Our Haycation, Part II

May 26-May 31        Kenneth's brother and sister-in-law and their 2 girls, who live in Arizona arrived at the farm just a day after we did.  It was actually the most time we had ever really spent with them and it was great!  The kids had so much fun being together.  Usually when we go to the farm, Kenneth's mom is very busy milking both ends of the day.  This time, things were a little different.  A couple of weeks before we got there she actually had open heart surgery!!  So, she was resting and recovering.  I actually couldn't believe how well she was doing.  I felt like I was more of a wimp after a simple appendectomy!  She is an amazing woman.  One thing is for sure, we enjoyed being able to spend more time with her- since she was at home and not at the barn.  It killed her not to be able to pick up the kids and play with them as much, but at least she got to see them! Kate warmed right up to her and wanted to give her kisses before each nap and at bedtime.  So cute!
Kenneth was out and about doing field work, fixing tractors, weed-eating and generally having a good time being at home with his brothers. 

Here are the pictures:

The girls helped plant flowers for Grandma, who is unable to do it herself this year.

Arianna with the seed packet

Let the tractor rides begin!

These girls had so much fun together- Emma and Arianna with Lydia

Hello cows! (And that sky!!!  And the green!!!  I'm in love!)

The world is her sandbox!  She would plop right down on the road during our walks and play in the dirt road. 

More tractor rides.  Kate didn't get too many, but she liked the couple she did get.

Grant got to go out and see a brand new calf. (Can you see it way out there in the field with its mother?)

The boys and their toys (their DAD's toys, really)

A gorgeous day for haying!  (That barn belongs to a neighbor)

 


Beautiful windrows!

Grant spent a lot of time with Dad in the tractor this year.

It took him a little while, but after a week or so, Grant had it all figured out and would tell you the order of the haying: first the mowing, then the raking, then the baling, then the wrapping.  He was so proud of himself when he got it!

Beautiful clouds!

Bales waiting to be wrapped.

 

Jason, Scott and Kenneth taking a little break.

She's at it again!

Our Haycation, Part I

Every year, with little deviation, we make the trip to the farm to spend the end of May and the beginning of June.  I love New York during this time of the year.  It is beautiful!  Plus, we were married in New York at this time, so it hold special significance.  Every year, this is the time for the first cutting of hay on my in-laws' dairy farm and all the sons want in on the action.  This year, all my husbands siblings came home to the farm.  Here is the first part of our trip, not exactly the 'hay'cation part, but we'll get there soon!  (I think one of my sisters or brothers-in-law came up with that term and I think it is pretty cool, so I'm using it.)

We left home early on the 23rd of May and traveled that whole day until we reached Kenneth's cousin's home in Cincinnati.  They really do pretty well traveling.  Kate gets fed up with being in her seat for so long, but overall does okay.  It's just bad when she wakes up from her nap and realizes she is still in her seat- then she's not so happy for a while; until she accepts reality.  This trip I had really planned ahead and prepared lots of good, homemade, healthy food for our travels, so we only had to stop for gas and to go to the bathroom and we were all happy as clams.

Here is a picture of the kids in the van:

Arianna and Kate zonked out while Emma and Grant were enjoying Great Migrations (thanks, Betsy!)

  
After we arrived at Kenneth's cousin's house, we took a walk to get ice cream cones, which we all thoroughly enjoyed.  Their children and our children had a blast together and loved that they got to have a sleepover!  We had a great time chatting til too late, but it was great!   We wish we lived closer to them; we always have such a great time.
After a breakfast of delicious crepes at Phil and Lori's we traveled until Kirtland, Ohio (suburb of Cleveland), where we took a little break to see the Church History sites there.  Here are pictures of that:

Kenneth and Kate (and Grant behind him) in front of the Newel K. Whitney Store

Inside the store listening to the tour guide

The second story of the store, where Joseph and Emma lived for a while

Grant in that same room

The kids and I in the room where School of the Prophets took place

Walking around Kirtland- or shall I say, chasing Kate around Kirtland

In another historic home

Grant and Arianna standing at the corner there

Expending energy before we get back in the car!

Kirtland is so beautiful and lush.  I love it!

After that break, we drove the rest of the way to New York, first arriving at my brother's house in Clay, NY (a suburb of Syracuse- very close to where we used to live).
I also love spending time with my brother, Karl and his wife, Heather.  Too bad our time living there didn't overlap at all!  Here are pictures with them:

Kate had the time of her life chasing my brother's cat and dog around the house.  As for the cat and dog, I'm not so sure about that. . .

Here she goes again!

She found her cousin's sunglasses!

Fun times on the trampoline!



My sister-in-law, Heather, with her dog, Baxter.

Grant and Josh on Kenneth's lap while he takes his Sunday afternoon nap.
 

I guess I didn't take a picture of my brother at all.  I must do better next time!  It was great to attend church at our old ward in Liverpool, which happens to be my brother's current ward.  We love those people!  We also went to the Memorial Day picnic the next day and got to catch up with lots of friends.  It was great fun!   After the picnic, Kenneth went to the farm, while the kids and I stayed at my brother's house for a few extra days.  We mostly hung out at home, but did go out to the fabric store and got supplies to make circle skirts for my girls and a light blanket for Kate.  Fun projects!  (Heather did all the sewing, I'm just too slow!)

10 years!

Today, I have been married to my sweetheart for 10 years!  I can hardly believe how the time has flown.  If there is a song that is 'our song' it would be: "I love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow."  How true that is and continues to be.  I am so thankful for such an amazing husband and incredible dad to our children.  I love you, sweet Kenneth!

We had a crazy dinner of random stuff trying to use everything up before we leave for NY, but I did manage to break out the Martinelli's and make a cheesecake to celebrate. 



Here's our anniversary dinner- the dessert portion of it, I guess

The cheesecake was quite good, if I do say so myself.

Here we are after all these years!  Took the picture myself to document the day.

Spring!

We have had a beautiful spring around here.  Kenneth has been hard at work on the garden.  I love to see it grow.  I've never really been involved in the planting, that's always Kenneth's job, but I do help with the weeding and harvest.  The kids love these chickens!  We got the chicks out with the chickens, finally, and after some squabbling and separating, they are finally all together and we didn't even have a fatality!
Kate is really growing up.  Oh, and she thinks she is a chicken, too apparently.

Kate decided she is ready to spoon-feed herself

Kate loves the chickens; not so sure if the feeling is mutual.

Kate chasing the chicks!

 

Caught one!

Can you tell how delighted she is?!?

Grant with his Americana

Chives in our yard

We actually got to see our peonies this year.  Last year we missed them completely- hadn't bloomed before we left for New York and had already lost the blooms by the time we got back.

They grow up too fast!

Afternoon smoothie in the chicken coop!

Kenneth planting/ transplanting.

How do you like my tomato plants?  Interesting varieties, eh?

The eight new chickens.

Chicken Little

Funny baby!

Hello California!

Kate, Kenneth and I were in California last week.  We had a wonderful time!  Kenneth had work in Livermore, just a half hour away from where we used to live out there, so Kate and I tagged along to visit friends.  Kate was a wonderful traveler.  She slept and napped in a different place the four nights we were there, but she did great!  Our first stop after landing in San Francisco was to see my Aunt and Uncle in Berkeley.  We hadn't been to their house in 11 years!!  And sadly, we only saw them one time during our 2 1/2 years living in California, so I wanted to make it a priority.  We had a great visit and they were delighted to meet little Kate.  She didn't really want them to touch her (that is normal for her), but she was cute anyway. 
Our second stop was the temple in Oakland- just a few minutes from my Aunt and Uncle's home.  Unfortunately, we didn't call, just assumed, we could go Saturday evening, but the temple was already closed.  We enjoyed walking around a little and just being on the grounds, though.
We visited the Milpitas Ward, spent time with great friends, had lunch with other good friends.  It was just fun to talk and glean ideas from each other.  It felt like we had never left!  Everyone missed the kids, but it was too much to bring everyone out on this trip.  The last night we were there we also went out to a fantastic restaurant called Dish Dash.  It was Middle Eastern food and amazing.  We loved it.  (It was, I guess, a celebration of our 10th Wedding Anniversary a week early- can you believe it!!!!  10 years!!!!) 
Kate even slept on the plane on the way out and the way home.  She is such a good baby!  (Except that she's not so much of a baby any more.  She is really growing up!)  She even learned to say, "no" on the plane ride out.  Great. 
I didn't bring the camera with me, so I just have the pictures from my phone.  I didn't do a great job taking pictures of everyone, just some people =(. 
One memorable thing was: Little T Riker wanted us to sit with them in church, so we did.  At one point he was having a hard time being quiet and G leaned over and said to me this is why we don't usually sit with friends.  T immediately said, "They are not my friends, they are my cousins!"  Later in the week when we hadn't returned to his house he asked his mom where his cousins were and why they hadn't come back.  So sweet.  I feel very privileged. 

Here are the pictures:

Kate at the Oakland Temple

Kenneth and Kate at the temple, overlooking the city

Kate and C- M and I were both pregnant with these two when we moved.

Kate hanging out with the Hills.  We had so much fun visiting!

V and P- oh how we miss doing Mighty Kids Co-op with these boys!

Kate and L- these 2 were little hambones together!

K and D with Kate and me

Kate showing her mad trampoline skills with L.E. and T.R.  I am amazed at how well she manages on the trampoline.  She loves it!

We had such a great visit.  I am very grateful for the dear friends I made in California.  I know that we were supposed to be there at that time in our lives.  I learned so much from my friends there- things that will bless me for the rest of my life.  Thank you, dear friends!

All tuckered out

All tuckered out after a day of travel.  So sweet: