Picking Leah's Weight in Apples

Oklahoma...finally

We ate the famous "hot hamburger" at Murphy's Steak House...

We enjoyed many morning and afternoon visits with Granny and Grandpa...

We watched our first real live rodeo round-up...

We played on new and exciting playgrounds...

We took nice naps on plush hotel beds (that we didn't have to make!)...

We enjoyed watching Grace spend quality cuddle time with her great-grandparents...

We had plenty of entertainment...

We had such a good time!  Thanks for hosting us, Granny and Grandpa.  We hope it's not too long before our next visit with you!

Buy Beans for Baby Lankford

Our dear friends Shane and Wendy were just approved for their second adoption!  It's been such an experience to see them walk through the adoption process and see the Lord's covenant promises in action.

Their son Grae was adopted in January of 2008.

Grae is a likely candidate to be my son in law.  Sorry, I try not to be one of "those" kinds of matchmaking moms, but here's the evidence:

To raise funds for this second adoption, Shane and Wendy will receive a portion of the proceeds from every bag of coffee purchased from Just Love Coffee Roasters.  The company is dedicated to helping orphans and sells fair trade and organic coffees from around the world.

If you'd like to buy some beans and help the Lankfords bring home another precious baby, visit the Lankfords' page on the site and get to shopping!  I've already enjoyed some decaf Ethiopian and think we'll go for something from South America next.

Shane, Wendy, and Grae- we're looking forward to seeing God's provision for your family and can't wait to meet the newest little Lankford!  Maybe we'll have some more future match-making to look forward to.

To Find Out or Not To Find Out

At this morning's OB appointment I received three things:
1) the confirmation that I need to stop acting on my late-night cheesesteak sub cravings
2) my second opportunity to watch my girls as they listened to the baby's heart beat
3) a sonography request form

I just now made my sonogram appointment for 9 am on November 1, when I'll be 18 weeks + 6 days along in my pregnancy.  A couple weeks ago, during the night, I woke up and decided that I DIDN'T want to find out if we're having girl #3 or boy #1.  This was a big change in opinion because up to that point I was anxious to know.

I still think that I want to keep it a surprise but I still have 2 weeks to change my mind.  I think Steve could go either way.

...does anyone want to go out for a cheesesteak tonight?

The Prigel Family Creamery

Bellevale Farm.  The Creamery is the building on the right in the photo.

It's been a long wait for my Uncle Bobby and his family, but their very own organic creamery on their farm in Glen Arm, MD is finally open for business.  Those of you who know my family are aware of how much rejoicing is going on!

For those who don't know about the Prigel Family Creamery, and for those who haven't had a chance to visit since their opening last Saturday, I thought I'd give you a little tour.  We drove up for our first taste of ice cream this past Friday, and in between licks of my rich and creamy chocolate cherry cone I grabbed some photos to show you.

Here are the employees during a short break in the action.  My lovely cousin Mandy is at the register on the right, and her talented husband Kelvin is dipping some ice cream behind her.  At this time the Creamery is offering ice cream, shakes, and sundaes... delicious organic butter, milk, cheese and yogurt are what the future holds!

Kelvin really outdid himself and created 16 + flavors of ice cream for the opening.  I'm regretting that I didn't ask for a sample of every flavor, but I can recommend the three I tried-- chocolate peanut butter "squirl", chocolate cherry, and PUMPKIN.  The pumpkin was to die for.

Merchandise is for sale!  I wore my very own Prigel Family Creamery apron yesterday afternoon when I whipped up a batch of cookies.  If only we had some Prigel ice cream to go with them...

Behind the stand you can see one of my photos on display.

Mandy created some great displays about the history of the Prigel farm, Bellevale, as well as the Creamery operation.

Some more of my farm photos.

The menu...I've got a lot more tasting to do.

Ice cream is packaged and ready to take home to your own freezer.  But grab more than one, it won't last long.

Grace and Leah modeling the official t-shirts.

Mandy and two of their sweet employees.

My girls went straight for the M&Ms and sprinkles on vanilla ice cream.

Those of you who know my family know that getting the Creamery up and running has been a long process, and I think this stone on the front of the Creamery porch says it so well:

If any of our Annapolis friends and family want to make a road trip to the beautiful farm and Creamery, let us know!

Here's some more information:

Prigel Family Creamery

4851 Long Green Rd.

Glen Arm, MD 21057

Open Monday- Saturday noon to dusk

www.prigelfamilycreamery.com

There's a Fall Festival taking place at the Creamery on Saturday November 6.  Hayrides, scarecrow building, cider, pumpkin carving, and of course ice cream!  More information can be found on the website.

14 weeks + 5 days

Or, the three month belly picture.

I'm feeling the baby move today!

Here are big sis Grace and big sis Leah at the same age...

Major Catch-Up: July '10

I got really far behind in posting pictures this summer.  Between my Project 365 posts and growing a baby, posting here was pushed further and further down the list.  And that's ok.  For a while.  Now it's time to play catch-up because I'm officially in the second trimester AS OF TODAY!  To celebrate I'm multi-tasking instead of laying on the couch!  I have rice pudding simmering on the stove and I'm posting pictures of our summer.  

Let's begin with Gus-man, my favorite nephew, and some more pictures from his visit in early July.

We celebrated Grandma Deterding's birthday:

...with my new favorite shortcake recipe.  I'm a sucker for summer shortcakes:

*** my rice pudding just boiled over.  It's taking much longer to thicken up than it's supposed to, but I'm craving rice pudding!! ***

Next up, more of our Oklahoma visit...