Mark and I love visiting our friends Karl and Frances, and their two boys Vonnegut and Reuben. The boys get so excited about having us come over to play and literally grab our faces for attention (it’s way cuter than it sounds). Frances always has thoughtful conversations with me and makes an effort to share new vegan recipes (this time it was Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cookies!). Karl is one of our best friends who has always taken an interest in our lives and projects. Frey family visits are my favorite kind of blog posts for all these reasons and more.

Adorable Frey Family portrait!

I must have missed someone saying “stick your tongue out!”

Karl helps Reuben put on his socks so we can play outside

The boys show us their cool new swing

“Uncle” Mark pushes and spins the boys

A portrait of Vonnegut Frey

It’s really cool that we’ve known this little guy since before he was born

A pretty potted plant soaks up the sun

Reuben practices his photography skills

Vonn learns how to make a Corn Husk Doll

The process of making Corn Husk Dolls

“Hey Mark, check out our Corn Husk Dolls!”

My first Corn Husk Doll, cute!

Vonn requested I make him a Corn Husk Sword

Vonn then put the Corn Husk Sword I made him to good use

Guacamole and tomato appetizer

Rueben tries some of the tasty guacamole

The perfect weather for sitting outside and enjoying a Root Beer

Grilled asparagus

Sautéed mushroom taco filling

Tacos with sautéed mushroom filling and grilled vegetables alongside grilled corn and asparagus

Vonn shows Mark a light up toy

Rueben is my Knight in Shining Armor

A portrait of Reuben Frey, sans Knight helmet

Reuben then asked me to retake his portrait and posed like this. Amazing.

Time to help Mom make cookies!

Vonn mixes up some vegan cookie magic

Reuben and Vonn take turns helping make the cookies

Time for cookies and milk!

Reuben enjoys some vegan chocolate chip zucchini cookies

Now it’s time to wrestle!

Karl obviously has the upper hand in wrestling

The boys team up to take Daddy down!

“Got him!”

The boy pose victoriously as Karl struggles to breath

Isn’t this family so much fun?! We’re so lucky to have them to spend a beautiful spring day with. Check out the photos Frances and Reuben took over on brothervonn blog. Before the bedroom wrestling match we all went on a walk around the neighborhood. It had rained the night before causing water to flow over one of the streets we crossed. It was a low flow, but enough to be something fun to stop and play in. Frances and I left our cameras at the house so we didn’t get to capture the boys playing joyfully in the water, but it was nice to just enjoy the moment and not have to pull a camera out. The barefoot boys kept running up the street and back down towards and into the water. Reuben pulled his pants all the way up to his thighs and laughed so hard as he splashed through the stream, it was so cute. We had planned on bringing my nephew Dylan along too, but his parents extended their family trip at Disney Land. I hope they had as much fun as we did (I’m sure they did!), can’t wait till our next get-together!

xo angie

p.s. The Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cookies they made were delicious. I’ll be sharing that recipe here soon! Update – Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cookies