It's a wonder we accomplish anything!

Kenneth is trying to fix the faucet in the kitchen.  He became a jungle gym.

Can't get enough!

Of what, you ask?  Looks a little like chocolate mousse, maybe?  Chocolate pudding?

No, sir, can't get enough black bean hummus.  What kind of children am I raising?!

Animals should definitely not wear clothing.

I picked this book out from the library for the kids because I thought it looked funny.  It wasn't until I read it to them that I saw this page:

And I laughed out loud!

Ditty

Kate is really growing up!  She has learned to open the refrigerator all by herself this week, said please and thank you, now regularly successfully WALKS all the way down the stairs, and much more that I am sure I 'm not remembering as I write this.

She really wants to always have some electronic device in her hand- the home phone, my cell phone, or banging on the laptop keyboard.  She's wild!  This is how I found her yesterday when I came out of the laundry room where I had been ironing:

Emma had removed her clothes a little before this for some unknown reason

Then when we told her she needed to give us the phone and get down she looked like this:

She's in a screaming phase- it's lots of fun.
 

She really is a lot of fun, though.  And cute, to boot.  With her new mastery of the refrigerator door, she brought a zucchini into the family room to us during story time tonight.  She's hilarious!  I really can't get enough of her.  Except that I can.  You know, like I am glad when it's bedtime.  But, I'm also glad when I get to check on her and when it's time to get up in the morning, too.  If you are a parent you completely understand.

Since we've been back. . .

Time has simply flown since we've been back from the farm.  Here's my post to catch up on all (most) of what we've been up to!
It took a while to actually unpack and do all the laundry, and then the garden was beckoning.  We had beans to can pretty soon after we got back and peas to pick and swiss chard to eat.
We also had Father's Day in there.  It was fun to treat Dad to cheesecake (pulled it out of the freezer- I had made it for our Anniversary before we left.  Worked like a charm and you'd never have know it had been frozen!)  We also had  white chicken chili for dinner at Dad's request. 
Here are the pictures:

Daddy has been playing soccer with these guys.  They love it!  (Daddy does, too!)

Even Kate joins in the fun

While I was working on canning the beans, Kate decided to dish up Daddy's dinner which we hadn't gotten around to eating yet (he came home after we had already finished eating)  I knew she was doing it, but didn't want to stop my project.

Of course, she thinks this is all very hilarious!

 

The garden before we left for our trip

The garden after we got back!

The view from my bedroom.  My how it grew!

Our neighbor's son turned 16 a little while ago and they put up this lawn art to celebrate!  The kids were riding the penguins at one point.

More soccer fun.  More often than not, Kate is actually in Dad's arms- I'm usually inside working on dinner or a project.

Grant wanted to help Dad mow the lawn.  So cute.  This warms my heart.

He even helped with the edging.

Kids helping with the green beans

I've canned 16 quarts so far, but 2 didn't seal =(

 

Each of the big children filled out this out at Church and gave it to Dad in the afternoon.  He got a kick out of reading them:

Emma's

Grant's

Arianna's

Here is Dad reading them:

Happy Father's Day!

I am so thankful for such an amazing Father to my children.  He loves these children so much and really takes the time to play with them and work with them.  He is amazing.  Love you, Kenneth!

Dad found the kids a really cool toy at a garage sale.  And it was only $3!!  They have been loving it, except when Kate comes along to destroy it!

It's a magnetic marble coaster.

You can do lots of different configurations- it's really cool!

It's summer!  Time for sprinklers, slip'n'slides and swimming!

I finally set up the little pool for the kids today.  They had fun out there!

Fourth of July

We had a wonderful Fourth of July!!  We started the day by going to the church for a flag raising ceremony (which I loved!! I am such a sucker for all things patriotic!)  There was also a pancake breakfast.  Let's just say, I did not go for the food.  But, the company was great!
We ran a couple of errands after the breakfast including finally getting hanging baskets for the front porch.  It looks so pretty!  We also bought the first sweet corn of the season from a stand in town. 
For lunch I made an American Flag with blueberries, strawberries, and jicama.  It was a big hit with the kids. 
On July 03, I made a simple wedding cake for someone, and had some extra batter, so made some small cakes for us and I decorated them up.  The kids loved having a Birthday cake for America.  I also made black bean burgers with jicama, cilantro slaw.  My husband who grew up on a dairy farm with excellent beef around was a little wary, but in the end was pleasantly surprised at how good it was! 
We went to a celebration right here in our little town in the evening.  Our property actually backs up to a retirement community.  Each year they throw a big Fourth of July Party with food, music, and a great fireworks show as a thank you to the community.  It was awesome!  They even had fun activities for the kids, including a balloon artist and a coin grab, which, of course, the kids loved!  When we got home, Kenneth lit off some fireworks here as well.  (He just can't help himself!  He loves them!)  It was a late night, but it was memorable!

Here are the pictures:

Purple and fuchsia petunias this year



Aren't they lovely?

And a geranium for the back of the house- because they were on sale =)

Right outside my kitchen window- makes me happy

Strawberries, blueberries and jicama

Happy Birthday, America!

Kate was interested in this thing, too!

They loved eating it!

Our Fourth of July picnic lunch in the backyard.  Kate wandered around the whole yard eating her corn-on-the-cob and I think she got every last kernel!

Fireworks in the driveway

Arianna loved this one!

Daddy letting Grant have a turn lighting

Kaplooey!!!

Like father, like son




The kids had drawn on the driveway a few days before this and were pretending to burn down the 'ramshackle barn' they had drawn. 
We've been reading Bill Peet books lately. . .

Family Pictures

It was winter wheat harvest time a couple of weeks ago, so we got out there in the fields right outside our neighborhood and took some family pictures.  The only problem was, it wasn't that easy; it never is.  We ended up not being ready in the morning.  Then Kate needed her morning nap.  By the time we were all ready to go, it was almost noon.  The sun was just too bright for this amateur photographer to get a really good shot.  Plus, in most of them the kids look they are melting and dying.  So, we did come home and take some pictures in the shady backyard.  I think I got some good ones!  I especially like that you can see the chicken coop and the rope swing in the background.  Then, we decided we really did want some good wheat field pictures, so we went out again in the evening.  It was still too bright, although the lighting did look pretty cool in some of the pictures.  We were heading home when we realized the sun was going down and now was the time we could get better pictures, even though it was past bedtime.  So, we ploughed ahead and I think we ended up with some pretty nice ones.  Enjoy!

Trying to get set up in the sunny wheat field

This is one of the best we got in the middle of the day- you can see Arianna is in pain.

Fun shot

Another

Up on a bail!

Oh the love!

If only it were always this sweet!

Handsome Grant

 

Cute Kate

Another of Kate

Princess Arianna

Regal Queen Emma



Love this one in our backyard!

From the evening shoot:

Making their way into the field

Fun!

More fun!

The combine doing its thing in the field right across from us.

This field is literally right across the street from our neighborhood.

Love this pretty baby

Cute little tongue

 

Arianna

Emma

Grant

Sweet sisters

One of the kids took this one

I love this picture because Grant was so excited to see the combine, while Kate was terrified at being put up on the bale.

Goofy kids

Kate was tired- it was about 9 pm I think and she wanted to be in her crib!

Check out Grant's bubble!

The kids and Dad moving the bail: