! You are amazing!" Awwww!!! This just made my heart melt!

Asher gets Contacts ... July

Asher got contact lenses this month! He's doing great with them and loves them so far! I'm really proud of him because it takes a LOT of hard work and courage to figure out how to touch your own eyeball and get a piece of plastic on and off it every day! Way to go, dude!

Watching Marlowe ... July

We watched Marlowe for a few days while mom dad was in St. Louis and mom was visiting Milwaukee. He's such a cutie!

A caricature that I drew of Marlowe.

18th Anniversary ... July

Nate and I celebrated our 18th anniversary this month. Wow, did those years ever FLY by! We celebrated by going out to our favorite restaurant ... Salt of the Earth in Fennville. Then out for coffee in Saugatuck and a photo by our "favorite" yellow wall.

Beachy Fun ... July

Spent 3 hours at the beach today...water was like a bathtub!! So gorgeous!!

Random July ... July

We had lots of random fun this month. Grandma Irene's Tiger Lilies bloomed ... the garden (including the pickles) is going nuts ... we caught all three turtles sunbathing on their platform at the same time, the kids found a piece of ginger at Meijer that looked like a man, and I stretched my comfort zone by cooking something new .... There’s nothing I love more than discovering new flavors. So, I recently finished the “Crazy Rich Asians” trilogy (by Kevin Kwan) and when I finished, I was a Crazy Hungry Caucasian. If you’ve read it, you know the insane amount of detail that Kwan uses to describe the amazing Singaporean/Malaysian food throughout the novels. Tonight, we stretched our comfort zone and I made Laksa ...a Malaysian noodle soup chock full of amazing flavors like ginger, coconut, garlic, soy, lemongrass, sambal oelek, and chilis. Served over a bed of noodles and topped with tender chicken, (you can also use shrimp) deep-fried tofu puffs, bean sprouts, lime wedges and cilantro....it was aahhhhhhh-mazing!! It definitely has a kick! ... But it’s a low, complex and deeply flavorful heat. SUCH an incredible foodie experience!! Also ... Rhylah has been typing up stories all summer long (I LOVE this!!) ... she and Asher staged a wedding for Lucca and Roubi ... Asher and Nathan have been going on lots of bike rides involving espresso at Cliffords and other coffee houses. The list of fun goes on and on!

writing, writing, writing ....

espresso time! Out with dad...

getting coffee with dad while on a bike ride!

More pretty fairy lanterns in the garden!

mom and her favorite running buddy!

Asher and Rhy held a wedding for Lucca and Roubi

Just married!

Uh oh!! Another strategically placed book making Nathan look shortless!!