They're back!

These two kiddos came home last night after spending a week with grandparents. They had a blast while gone (and I got a lot done) but I'm sure glad they're home! Our family feels complete again (and our house looks normal again...)

Green Thumbs?

While at our parents house, the kids enjoyed getting to “pick” their produce for meals. They had so much fun that we are planning a spot in our yard for a garden next year. Is there anything more fun than the “hunt” of digging potatoes and carrots?!

Checking out the carrots – amazed that carrots are found underneath the green stuff:

Crabapples:

Carrots and Tomatoes for supper:

Helping snap green beans:

The next day we went to G&G C’s neighbors house who let the kids pick all kinds of things, starting with fresh potatoes for dinner:

Then cucumbers for a yummy salad:

The kids checking out their treasures:

And some bell peppers:

One of every color!

Mint for beverages (Emelyn said it smelled like toothpaste)

And last but not least, some beautiful gladiolus for the table centerpiece:

Jake even got to help wash off the dirt:

Thank you Mr. Gary for sharing your food and giving the kids a fun experience!

And here they are in front of his hibiscus flowers:

Isaac’s Wedding

Saturday, August 10th, my brother Isaac got married. It was a great time catching up with family.

Jake and Ruth before we left:

Emelyn, Isaiah & I

Isaac and my brothers waiting for the bride:

My parents, siblings and their families (I’m hoping the photographer got a good picture of all of us since this one is not!)

An attempt at a family picture after the wedding:

Emelyn took great-grandpa to see fish tank at the church:

The happy couple:

Valerie and I were the cake taste testers cutters:

I asked the kids to stop dancing and give each other a hug for a picture; I didn’t mean this kind:

I suppose this is a little better :)

Aunt Rose fed Ruth her bottle

My poor children weren’t having an ounce of fun, can you tell?

Uncle Jonathan was a favorite of both Emelyn and Isaiah

My brothers performing YMCA

And finally, during all of this time, Emelyn was off sleeping with Great-Grandma.

Crape Myrtle and Bike Riding

We have a crape myrtle in our front yard and I’m not sure what is going on with it but it has grown by feet this year. I trimmed it back this spring so that it wasn’t touching the house and so that it was shorter than our house and it keeps growing… and growing… and growing… It’s starting to bloom some pretty pink flowers so I tried to take pictures of the kids in front of it. Naturally, I didn’t get a good one where everyone was looking, but I suppose that’s to be expected.

This picture is SO.SWEET. Pretty sure I’ll be framing it soon:

Attempted kid picture:

Someone was a tad ornery:

I must have said “everyone snarl and give me a forced “cheese”” when I took this one:

Our crazy crape:

Such pretty blooms:

After pictures the kids road their bikes. Isaiah is starting the get the hang of it:

Ruth wanted to stand and chat with daddy:

Emelyn ended up drawing with sidewalk chalk:

Swim Party

Last night we all went to watch Emelyn’s last swimming lesson and swim party.

Ruth was excited to be outside:

Mr. Serious was quite focused on watching the lessons:

Then after 10 minutes of lessons the whistle blew for the party to begin. This is the slide Emelyn had been looking forward to from day 1:

Ruth wasn’t happy in her stroller for long so Jake took her to the baby wading pool to let her get her feet wet:

She wanted daddy to let go and to let her crawl!

In the toddler pool there were multiple animals like this one that “spit” the kids out via a slide:

She met all the requirements for level 1 and is now ready for level 2: