Little Farmers

Between the excitement shown for our backyard vegetable garden and the amount of time that all 3 kids spent climbing on farm equipment at the Fair last week, I'm beginning to wonder if farming is in their future?!

It's still got to be a John Deere for Owen!

Butterflies!!

We took a trip to the National Museum of Play last week.  So fun!!!

They have a Butterfly Garden there-check out Owen's new buddy!

Elaina's favorite animal is a butterfly and she loved the Butterfly Garden, but we couldn't get any to land on her.  I'm hoping her second favorite thing is NOT shopping!

Cousins

 As of November, our kids will have 11 cousins.  Owen (age 6) is the oldest of the 14 kids, so you can imagine how fun and crazy our times together with family can be!  They love our time spent with family and I am so grateful that they will grow up being able to spend time with cousins their same age.

12th Anniversary

Erik and I celebrated our 12th anniversary last week.  My parents took the kids so that we could have a 2 night getaway in the Finger Lakes to celebrate.  We had a fantastic time which included some visits to wineries, fine dining and exploring 3 different state parks in the area. 

The pictures don't even come close to doing the beauty of the landscape and waterfalls justice.

Lakehouse fun

We had a fabulous time with family on Cayuga Lake last week.  I grew up near the lake and used to spend a couple of weeks on a small island every summer with family, so boating, fishing and swimming in the lake was something I took for granted.  This was our kid's first experience with all of that.

I find it's easier to get all kids at least looking in the same direction if you ask them to make a silly face

! 

Audrey was really into digging up worms for fishing

Pre-boat ride:  Only 3 came back looking happy.  Audrey didn't know what she was getting herself into and discovered she really doesn't like to be out on a boat just yet.

Mommies and sons out for a leisurely paddle boat ride.

Doesn't she look like a pro?

I thought Cayuga lake would have bigger fish to catch, but the kids were very happy with the many sunfish that got caught on their line... or was it the same sunfish everytime?!

Papa and Elaina- I have so many memories of being out on the lake with my Grandfather!

Owen loved swimming right from the boat

Give it another few years and we'll be whipping these 3 around behind the boat!

Siblings

I have been cherishing watching our 3 kids enjoy spending so much time together this summer.  Sure we have our moments every day of bickering and whining (just this afternoon I had heard enough and left Erik with the kids so I could just get away for a couple of hours), but each day there are moments I would like to just freeze and always remember.  I am so grateful to be home with these precious ones every day!

Picnic lunch on our deck

Fun in the refrigerator box

Fun with Food

Such simple ways to bring smiles (or eeewwws!)

I let the kids make their own pizza shapes one night and it turned into a feast with all of the stuffed animals at the dinner table!

Audrey chose to make hers into Minnie Mouse

A fun dessert!  Notice how our bug girl is the only one NOT saying "eewww!"