July flies

Wow, July - I feel like I barely knew you.  The month started off with a bang: friends, fireworks, and firepits.  At one point fireworks found their way into the firepit, making the night especially memorable.

That was just the pre-show - as the highlight of the month was mom and dad gracing the land of banana slugs and giant trees.

Big Basin! Big Trees! Wait... Big Squirrels?

Mom and Dad in the heart of a CA-redwood

Tree hugger? Consider that box checked.

Here's Ed pointing out his birthday tree-ring.

We took a whale tour in Monterey Bay on Friday.  Pretty impressive to see a single blue whale, and lucky for us there were 10 out that day.  Heaps of humpbacks as well, we even were able to see one breach from the distance. 

Next we took mom and dad to see the Monterey Bay Aquarium with a back stage pass to the exhibits.  The 'spoiling dad with the best local aquarium' competition is on - yeah, David Hayden I am looking at you. 

On Saturday we took at short hike out to see the male elephant seals in Ano Nuevo. 

... and finished with flaming cheese!

Mom and Dad's first Mousakka!  I want to hang this picture on the wall behind them.

It feels like yesterday.  What a beautiful time - mom and dad we are so very happy that you could make it over and we cannot wait to see you again, soon.

xxox
k & e & scrappy
(ps. he misses you mom)

Rise up in the dirt

With sunshine most days, Ed and I decided to put together an above ground garden.  The seedlings practical overgrew their starter tray by week one.

I had never seen a plant so eager to live - here's one of our cucumber plants pushing root first out of the dirt:

Roots rise up in the dirt.

Here's Ed acting against his 'safety first' instinct for my camera request. 

Say "Garden bed"

Check out the automatic watering system that Ed installed, good-bye responsibilities:

Note the sweet water sprinkling system

I picked up the soil from home depot while Ed was out of town.  Nothing gets people's attention like a girl in high heels walking backwards with 18 cubic feet of soil and fertilizer. This stuff had all of the essentials - bats, cows, horses, chicken manure.  Heck, even Scrappy chipped in. 

Sweet garden success.

As for the 15ft water grand finale:

 

Ed and I found out pretty quickly that the watering system might need some adjustment.  The roof of the garage however, got a nice rinse.  

Two green thumbs up,

Karen and Ed.

June birthdays!

June has been a whirlwind of excitement.  Ed and I are so happy to celebrate the arrival of two adorable little babies - Baby Harrison and Sweet Lillian Miga!!! 

In chronological happiness;)  Many congratulations to my dear best friend Haley and her awesome husband Jimmy on their adorable little baby boy, Harrison Samuel Holden --  I cannot wait to meet him and spoil him with monogrammed gifts! 

Welcome Baby Harrison!

Ed and I have not stopped gushing over Lil' Miga.  August cannot get here fast enough as we are so looking to meeting her for the first time.  Ed got the best birthday gift in the world with his new beautiful little niece.  We (like all of Lillian's adoring fanbase), cannot get enough - and are thrilled to keep up with their Migadventures on Val's blog - "The Party Place".  Val and Eric are a riot and are going to make incredible parents  - I encourage you to read Val's account of  Lil' Miga's big day, such a fun read:)  Congratulations to the entire family (which I am so happy to be a part of!)
 

Welcome to the world, beautiful Lil' Miga!

Hugs!
Karen & Ed