The Golden Arches

A few weekends ago, we were driving home from a birthday party around Austin's supper time. We did what any health conscious parent would do...ordered his first Happy Meal! (The sweet tea was for Dad. We're not THAT crazy!)I think I was more excited then Austin was. You see, McDonald's was a huge weakness for me every God given day when I was pregnant. It started when I had morning sickness and nothing else sounded good. I pretty much used that excuse the entire 9 months. I'd order Happy Meals on days I wanted to eat lite, often thinking about the day I'd be buying my child a Happy Meal. Well, the time has finally come...
I told him that a Happy Meal is one of the few good reason for pacey removal.
I think he really liked it! I mean, who doesn't??
He got really excited when he found there would be a toy at the end!
My favorite part was what was left over for Mom!

Wordless Wednesday: Thank You

Plate Up!

Austin is turning into such a big boy these days. The time has come to get him used to eating off of a plate. I was excited when I found one with a special "won't-come-off-the-table" suction ring on the bottom. I figured this would be perfect since I knew the first thing he'd do was throw the plate on the floor. He screamed bloody murder patently waited while I cut up his cheese, hot dogs, grapes and strawberries.Bring me the plate, woman!
Hmmm, this is interesting!
What's the big deal?
I just reach in here for my dinner.
Ah, milky...Wait, just a second! Does this thing come off of here?
And then, dinner was over...
We'll try again next time! Practice makes perfect, right?!?!

Summer Fun

Adali's Mommy recently asked what we like about summertime. (okay, it wasn't really recently...but I'm trying my hardest to catch up!) I'm going to say one of my all time favorite things is fresh sweet corn. I think you'll see that Austin agrees!

Bonjour Cousin

A few weeks ago we were able to meet Jay's cousin from France. Jocelyn, and his friend, Lydie, made a stop in Sparta at the end of their long U.S.A. vacation. Jocelyn is Grandpa Kiefer's first cousin. Grandpa Kiefer's Mother (Austin's Great Grandma) and Jocelyn's father were brother and sister. All of Austin's Great Gramdma's siblings moved to France for work after living with their parents, Bonaire and Victor (Austin's Great-Great Grandparents), in North Africa. It's debatable whether Austin has French or Italian blood in him. Apparently there were border issues when his Great-Great-Great Grandfather, Giovanni, was born. I bet you never new a small family from Sparta, IL could have such an exciting past!

Grandma and Grandpa Kiefer made everyone a traditional BBQ dinner. I should have brought Austin French Fries and French Dressing, but once again I wasn't thinking, so it was cheese, ham, grapes and strawberries on his plate. Here he is in his Daddy's high chair....
Austin and Jocelyn
Playing with Grandpa and Uncle Jonathan
Grandpa Kiefer, Lydie, Jocelyn, G'Aunt Sissy, Uncle Jonathan, Florence and G'Grandpa Kiefer looking at old photos...
A picture of the whole gang...We look forward to visiting Jocelyn someday!