Lake house with Tim and Kat

Ahhh...we are just back from a relaxing weekend (despite the 3 1/2 hour drive each way) in Clear Lake, IA with our very loved and missed friends Tim and Katherine Oleson. A couple that we spent LOTS of fun times with when we lived in Seattle, I feel refreshed now that I've had a dose of the friendship that I've been missing for so long (although, it would have been nice to spend even more time together). I think we'll have to make this an annual trip. We had amazing weather and just enough time to lounge around and just BE...together. Exactly what we needed!

The beautiful view from the lake house we rented. Ryan and Tim spent the better part of the weekend out there fishing. Good times.

Being silly on our stroll through town.

Smart sign. Beautiful friend!

All of us. Too bad Owen decided to look back and see what we were all doing behind him instead of smiling for the camera.

Ready to get out of the stroller and...

SWING!!!

I think Daddy had more fun going down this slide than Owen. He's still a little timid on playground equipment, but he really seemed to enjoy himself here.

Can't wait until next year to do this again! Missin' me some Kat already!!!

Summer is flying by!

Ahhhh...how did it get to be the middle of August already? Time seems to move so much faster these days.

Owen is starting to say a few more words lately, like "uh-oh" anytime he drops something on the floor (which is often). Another favorite is "yum-yum" when he's hungry or enjoying a particularly tasty bite of something. And "bu-bye," although we can't seem to combine that with a wave just yet. He tries very hard to say banana, and definitely knows what that is, but it comes out more like "baba." He's also mastered the concept of putting a phone up to his ear (and sometimes other random objects) when someone says "hello?" My mom thinks he's trying to say "hello" when he utters "oh, oh, oh," but I'm not sure. Maybe...

Here are a few recent pics.

Mischief.

A very HOT summer day at the park.

Mmmmm...blocks.

Pony ride with Daddy!

Hello? I see you in there, clothes...