Oh, Hello Summer...

Sorry I haven't been around!  It was the last month of school which is basically just pure insanity, and at the same time I've been helping to plan for different events for the 2 weddings that I'm in this summer/fall (Congrats K & S!  We can't wait!). 

The big event is coming up today because it's Emma's 1st Birthday Party!  I can't believe she's one!

This was her the day she was born:

And one from her first birthday:

Isn't it funny how she looks so different and yet exactly the same?  I went back and forth on her first birthday theme: butterflies?  Strawberry Shortcake?  I'll post pictures of the final theme tomorrow, but here's a little hint:

I will also be back blogging about our food trials and tribulations.  I can't wait to try all the recipes that people have given me! Now, in addition to limiting what we buy at the store, I'm trying to use up all the local, organic produce we have been getting from our summer CSA, Honey Brook Organic Farm.  for example, last week we took in: one head of cabbage, 4 heads of lettuce, 2 zucchinis, 1 head of arugula, 2 quarts of string beans, and 2 cucumbers.  Part of the blog will be seeing what I can do with these ingredients and the other part how I store up everything for winter. Since we threw out WAY too much last year, our goal for this year is to use or freeze everything so that we have it for later.  So far, I have 2 gallons (not that's not a typo) of strawberries and 1 quart of string beans in my basement freezer.  If you gave me a recipe, I'm on it!  I just have to wait until the ingredients become seasonal.

Not to be forgotten, Will has officially entered his terrible twos (how fun for us!) We moved him into a big bed, which had the unfortunate result of a 5:30am wakeup time.  Now we have trained him to stay in bed and yell, "Mom!  I'm up!"  Much to our dismay, this wakeup call comes at 6am.  Ugh.  Here's my current favorite Will picture. He was up at the lake playing golf with my dad:

Judging from his expression, I'm pretty sure he just bogeyed that hole. 

See you later!