Let Them Eat Cake

My friend Monica Ingles owns a cake shop with her sister called Sorellas Homemade Baked Goods. Sorellas means "Sisters" in Italian. 

This beautiful mother of four is energetic and creative. She is the brilliant woman who gave us the idea to use gorgeous cakes as centerpieces at our wedding, thus encouraging our guests to mingle and sample other tables' cakes and meet new people. Genius! And fun. And very delicious. 

Once we decided to celebrated Nathan's birthday Stateside, I knew just where to get the cake while celebrating Nathan's love for all things construction and truck. She is so freaking awesome. Look:

Monica calls her shop "the little cake shop that can." And they certainly did. Thank you, Monica!

:) sbc

Hit The Ground Running

We landed in the US on June 7 and hit the ground running--heading straight to DeWitt to reunite with several members of our families and celebrate Nathan's birthday with them. Add to that some of Kyle's friends from Traverse City, Leavenworth, Kansas and Phoenix, Arizona and you've got yourself quite a party!

(My parents have always had the kind of home (and cottage) that when the doorbell rings, we just grab another plate and everyone moves over one spot...big thanks to them...they always have room for "one more person." Can't believe we had 17 people overnight on our first night!)

Sisters! (me fresh off the flight...yikes)

Thanks for making the trip, fellas!
(L to R Doug, Kyle, Chad and Arie)

Cousins :)

Beepa and the Bride-to-Be (Anneke got married June 21)

Great idea for the Oberon mini-keg, Anneke and Hadi!

Arie and Sandy 

The best Mommas in the world.
I love love love this picture.

Bill and Cheryl "sure-you-can-stay-the-night" Bupp

Kyle and Sandy. A boy and his Momma.

Jess and Evy...aww

Make a wish!

Thanks for the great stuff, everybody! 

A hug for Nana

Lonnie and Evy having a "deep and meaningful"

Laura and Grace...aww 

Uncle Matt and Evy reading one of Nate's new books. We heart Richard Scarry books!

Kimmy and Nate playing with his new puzzle

The boys golfed Sunday and then came back to my parents' for dinner and another night of fun (and leftover cake!). 

What a fun way to start our trip! 

:) sbc

Best Laid Plans

Today we decided to take a quick road trip to nearby Cologne (Köln).  

Short story: we left in an Opel Insignia and came home in a BMW. 

Long story: We planned a fun day around Cologne visiting the Kölner Dom/Cologne Cathedral, The Museum Ludwig and the Imhoff Chocolate Museum with a leisurely lunch along the way. 

Boom!  Advancing up the carpark, we hit the curb just right and blew out our tire. Oops. 

Roadside assistance: They came, they saw, they couldn't fix. Enter the flat bed tow truck and rental car. Kyle rode in the tow truck and prepared to accept delivery of the tiniest, two-door, without-navi BMW they could find. :-/

Meanwhile, Nate, Evy and I meandered to the Chocolate Museum did some quality control of their products...everything is up to snuff. Yum.

What a day. So glad to be home! 

Walking along the Rhein River 

Yes, please, Mr. Lindt!

Yum!

Free samples from the chocolate fountain 

I love you, free sample lady!

Chocolate all over his face

We had to wait until we reunited with Daddy to open his giant, chocolate soccer ball from the Museum shop 

Evy halts traffic
(Just kidding the sign said walk, but don't tell her that!)

Who wants to take the train to Cologne to retrieve Kyle's car this week? Me. 

:) sbc

Back Into The Swing of Things

Hi! 

We're back on German soil and reunited with Kyle after a delightful summertime visit to many of our near-and-dear in the States. 

I can't wait to fill you in, just give me a moment to get back into the swing of things!

It shouldn't take too long, but right now, we're kinda going in circles.

:) sbc

Natey Wi Is Three!

Happy birthday to our little boy! Three years...WOW. 

May 28, 2011, Seoul, Repuplic of Korea:

 May 28, 2012, DeWitt, Michigan:

 May 28, 2013, Königstein, Germany:

May 28, 2014, Königstein, Germany:

We love you, Cutes! 

:) sbc and Daddy

Eight is Great!

Yesterday little Evy-kins hit the eight month mark. She spends most of her time crawling (toward Pete) and in the downward facing dog yoga position. She continues to love sweet potatoes, but is really not loving the other sweet stuff. She shudders and then kind of pushes bananas, pears and apples out of her month. Cute, but messy!

Wake up!

Are those your cheeks? 

Cheese!

Mommy & Evy

My little worried pirate

The look of mischief

:) sbc

Boo-Hoo-Flu

Trust me, you don't want this post to have pictures. 

Since last Thursday, Kyle (thanks for staying home, babe) and I have been in a seemingly endless cycle of doing laundry, texting the doc with the latest temps and "activity," sanitizing toys/surfaces and trying to stay healthy.  Now I am happy to report that after a week of flu going through our homestead, we are all healthy again! 

In other news, T-minus five days until a certain, little man turns THREE! 

:) sbc