To Hold You Over...

while we're away.

on the playground during big brother's cello lesson

personality!

morning greetings

sharp dressed man (notice the belt)

full rainbow

visited by my favorite bird

father's day breakfast

Yesterday.."Mom! Come to the door quick! I have to show you something!"

She found this baby bird , got him to climb on the branch and carried it all the way to the door to show me. It was the most chill bird I've ever seen. She might be an animal whisperer.

Birds at the adolescent stage are awkward, just like us.

"Mom! Callie is in the cemetery!"

I was just as confused as you are until he explained. For Easter we had made a garden tomb scene and the rocks are still in the flower pot for that.


This has been Callie's fave spot. (She been around w/ her kittens [tiger & brighty] since her brother Diddle passed away. These are farm cats that hunt and occasionally get scraps. Not official pets) I came home to find that J had taken several pics of her in the pot (w/ Den's permission) while I was at the store.




He isn't as upset as he looks. She LOVES him so much.




Went to the fair last weekend. Food, business booths and tractors. Though something important did happen there. The kids had their first funnel cake.




Now that the older 2 are back in school this guy and I are a team again. He's very 2 and the training of his little heart can be quite challenging. But for the most part we are having fun. Notice the middle. He LOVES his "piwoe 'nd binket".

Closing Up July

I can't believe summer is over. Okay, maybe not exactly over. However our month of August is booked and then it's school so it kind of feels over.

Just a few shots of what we did this month.







This little kitty (tiger) would actually stay in the basket when she rode around.



His new scooter.


He thinks he's cute. He's right.


Went creek stomping, again. Took some friends that are city folk :)


Added a new addition to the family. Probably shouldn't call him family as we are going to eat him when he's big enough. But the kids have the responsibility of bottle feeding him morning and night. They mix up the formula and clean the bottle.

Guess who loves it the most. He has been named Thomas Francis.


Peeking through the back door of the calf stall.



Care group came over for dinner.


V enjoyed the weather that evening.


This was last thursday after a busy few days. We had a relaxing day at home that included mani's and pedi's. Check out my son. Is it just me or does my daughter look like a scared monkey?


We walked up to the neighbors to see their puppies. V found a toy.


Actually, I walked, she pedalled.



Found this after hearing..."mom! mom! I can't! I can't!" This being his new phrase for many things. He climbed over the back of the couch to get into it (i have it back there until B can use it) and he couldn't get himself out.



J: Mom...can I take a picture of Callie nursing her babies?

Around here....

As you know there have been some changes in this household!


This little man has entered our lives and so far everyone is pretty happy about it.


Mom is here and I don't know what I'd do w/o her! She has helped so much w/ all of the kids and has been taking care of tons around the house. She brought our old keyboard w/ her and is teaching the kids how to read music.



Dance season is now over. E had her recital last Saturday and did great. Earlier in the year she said she' d like to try soccer in the fall instead of doing dance again. She has said this before but usually by the time the recital comes around she changes her mind. This year was no different except that we already signed up for fall soccer so definitely no dance next year! I am a little sad, but I think it will be a nice break w/ the new addition.


This was the best video I could get at the dress rehearsal..of course the sound tech turned the music off too soon...but still I was proud! She can be such a stubborn toot, but when she gets on stage she commits!







Went back to the birth center for a male procedure and was able to snap a pic of where he was born. (yes, it was in that tub!)


bath time...not loving it.


Sister is always looking on.



We took him out for some sun the other day...


and V found a little friend. Can you spot him?


This baby bird was hopping around our porch and hanging out in the comfrey.


He ended up hopping right on by the cat's (name diddle) nose, and he didn't seem a bit interested in the live meal.





V and the bird had a conversation.



and one more baby fix...

a few days

Why does he look so interested?




because he got to chase Zeke!


the puppy was afraid of V...but V was not the least bit afraid of him.



We are also playing with the containers now.


saturday was at the farm, this is a timer shot from a stump...and i am super bundled up


the trail


Den wanted to take the kids to the "big hill" for sledding, but when the got there, too much snow had melted. They were such good sports and settled for this mini one that was mostly just wet.


the three e's, they are all 5 now


we also celebrated my beautiful SIL's bday, which is really on Wed.


and they of course there is always some snuggling going on

Anniversary (and something for the men folk)

Last Thursday Den and I celebrated 9 years of near perfect marital bliss ;)

After getting the kids settled at his mom's and having her snap a few pictures of our "in loveness" we headed out to dinner on the Chesapeake.

We ate a restaurant where the food ended up being so-so in my opinion, but little did I know we'd get a show as well. We sat outside and besides the lovely water view were these coyote decoys to "scare away the geese", we were told. The weather felt fabulous but looming in the not so far distance was a storm. In my optimism I kept assuring D that it would pass right over us, until D said there's the rain. She had just brought out our salads and we could see the rain on the water headed our way. No sooner had we gotten inside and just sat down when out the window we saw tables and umbrellas flying into the water. About 15min later it was calm and pleasant.

This little guy tagged along and if you notice their is stuff on his cheek and near his mouth. It's chocolate. He decided to stick his finger in my lava cake and have a taste. Earlier he grabbed a handful of my pasta and tried to shove that in his mouth. So what do I write in his baby book for first food? Do I put seafood fettuccine alfredo and chocolate lava cake?

Den wanted to hold a sailboat.

Afterwards we had to go back to his mom's to get a car and my phone that I forgot, so we took the chance to take a quad over to the lot and catch the sunset.

Then we took a ride back to the woods and saw this in the soy bean field, attempting to hide.

The main reason we went to the woods was to check Den's deer cam and he was not disappointed. Yes this is the men folk part and yes that buck only has one antler.