Knee-High in July

Before Levi turns six months old on Monday, Matt thought I should at least post his five month picture. So here you have it...

He went through a "phase" around that time where the only way he would look halfway pleasant for a picture was if I let him stick out his tongue... 

We have kept busy, but for some reason most of my pictures indicate I have been so bored that I have resorted to only taking pictures of my baby.

My apologies. 

One highlight of our month was having Steve and Julie and their family in the area for a week. Levi was happy to meet them for the first time! We enjoyed getting together with the Schulz family, and Mom even got us a four-generation photo!

Four generations of Schulz boys! (Looks like trouble...) 

Over the Fourth of July, the Steffen family made their annual trip out to reunite with the Massners. Unfortunately, the only photo that remains of the event is this one of me with a cheesy grin on my face, so I am entirely obligated to share it with you. 

Myca and me ready for fireworks! I didn't last much past dusk due to a crying baby. 

A Corny Photoshoot: "Knee High by the Fourth of July"

I had a great idea to get a picture of the neighboring cornfield on the Fourth of July to show that our Southeast Iowa corn has exceeded the expectations this year. Not only was it me-plus-my-knee high by July 4th; but it was also beginning to tassel.

Except then I realized that I had no prior experience posing with a cornfield. And that my Sunday clothes did not fit into the scene very well.

The corn didn't do a very good job of "leaning in" for the photo... 

So I decided the hands-on-hips pose would look more natural. 

In the end, the awkward hands-at-sides stance seemed to work out best. 

And then I wonder how my son turned out to be so photogenic.

After the holiday was past, Levi finally stopped sticking out his tongue long enough for us to see two teeth poking through! 

We told him those two front teeth were an early Christmas present.  

The other day I got to work in the garden for about the first time all summer, thanks to the beautiful morning that put Levi to sleep! 

Snowbell (cat) stood guard and ended up taking a little snooze himself. 

 I know I mentioned the word "garden," but what we are really discussing right now is a "weed patch with a few random edibles." I picked enough beans for a meal, along with a few potatoes, snap peas, and onions. Our fruit (Matt's project) is looking good, though. Blackberry season will soon be upon us and we are excited for our first potentially-bountiful harvest!

Matt and Levi have formed a great guitar-piano duo and enjoyed serenading me the other night with their tunes.

Thanks to Bumbo, one no longer needs to be physically able to sit in order to play the piano.  

And now, a word of farewell from the one who made this all(most im)possible: `ghxw 37y6ijng