Swimming Lessons!

The end of July, the 3 older kids took a 2 week long swimming course.  They all really improved in that time.  I was impressed!  Emma and Arianna were both in the same class, level 2, and Grant in the level 1 class.  Since the lessons were in Hesston, just down the street from where Kenneth works, he would stop by a couple of times to watch them swim.  Since I was taking care of Kate, I didn't take any pictures, but Kenneth took a few when he came by.  Thanks, Kenneth!  Kate actually did quite well staying right close to me eating snacks and reading books until the last day when she was interested in going right up to the pool and throwing balls in again and AGAIN.  Boy was I glad she didn't discover that until the last day of the classes!  During the middle of swimming lessons, we had a string of unseasonably cool weather: 60s and 70s.  I was in heaven!  (I definitely have some California girl in me!)  Our neighbors were cold.  They actually cancelled swimming lessons 3 days that week.  So, we had 2 make-up days the following week.

Arianna jumping in.

Emma full of gusto!

Grant-man taking the plunge!

Vegetables

Grant told me yesterday he likes vegetables better than treats.  I couldn't  tell whether he was being serious or not and so I asked him why and he said because he feels better after he eats vegetables.  Wow!  It's been worth trying over and over again to get him to eat them!  Hooray!

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!