Happy Birthday, Langley!

Our little Langley turned ONE while we were at the beach (6/11). She thoroughly enjoyed the festivities...and the cake was a big hit! She sure is a blessing in our lives. In one sense, it is hard to believe that she is one already. In another, it is hard to believe that she hasn't always been with us. We're looking foward to all that this next year has in store.

Sunset Photos

One evening while we were at the beach, I attempted a little "photo session" with the kids. I learned that getting a good shot of three little ones is next to impossible! But, here's the record of my efforts. :)

Beach Fun

Earlier in June, we spent a week at the beach with the Johnson clan. Everybody had a blast in the sea, sand and pool. And, it was great to be with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Camden and Owen loved hunting for sand crabs. Thanks to Uncle Jason, they even had some hermit crab pets for the week. Langley was as interested in eating the sand as she was playing in it. Thanks to Nonna and Papa for such a special vacation!

Camden's 4K graduation

Camden graduated from preschool on 5/16/2008. She sure has enjoyed her time at Little Imaginations, but she's also excited about moving on to "big school." We are so proud of her!

Down on the Farm...

We're glad that summertime is here! Our relaxed schedule will give us more opportunities to enjoy some of our favorite places. One of those is the "Demonstration Farm" at Oak Mountain State Park. We were there on 5/21/2008. We hung out with the animals and had a picnic. The baby goats and little lambs were the stars of the day.

Aldridge Gardens

We love to spend time hanging out at Aldridge Gardens in Hoover. We didn't go too often during the winter months, so we took advantage of the warm weather today and headed out there for a picnic lunch. Camden was in school, so it was a special outing for Owen and Langley. Owen really enjoys feeding the fish and the turtles. The overcast conditions seemed to invite a little picture-taking.

Sunday Pulla Baking

This past Sunday, we opted to skip church and just enjoy a relaxing morning at home. Alan and the kids decided to bake pulla. This was the first time Langley was around for the baking...and the first time she was old enough to eat it!

This is a Keravuori tradition that has been passed down for generations. Alan uses the same recipe that his mom and his grandmother (and probably others before her) have used for many years. Eating pulla and drinking hot chocolate were part of his childhood memories with his Mummi and Taato. Our children love to bake it with their Gram and their Daddy. I love to watch the whole process--they take turns grinding the cardamom seeds in Mummi's mortar and pestle. In something as simple as baking bread, they are learning layers and layers of lessons.