Christmas in July- first wreath of the season

Garden Update

Chilis

Banana Peppers- these are going bonkers.  I've been prepping and freezing and am hoping to can rings for sandwiches and pizza.  I've never been huge on banana peppers, but we put them in everthing and I'm officially a convert- so good!

Our train wreck of a corn field.  The birds have completely ruined all the corn.  We're not sure what to do about this.  I'm excited to go to the King reunion and pick some of my Aunt's and Uncle's brains on how to take care of this- most of them have been growing sweet corn for decades

The Jungle- aka our tomato plants

More Tomatoes

Beans- they are growing well, but I think all the beans are getting picked off.  There are a lot of flowers, but I haven't gotten any beans yet.  The bugs are going to town on the leaves

Muskmelon (cantaloupe)

There is a muskmelon!!

Cabbage

Carrots- aren't they cute?

Pumpkin

MORE tomatoes

If you could zoom in on this you could count 100 tomatoes

Strawberry patch- poor things are pretty much done.  It's just been too hot, we can't keep the ground moist enough for them.  They are alive, but I don't think we'll get any more strawberries

This isn't ours, this is our neighbors grape leaves- want!

We have learned so much this first year with the garden.  We will be doing a lot of things differently next year.  Plus, we plan on doubling the size of the garden next year- it's going to be massive

So.....bird seed needs to be put in a bucket

We knew the bag would get broken into, we just kept putting it off.  We came out and 630 birds and 990 squirrels darted out of our shed.  We didn't have to look to know what happened.  They broke the bag open and all that stuff on the ground?  Besides the gas can- all of that was up on a shelf.  They had a party

Bridgette and Ethan's birthday gift to Charlie

The lens is a little foggy from going from A/C to the heat.  That or the camera is rejecting this.  Well, Bridgette and Ethan have been raised Mizzou fans- God help them.  I put Charlie in lots of little Jayhawk stuff and it's always a little rivalry.  They thought it would be funny to give him this for his birthday.  It's actually pretty cute- has little booties and everything.  And who knows- with the cost of college, he may end up going to Mizzou!  KU is out of state!  It might be a fun rivalry to have my son go to MU because no matter how good MU gets, KU always has a better team!

Plus, he'll always be a little Jayhawk at heart

Hi Grandma!

Grandma & Grandpa McAuley has an amazing way of finding things.  I told them I was on the look out for a wagon.  Surprise! Surprise!  Not only did she find one- she found the one I wanted.  The best one- a Radio Flyer.  Matt immediately hijacked it for gardening.  Well yesterday, the weather finally cooled down (slightly) and I stole it back!  Charlie and I hosed it down and cleaned it up.  We scooted around the backyard and even went and walked on the street for a bit.  He had fun climbing on it and putting the seats up...down...up...down when we were done.

Charlie's Birthday Shoutout on Oh Dee Doh

Click here to see Charlie's birthday shoutout

(One of) my favorite kid's site's is oh dee doh.  They do birthday posts and you can send in pics with a little message and then watch all the people tell you how cute your kid is

It's silly, but fun

Toy Cars are HILARIOUS

Big milestone!  We dump all his toys out at play time and even though I feel like he has no idea what I'm saying, I was able to ask him to help me pick up his toys and he did it!  Very slowly and I had to hand him each toy, but he put it back in the basket one by one.  Progress!  Isn't this the cutest video ever?

Exactly One Minute in the Life of Charlie

Like most babies, he's obsessed with cell phones.  I locked mine and let him play with it a while.  He puts it up to his ear- it's so funny the things they observe and ape.  Matt went golfing with his buddies so it was just the two of us today.  We stayed in our PJs and trashed the living room with pillows and toys and just hung out.  It was nice.  It's still too hot to do anything outside- we've been on a long streak of 100 plus degree days. 

Off of formula

Unrelated pics, but this is how he generally sleeps, with his feet dangling outside the crib

I had to buy formula a few days before he turned one.  I was just 3 days from his 1 yr appointment but didn't want to start milk until I talked to his doctor.  I've been slowly using it up, mixing milk and formula to get him used to the taste.  Which I might add was totally unnecessary- he likes both no problem.  But last night I used the last couple of scoops- what a great feeling!  It's a savings of about $80/month so I am thrilled.  He's growing up!

I love this big boy room!

I love old tennis rackets- I know my dad used to have a ton, I'm sure they are long gone.  And the plank wall!  Love it!

Source

New Poster for Charlie's Room

Where shall I put this?  Who knows, but I love it

Source

Charlie's One Year Pics

I realize that I'll need to edit this one, but I thought his face was so cute

Charlie's Blessing 6/29/11

Charlie was blessed in the Episcopal Church June 29th.  It was a warm day, but we were able to do the blessing out in the beautiful gardens of St. Michael's.  It was a short, sweet and intimate service.  Rob and Melissa came up to take some pictures- I expected to get a few family shots after but Rob, as usual, got some fantastic pictures

Mother Lisa- she performed our wedding ceremony and is a very close friend and spiritual advisor to Matt and I.  She joked that it wasn't too long ago that she said a blessing at our wedding for children- she's very good!

Ethan- thilled as always to get his picture taken

Beautiful Bridgette

Maybe it's because we see them more often, but we don't get many pictures of these three- I'm thrilled with these of Charlie with his Grandma and Grandpa

This is the face I see all the time 'pick me up mom, mom, mom, pick me up'

Sleepy baby after all the commotion