How Old Are You?

Aliyah started answering this question at the beginning of September... I get a kick out of it every time!

she will answer this if you sign it to her too... ahhhh so proud!!!

Chef Aliyah

Cooking is a once child's play and adult joy. And cooking done with care is an act of love. ~ Craig Claiborne

Can you taste the love in it?

Our Weekend

We had an extended weekend together and packed it full.

On Friday we drove to Manhattan, KS to camp with YaYa, Bebop and their good friends (ours too). Camping with the Inzers is hardly "roughing it". We listened to music, sat around the camp fire and ate Jambalaya. Saturday we crawled out of our tents and headed over to the KSU stadium for tailgating with white chicken chili, homemade tamales and a wildcat win - woo hoo!

Sunday was a relaxing day lounging around and catching up on laundry.

We went to the zoo Monday afternoon when we finished running a few errands in the morning. It started raining on us as we were leaving so we left the tigers to play in the puddles and grabbed a cup of coffee on our way out.

We had a great weekend, and looking forward to another big one coming up - It's Maple Leaf time!!!

Breaking the Rules and Other Simple Traditions

Becoming a parent has made me reflect so often on my own childhood - the choices my parents made in raising my brother and I - the things they taught me - the things they protected me from - and more than anything, I linger on those moments and memories that standout as really happy, special times.

I want so much to build a mountain of those joyful memories in the hearts and minds of our children. In some way, I hope in those times when I can’t protect them from the difficult and unfair parts of growing up, that they can lean on the goodness we’ve given them to help get through it.

One of my favorite ways to do this is in starting simple traditions. The first simple tradition Tyler and I started was in celebrating our wedding anniversary as a family holiday. All of us together spending the day doing something fun and adventurous.

But our most recent simple tradition took root near Aliyah's bedtime. One night, we decided to put her in her pajamas, pile in the car and go out for a sweet treat together as a family. Sure she’s supposed to be in bed and yes, eating a little sugar at 8pm is probably not the most practical of ideas - but it’s been so fun to feel like we were all “breaking the rules” a bit to go on an excursion for dessert at bedtime.

Tyler and I decided that we’re gonna keep this up. Maybe every other month - maybe a few times a year… but we like the idea of bundling our little one in footed pjs & rain boots and heading out for a goodnight ice cream or krispy kreme donut, for no particular reason except that it’s fun and out of the norm.

It’s the kind of thing I hope she tucks away deep inside. The sort of memory that makes her smile when she is my age and chasing after little ones of her own. A simple Inzer family tradition - Pajamas and cupcakes. Sleepy eyes and root beer floats. A little family giggling at our own rule breaking with sticky ice cream mouths.

If nothing else, it’s guaranteed to give us all sweet dreams (eventually, we when come down off the sugar buzz)

First Beach Trip

Aliyah, Atlantic Ocean.

Atlantic Ocean, Aliyah.

It was a day of salty breezes, amazing food,

toes in the sand and beautiful family.

Aliyah is totally in love... 

I promise not to keep the you two apart for too long

Inzer Family Dance Party

My birthday present from Tyler came in the mail today and I love it - the Avett Brothers on vinyl (I also got a beautiful poem). As soon as I had it in my hands it went right onto the record player as the living room became our personal dance floor. No dance party is complete without lots of spins and dips. This video makes my heart smile...

"I and Love and You" by The Avett Brothers

Beautiful Birthday Weekend

I truly had the most wonderful birthday weekend! Thanks to all of you who sent sweet messages - I was really feeling the love :)

On my birthday, Tyler got off work early. The three of us got lunch together and walked around the zoo. Tyler was AMAZING and cleaned a bunch while Aliyah and I napped in the afternoon (I need more than one birthday a year). Later, we had dinner with my parents. They were going to watch Aliyah so Tyler and I could see a movie, but we decided that there weren't any movies we wanted to see... so we put Aliyah to bed and all four of us curled up on the couch in our basement and watched a movie at home.


Saturday, we almost spent all day in our pjs just enjoying the beautiful breeze from the open windows. We finally decided to put clothes on and bike to dinner. Since we are used to biking in the summer, our ride home was a bit dark... oops!!

Sunday, we invited both sets of Aliyah's grandparents over for another bike ride to lunch... do you see a pattern - we bike for food. HA! It was so great with all 6 of us on bikes and Aliyah cruising in her trailer behind Tyler. We found a park for Aliyah along the bike path - So Fun!!

And the celebrating isn't over yet! My brother is still in England, so when he gets home we will get everyone together for so cake and ice cream. Thanks for making this weekend a great one!!


ALSO... I want to give a shout out to my childhood friend, Jordan, who celebrated her 30th birthday this weekend!! We loved being the same age (for two days) and celebrating our birthdays together. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU DEAR FRIEND!!!!!