A Trip to the Zoo

We started our summer with a trip to the zoo. Our biggest goals were to see the baby elephant and to have fun.

When I was little, I loved finding this peanut-eating squirrel statue!

My mom loves the polar bears, but this was as close as we got to seeing one on this trip to the zoo.

We found the cute baby elephant!

You can't go to the zoo without a few souvenirs! 

Fresh Tomatoes

Katie and I love home-grown tomatoes in the summer time. We were so excited to see the tomatoes start to make an appearance.

Why are home-grown tomatoes so much sweeter?

Hello Summer!

It was a bittersweet day...the last day of 8th grade, the last day of middle school. 

I always hate to leave a school, but I'm excited to make some high school memories!

Cooking with a Friend

During the sleepover, Katie and Leena made chocolate chip cookies together. It was her first time making cookies without an adult. They did such a good job and even offered to clean up.

Our cookies were delicious!

A Sleepover

Katie loves to have sleepovers with her friends. It was a night full of laughter, cooking, and movies!

Leena is always fun to be around!

The Bus Ride

Friends always make a bus ride more fun!

I feel lucky to be surrounded with the friends I have!

Katie's "Gotcha Day" - 14th Anniversary

Time is going so fast! I can't believe it has been fourteen years since Katie was placed in my arms in front of the hotel elevator. Even though fourteen years have passed, I still have such clear memories of that day. It has been a good fourteen years!