Winter Garden :: Spring Harvest

Green thumbs up

for winter gardening.

This winter, Andrew and Alekzander planned and planted our garden beds.

We grew broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, 

onions, brussel sprouts, lettuce, and spinach.

We are hoping to be able to harvest some veggies 

before our move in just a few weeks.

So far we have enjoyed lettuce and spinach

and are trying wait patiently for these broccolis to get a little bigger.

{Macro photo by Alekzander; 4/30/16}    

Family Date

Forced to be out of the house, 

we celebrated receiving two offers on the house 

+ more showings after being on the market for less than 48 hours.

Family meet up {including Syra} at two local breweries.

Added bonus = Mac and Cheese food truck!

Hanging out under the table ... content as can be.

5 Before 2

 

A-Bay :: End of the Day

One more boat ride, 

some snuggles and sillies,

and a delicious ice cream treat

topped off our day in A-Bay and the 1000 Islands.

SYR :: Hotel Perks

Hotel perks :: late nights & free dessert + two cherries!

While Daddy was out on a 50K run,

I decided I would cash in on the free dessert token

since Alekzander was a rockstar at dinner {and at life in general}.

This went from being a good idea to being a horrible idea

in about 30 seconds ... as soon as the sugar hit his system.

The pullout couch-to-bed leap happened no fewer than

ten times {luckily with no mishap} and wrestling him into PJs was impossible,

 but once he was finally in bed, the sugar coma knocked him 

{and me} out in just a few minutes.

Pit Stop Three :: Hershey's Chocolate World

A must-see pit stop in Hershey, PA

The smell alone is enticing,

but a free ride and more candy than you can imagine ...

a little boy's dream come true!

 Daddy with his boys

Mama's boys

Waiting in line for the tour/ride 

Alekzander, the sponge, soaking in chocolate knowledge.

Anderson, on the other hand, was clearly not impressed.

He was trying to figure out why we were riding in a cocoa bean

{astutely pointed out later by Alekzander}

and why cows were singing in a dark tunnel!

 Yum! July 18 production as of 11 a.m.

We may have bought and consumed some of these favorite products.

 Upon exiting the giant moving cocoa beans,

we got a sample of some of the chocolate 

made in the Hershey's factory!

World's Largest Hershey's Kiss, Reese's Cup, and Hershey's bar

LC friends and Hershey locals {Nicole and Anthony} 

met us at one of their favorite spots

Pit Stop Two :: Hagerstown

Following the theme of the day, we had dinner with two of my college roommates at Hempen Hill BBQ. They quickly got introduced to the craziness of our life.  By the time we finally sat down to eat, I was sweating from carrying a shy Alekzander and fetching Anderson's cup/paper/toy etc.  Alekzander eventually warmed up and talked to Melissa and Sarah and shared his crayons and coloring book. Anderson was cute but littered the floor with close to a thousand Cheerios.  I was sold on a fried green tomato BLT and Andrew ate NC BBQ ... in MD.  Though we left the restaurant way past bedtime after a long day of traveling, both boys were amazing, but we were so thankful to have full bellies and a place to lay our heads before driving further north.

Silly boy pretending to sleep on the way to MD

Later he napped for real for two hours!

Birthday Expressions

 Big Brother :: So excited about Anderson turning ONE!

Anderson ready to dig in!

Another birthday dessert? 

 I can get excited about that!

 Do NOT take my birthday cake away from me!

Mama and the birthday boy :: recovered once he had some 'cake' back!

Cake Smash

Go, Anderson. Go!

Go, Dog. Go! is a favorite book in our house,

especially over the course of the last two months

as the theme overtook my thoughts and waking hours.

{Nothing says love more than staying up until 2 a.m. with your husband

making birthday desserts and decorations for a one year old's party!

Party planning is one of my favorite things to do, 

so even though we pulled some late nights, it was so much fun.}

Luckily Anderson is also slightly obsessed with Go, Dog. Go! too.  

He got his plush toy over a month ago, and it is probably his favorite toy to snuggle!

We've been excited to share a copy of the book and the stuffed dogs with our friends.

{Spoiler alert ::  The dogs go to a dog party at the top of a tree at the end of the book!}

Anderson got to smash a giant banana bread cupcake 'tree' after everyone sang to him.

Party guests got to eat stoplight brownies and  Ree's Marshmallow Crispy Treats.

 Cake eating is serious business.  

Not really sure about the green frosting, 

but even as tentative as he was, it ended up in his ears and hair

as it should on one's first birthday!

Big brother requested a special birthday parade.

We walked, rolled, rode, and scooted.

How would you go?!

{Adorable shirt made by a sweet friend!}

Playing DJ in his new, red, Cozy Coupe ride.

Hands on the wheel, big guy!

 Finally playing on the playground with a cute buddy!

 

 Go, Anderson. Go!

We love you so much.

One will be so much fun

with you on the go!