'Merica Month #2

Well, what a fun month we have had!  From more time on the farm, to sweet reunions with friends.  From anniversary celebrations to new milestones for William... it's all been a whirlwind!  And we love it.  Every single second.

I am so thankful for this time.  Not only for our family and friends to spend sweet time with William, but also for Steven and I to be around people who love, care and understand us.  It has been life-giving to our souls.  So thank you, friends, for your good conversations and company.  We are blessed by you beyond words!

Here's a little bit of what we've been up to this past month...

I love this pic.  William just hanging out watching the fire.

In the Bobcat with Dad!

William got a little sick (poor guy, probably from all the traveling and schedule changes), but I have to admit...I kind of love how cuddly he gets when he's not feeling well.  Such a sweet boy.

First time on a tractor!

I think Steven has a pic of him on this very tractor when he's a little boy.  So fun!

My lil' farmer

Wagon ride around the yard

William's really been lovin' food since we've been back.  Sometimes you can't shove it in fast enough!

Out to eat with my dearest cousin/friend, Katherine, and her boyfriend, Jeff!  We're both big foodies, so I made her make a reservation at Girl & the Goat!  Soooo good.  We ate pig face and it was amazing.

Happy Father's Day, Stevo!  My mom (I helped just a little..) made flank steak with chimichurri sauce, twice baked potatoes, garlic shrimp, spinach salad and sweet corn on the cob.  A big win for Stevo!

A fun day with Dougie (out to breakfast) and the kiddos... went to Brookfield Zoo!

Our sweet reunion weekend with our old Bible Study.  It was sooo refreshing to be around some of our dearest friends again and talk about how much our lives have changed in such a few short years!  We love you guys so much and are thankful that we had this sweet time together.

 Thanks for the hospitality, Houchs! :)

 Bridal shower for Kristi & Doug!  Love seeing my Katherine :)

Leila and Natey are so good with William!

 

Who wouldn't roast marshmallows and make smores on a hot summer day?!?! 

 

William loves his Mum Mums!

He figured it out on the first try :)

 
He also is figuring out his sippy cup!  What a big boy.

7 months old and on the move!  William has started getting up on all 4s and rocking back and forth.  He can't quite go forward yet, but he likes to scoot backwards!

My soulmate, Kori, came to visit us for the weekend!!!!  We haven't seen each other in over 3 years, but we picked up right where we left off.  I love our friendship and was so appreciative of her willingness to fly across the country, leave her baby just to spend the weekend with us.  Love you, Kori.  Your life blesses mine.  Can't wait to see you again soon.

Pretty girl

Leila's obsessed with being twinsies (not that I mind a bit!), so she called me and told me to come over in my red dress!  I piked her up for a dinner date at Red Robin and we matched to the T!  Flip flops, hair in a bun, brown purses and red dresses!

Ice cream date with Bubby.

 William lovin the swing.  The boy loves to do anything outside!  His dad is happy.

 William is a bit of a quirky kid.  He loooooves to suck on his thumb with my hair in his mouth.  So, one day Grandma decided to give him a hair piece (ponytail thingy) that she got awhile back!  And of course, he loved it.  Would it be totally creepy if he used that as his blankie?!?!  

The night the Blackhawks one the Stanley Cup!!!  Go HAWKS! 

For Father's Day, Grandma Sauder got Grandpa a bike trailer for Wililam!  So fun :) 

Started giving William vitamins.  He doesn't really like them. :)

4th of July at the lake.  Love my boys!

 Ahhh.... :)

 Mowin the lawn with Grandpa Sauder!

 Celebrating our 5th year anniversary!!!!  Steven planned a special weekend in Peoria, so we left William for the first time!  Good thing he had good babysitters (Grandma & Grandpa Sauder) or else it would have been really hard to leave him for the night.  I did miss him terribly though... and annoyed them by calling twice and checking up on him.  HOWEVER, it was pretty great to sleep in to 10:30!  First time in about 8 months!!!

Love you the mostest, babe.

Hanging at the lake with the Sauder cousins!

The simplest toys are the most entertaining!

Out to dinner for our anniversary at SALT

Good food makes me excited :)

Bacon and cheese appetizer!  Boar bacon, duck bacon and pig bacon with cheese pairings along with candied walnuts and blackberries.  Delicious.

My meal--one of the best I've had!

Braise pork belly with quail egg on top of chipotle sweet potato puree with a balsamic reduction and caramelized brussel sprouts.  AHHH!

5 years and still in love :) 

Looking out on Peoria

 The day of our actual anniversary was Steven's 10 year high school reunion!

Laura (Steven's friend from high school) with all the wives! 

Roanoke Benson HS Class of 2003!  They had about 25 classmates show up... not bad considering there was 60 in his class! :)

And here's to the last month we'll have in the States... two more wedding and a couple of family vacations!  It should be fun and full of fun memories!  :)

Summer Family Photos :)

For Christmas last year, I bought my family a photo session by my dear friend and amazing photographer, Jasmine Nicole.  Since we knew we would be home for our siblings' weddings, I thought it would be a perfect time to capture some family shots with everyone!

I absolutely loooooove how these turned out and know I will cherish these photos when we head back to Thailand.  It'll be nice to have these updated pictures to put around our place and serve as a reminder of how blessed I am to have such a great family.  I get all teary-eyed thinking about our goodbyes, but for now am trying to just enjoy the precious time we do have with them.

Thank you, Jasmine, for capturing all of us so well.  And thank you, family, for being the best family I could ever ask for.