Thursday, November 21, 2013

Leia Week 17: Leia Finds Her Feet! - 10/23/2013

The exciting news from this week was that Leia found her feet!  First she decided they we just pretty cool to hang on to, but now there's nothing better in the whole world to suck on then her big old toes!!  So flexible these little ones are.  You try sucking your toes, and I don't think it will make you happy or smilie, you'll probably wince in pain!  But Leia, on the other hand, has found a whole new level of contentment.  And cuteness:)  Also this week was a fun session of Mommy/Baby Yoga, which she was very good at (also helped that the timing of her meal and nap worked out perfectly so she just wanted to play during the whole yoga session).


Diaper time is the best time for playing with feet.

She's so proud of herself too.

I mean really, how cute is that?!

Show off!

We also made some new play friends this week...

I will hug you....

and then eat you!  (We know this girl's no vegetarian!)

Happy baby = smiling, sticking tongue out, and holding both feet.

Do you see the size of that big toe?  I mean really, who wouldn't want to suck on that thing!

When she looks at her Daddy and sucks her toe, she gets this magical glitter in her eyes!

Love that cute little monkey hat...how could anyone resist this cute little face!

Landscaping update: almost finished filling 1000+ holes, stained the whole thing with cement dye, and added a little garden patch along the garage.  Hope it all looks nice next summer!



Feet seem to be the only sure cure for an unhappy baby...the smiles never end!

Leia trying to figure out how her car seat turned into a Thyme Jungle during a quick 30 min nap?

As you might imaging from her Star Wars roots, Princess Leia was an expert at Warrior Pose!


Thursday, November 7, 2013

Leia Week 16: Working in the Yard- 10/16/2013

This week we took advantage of some nice weather to get a bunch of outdoor projects done before the snow flies. The main thing was a big landscaping project for the front of the house, which included installing a new parking pad made of turf stone and planting woolly thyme in all the holes.  Originally this project was supposed to be easy, but one thing led to another, and we ended up doing way more than we bargained for.  Luckily Leia was there to help!  We also took a nice hike up the 5 Lakes Trail, although Leia again missed most of it:)


The baby lion is sleeping in her den.

It feels so good to get exercise again!

Scenic shots with the new camera.


I see you peeking out of your den!

Trying out the new Walker...she needs to grow a little bit more to really use it properly.

I don't think lions and elephants usually like to play together.

Leia helping mom and dad plant 1,000 little holes of Wooly Thyme...so much fun!
Whoa, they're actually giving me margaritas? Sweet!

I hope Dad's not watching this!

Another Bacon Month meal...Bacon and Pesto Pizza with Sautéed Collard Greens and Bacon.

Leia Week 15: BaconFest 2, Baconalia - 10/9/2013

Leia attended her first BaconFest this week, and it was another great success.  We had a really great crew in attendance this year, and a whole new menu of incredible and delicious bacon dishes.  Josh really outdid himself again.  Also on tap was a little golf getaway to Graeagle with Nana and Poppy.  We did a little fall hiking in the state park and played golf at Grizzly Ranch for the first time (really beautiful and fun course).  And of course, BaconFest is never just one day; with all the leftovers, its actually Bacon Month.  We had many more delicious leftover creations.


Big feet!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Fun family birthday celebration, but Leia slept through most of it.

Mmmmm, bacon!

We upped the anti this year with heat lamps and warming plates...gotta keep the food hot with this all day event!


Josh's famous smoked chickens, basted in bacon fat.

Chaos in the kitchen, with our bacon bar in the foreground...Bacan wine and  bacon infused vodka bloodies.

Bacon, caramelized onion, and roasted garlic pizza on bacon pizza dough.

Other dishes featured here on the bacon buffet: bacon bread topped with bacon jam, bacon pretzels, bacon corn bread, bacon and spinach salad, bacon stuffed pork loin, smoked pork shoulder,  and pork chili.

Bacon stuffed mushrooms and bacon meatballs.


Leia loves hangin' with her Auntie Megan.

Kishka loves protecting and kissing her baby Leia. (Also, you can't really see it, but Leia was wearing her Piggy socks in honor of BaconFest.)

The crew out getting some fresh air between courses.

Every person in the world has a bowl cut at some point in their lives...Leia already has hers!


Heading out on a fun little hike on the Madora Lake Trail.



Lots of pretty fall scenery.




And our little bear is out for the count!

Letting it all hang loose in dead man's pose!

I just puked and now I'm happy!

Trial run of our new GoPro head cam mount.

And here's a sampling of more of our Bacon month creations... Open faced Bacon meatball sandwiches with avocado, bacon jam, and bacon bread.

Peach and bacon oatmeal.

Bacon, artichoke, and goat cheese pizza on bacon pizza dough. (And another favorite not pictured was smoked pork salad sandwiches!)