August 23 + 8 months pregnant = One HOT MAMA Baby Shower

So fun to celebrate this mama in late August!  We are all so excited for Little Boy Lochhead #2 to arrive--and excited for this family of three to become four.

It was a gorgeous day in the backyard.  Women drinking Arnold Palmers, kids playing on the swing set, miniature babies popping out of ice cubes...

 Grandma Dorothy made a sweet flannel blanket for this new little one.

 Grandma got to snag little Alexa for a few minutes

 And Micah woke to enjoy the party, too.

Ok, Little Man…your family is ready for you...

The St. Joe River...

Matt and Jeff spent three days and two nights doing just what they wanted:  fishing.  Their initial plan was to go to the Grande Ronde, but due to the time of year and water levels, their trip transformed to one along the St. Joe River.  I don't think they were too disappointed--look at these pics!

August at the Farm

The day after Heidi's birthday, we met at the farm for a weekend together before Matt and Jeff took off for a boys' overnight adventure on the St. Joe River.  The farm is extra fun when we bring our friends along!  Thanks to Mama Joan of hosting this big group…during harvest!

The retro-walker.  Katie, Ellie, and Ben have pictures of themselves in this walker, and now all of our kids do too!  Micah LOVED it.  He kept flying across the floor, somehow always ending up by the fake ficus tree, helping himself to the messy moss in the pot.

Uncle Jeff gave the kids rides in the Gator.

And neighbor Davy gave the kids a garden tour…complete with corn picking!

There were some apricots left on the highest branches of the trees.  We had a couple of anxious monkeys ready for just such a task.

The kids entertained each other for hours.  This was the beginning of a carnival they set up all over the lawn with different stations.  The Fun Farm Festival, to be precise.

And then we took them out to the field!  :)  Can you tell it was hot on this day?

In the truck with Papa Greg, sudoku, and chocolate licorice.  Does not get any better.  :)

Combine riding with Uncle Ben--the little boys first.

The girls begged, "Please say hiking up that hill is part of today's plan!!!"  I told those crazy girls that of course they could hike up that giant hill.  And they did, those crazy girls.  Even Grace.  They're the little specks at the top.

Middle girls next with Uncle Ben.

Meanwhile, we were busy back at the trucks.  :)

The only shady spot.  Just high enough for two boys to stand under:  the truck bed.

Abby and Kalei were last--but not least.  They helped Ben finish the patch and got the LONGEST turn of all.

Cousin Sam was a good field host also, sharing his air-conditioned tractor cab.

It was such a fun weekend!  Thanks, Van Stickles, for experiencing the farm with us!  When are you coming again??!!

Happy Birthday, Heidi!

We snuck a present over to Heidi on her birthday!  We love this lady!

 It just so happened they had the karaoke machine out and ready to go…ah, the memories!!!

Micah, Micah-Man...

 This summer was filled with all sorts of amazing Micah Milestones…sleeping through the night (finally!) in July/August-ish, sprouting his two first teeth in June-ish, starting solids before all of our vacations but then really diving into baby food after our vacations (July-ish), rolling all over the carpet to get places in August, and learning to give Mama kisses in August as well.  He is now saying, "Mama," and I am SURE he knows that's my name.  He also says "Dada" and "Baba," though not as regularly, and squeals when brother Joshy gets too close.  He likes to make up his own noises.  My favorite is, "Goik! Goik!"  He likes the sound of that one.  And look at that HAIR!  This summer he's been working on cultivating some blond whispies on that scalp!

Date Night!

Just for the record, there was a date night in August!  I think we returned unused bathroom fixtures, ate at The Goat, and then dessert-ed at Twigs.  Sweet Linnea watched our hooligans.  We are going to miss having her in our casa!

Saturday Morning Legos

Actually, it was August, so this may have been a weekday.  We are so spoiled to have days and days off together in the summer.  Please note the legos-on-a-blanket (a newfound clean-up strategy), the number of binkies near Micah, AND the boy wearing his undies backwards so he can see the characters that are normally on the bum.