Leah's 10 Month...

Leah is well into her 11th month-- can you believe it?  I'm just now sharing her 10 month picture with you all.  Here she is!  Instead of trying to remember what Leah could do at exactly 10 months, back on June 15th when this picture was taken, I thought I'd just share a little about her now- at nearly 11 months old~

Leah is a fast crawler now.  Her favorite things to crawl to are doors (which she loves to push open and closed) and rugs (she loves to pull up the corners and eat whatever crumbs or bits of dirt are hiding underneath).  Oh, she also loves to crawl to Mommy, Daddy, or Grace.  Leah still has an exclamation that's unlike anything we've ever heard-- and if someone would like to comment and take a stab at describing it, I'd be grateful!  I can't put it into words, but it's awfully cute and I hope she keeps doing it.  We'll have to post a video of it.

Leah is happy, happy, happy, and likes a good cuddle.  She loves to walk and run--with help-- and is just starting to try to pull herself up on things.  She loves bath time but doesn't like the pool or beach at all.  She can use a straw or sippy cup for drinking and knows sign language for "more".  Everything goes in her mouth.  She likes to turn pages in books, pick up tiny things, clap her hands, play hide and seek, ride in the stroller, and dance to music.  She puts up with Grace's squeezes and hugs pretty well, but is starting to fight back!  She can point to your nose, eyes, and mouth...and then looses interest when you try to teach her "chin".  We're working on it!  

It's been a wonderful 10+ months, Leah Anne!

Camping Trip!

Our annual camping trip with Kevin and Alison happened two weekends ago, this time at Rocky Gap State Park in western Maryland.

Because she's on the ball and has some nice pictures and commentary posted already, here's a link to Alison's family blog for your viewing pleasure.  We're packing and preparing for the Deterding family vacation to Myrtle Beach right now (we'll be driving there through the night on Saturday), but I hope to get everyone updated on our summer so far once we return from South Carolina.

Feel free to leave Kevin and Alison a congratulatory message...the little girl you see in her baby bump is due to arrive in August!  There will be lots of girls on the 5th annual trip next year...

Too Long, I Know

I know it's been a whole 10 days since the last time we chatted.  Since the 12th, we have a weekend camping trip, a visit to the farm, and Father's Day under our belts.

"Under our belts".  What exactly does that mean anyway?

I still have to upload many pictures from the camera, but I do have one fun one to share today.  It's the Prigel men!

Camping at Little Drummer Boy, Gettysburg PA

More photos from the camping trip will come your way; this one is a preview.  Grace loved swimming in the kiddie pool, but Leah would only put her little feet in.

This afternoon we're heading out to Rocky Gap State Park in western Maryland for our second camping trip as a family of four.  It's time for the 4th annual Deterding-Sanders Camping Adventure!

Mr. & Mrs.

At the end of May, Steve and I gathered together with lots of close friends and family to witness Adam and Chelsea's wedding vows and celebrate the beginning of their life together.

Adam has been a friend for a long time, and it was fun to hang out with him over the past four years as he made his way through the Naval Academy.  He'd come by our place to relax and get some work done...that is, until he met Chelsea.  Then he had better ways to spend his spare time!  We're very, very happy for them and are excited to see where the Lord leads them as they head off to Florida and Flight Training School!

The rain poured down and we took our seats for the outdoor ceremony, but the rain soon stopped and held off until the moment the recessional was completed.  Here are some pictures from the reception (a little grainy because my flash batteries died, but happy memories none-the-less!)

There was a photo booth at the reception!!  Steve and I visited three times.  Coolest reception idea ever.  My parents:

Whoa, we made it on the blog again!

A Season for Every Purpose Under Heaven

I thought it was time for the season of potty training.  Maybe Grace did too, at first.  We were mistaken.

Grace is still barely over 2 years old, but when she kept asking me every day to use the potty and wear underwear, I thought that just maybe my little potty prodigy was ready after all!  

Nope, not yet.

We're back in the Pampers, and this time we're going to wait until all the signs point to Potty.

Quiz

Q.  Can you name these greens?

 These greens were part of our first CSA share of the season.  At first I didn't know what they were or what to do with them, but I soon figured it out and managed to cook with them.  The picture shows mustard greens (on the left) and arugula (with the white and pink flowers).  Steve and Grace are not fans of stir-fried mustard greens, but at least we tried them!

This week we got spinach, spicy greens, spring mix, and red leaf lettuce.  We'll be eating a lot of salads this week...