- Reunited!... -

Sum-It-Up Sunday

...with THIS GIRL in Cleveland!

Tons of pics coming! 

Other week highlights: 

-- Roadtrip to Cleveland/New York! Stay tuned!

- Montgomery County Pageant -

Sum-It-Up Sunday

Another year...

Another summer...

Another county fair season...

And another Montgomery County Fair Queen!!! 

Congrats to our county's new beautifullllll 2014 royalty, Shayla Grosenheider! :) 

This was my third year having the best seat in the house...back stage left on the emcee mic! Nothing beats having a front row view of the competition!  Steal/borrowed a couple pics from the always amazing Studio 131 Photography:

--George and I emceeing!

--Summer warming up for the Star-Spangled Banner!

--2014 Miss Montgomery County Fair Queen Shalya and 2013 Miss Montgomery County Fair Queen (annnnd 2014 Miss Illinois County Fair Queen) Summer!  Two beauties!

--Missy and her new queen!

Once a queen, always a queen!!! The Montgomery County Fair is so big and generous and loving, and we "has-beens" are so honored to be a part of this fair family forever! 

Surprised by a couple of my 2010 county fair queen loves! Montgomery -- Edgar -- Georgetown! Four hours in 95-degree humidity ain't got nothin' on us! Love you ladies!! So great to see you!! 

Congratulations again, Shayla! You rocked the stage and stole the show! So well deserved and so proud of you. Welcome to the crazy county fair club...you're in for the best summer of your life!!!

Other week highlights: 

-- Pageant practice practice practice makes perfect! 

- Father's Day -

Sum-It-Up Sunday

Semi-ironic that today is Father's Day since I'm mostly just doting over all the mothers......

...but we'll just take one hot second to pretend the whole labor/delivery/pushing out a watermelon process is actually about the fathers.

I mean, it sort of is.

Turning men into dads...it's what we do best! ;) Bring on the Father's Day bay-bayyys!

But really.....  Happy Father's Day to all the great dads out there, especialllllly mine who is off spinning his bike wheels somewhere in between Oregon and Wyoming! Love you and so proud of you always, Dad!!!!!

Other week highlights: 

-- Brian had a 4-day conference full of meetings and eatings in St. Louis this week, so Purina sprang for hotel rooms. Mini STL stay-cation on the company credit card? Yeah, sure! It was super convenient to drive 15 minutes in the mornings after work instead of the normal 40+ back to the Illinois side, so I slept in the hotel all day while Brian worked. Loved it!...minus the housekeeping woman that knocked on the door 3 times mid-morning in spite of the "DO NOT DISTURB" door hanger. Brian said they probably were starting to wonder what was going on in that room by the third day of having the hanger on 24/7. Ha! Just a super sleepy night shift worker passed out, duhhhh.

-- Dueling pianos at Mt. Olive Homecoming! 

-- Brian's family reunion! 

-- Irish Days in Farmersville! 

- Fam Fotoz -

We had some extended family pictures taken a couple weeks ago at my grandparents' house, and while our little nuclear family of 4 [+ 1 son-in-law + 1 dog] was all dressed and primped for the occasion, we extended the photo sesh in the backyard.  Mostly an opportunity to mess around with our fancy camera and new tripod, but also a chance to capture a little family fun. ;) 

Meet the newest member of the family slash broski's dog, Sarge. 

[The Sargeant was a photobombing maniac...]

Just a little lighting testing... They really don't hate each other. ;) 

 Love this family God chose for me!!

- Strawbaliciousness -

Sum-It-Up Sunday

Scored some of Resa's [handpicked!] homemade white chocolate-covered strawberries this week!! 

My FAVORITE!

These are a product of her second trip to the local orchard, and you would never even be able to start guessing all the straw-ba-licious things that have emerged from that kitchen this month. Strawberry pizzas and pies and jams and everything in between and I'm glad Brian doesn't know all of this is going on or he'd be devastatingly disappointed in my mediocre housewifery habits. 

Anyway, my mom is pretty freakin' awesome and these sweet snacks were pretty freakin' delish!  Thanks, Mom! 

A little more [wedding week!] chocolate-dipping funness in momma's kitchen:

• Chocolate-covered spoons

• White chocolate-covered pretzels

Other week highlights: 

-- Happy wedding day, Chris and Stephanie!! You are a gorgeous couple! 

-- TWO nights of the Bachelorette! Be still, my soul.

- Fiona's Baptism -

Sum-It-Up Sunday

Check out Uncle Brian taking his first stab at being a godparent...

You're a pretty calm and accepting guinea pig, sweet Fiona! ;)  Happy baptism day and welcome to God's family, baby girl! 

#thegodfather

Other week highlights: 

-- Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all the men and women [past, present, AND future] who have protected our freedom. We appreciate you!