Happy and Sad

Happy:

Today marked a special moment in the boys' life.....their first time receiving a package!!!! Thanks to Computer Grama and Papa Don for the special gift sent.

They were only excited just a 'little bit'!!!!!

Sad:

We found out yesterday that my Mom and Don had to put down their dog Tiffy. She was very sick....here she is a few years ago with Kaden. She is missed and spent a lot of time camping, supervising yard work and lazing around with them. She was a good dog.

Good Bye Tiffy

A Sea of Yellow Beauty

Call me crazy, but this is the first time I have ever seen a field of sunflowers (other than on farmtown!!). As I turned the corner the other day I saw this....it was amazing! Enjoy the pictures.

The boys loved it and wanted to run through it like a maze
Smile for Mommy....

Me and my boys!

Grandkids

We have been keeping busy around here. The boys have been enjoying time out in the shed with their daddy. They have a work bench with their own tool boxes. Brian put a few random tools in there for them......plyers, hammer, nails, screwdrivers and of course some safety googles......

They will be working on a few special projects this winter with their instructor daddy!

Today we headed to Grama and Pops'. Melanie organized for us to get together for grandparents day.

Here Pops is giving the kids a ride....they were having a blast going up and down the hill and around the yard.
Sadee met a new friend Riley.......she could hardly believe she was taller! (she's used to being three times smaller than every dog that visits)

Grama and Pops with the grandkids

Also Happy Grandparent Day wishes to Papa Don and Computer Grama, Grandpa Keith and Great Grandpa and Grandma!!! The boys are so blessed to have such wonderful Grandparents!!!!

August Vacation

This past week we headed on vacation to Ocean City. It was a great time of rest and fun as a family.
We stopped a the Choptank River along the way to take and break and stretch our legs.
The old highway that crossed the river had been turned into a fishing bridge. It was neat to walk around and take in the beautiful scenery!

We were very blessed to have beautiful weather the entire time we were at the beach. It was very relaxing and the Francis Scott Key where we stayed was absolutely perfect for our family to relax and enjoy some time together! Here are some highlights of our trip.

We enjoyed some ice cream for lunch on a hot day! (I have no idea why Pops is doing that????!!!)

Spent some time on the boardwalk

Kaden carried loads of water for his sand hole
Mr. Cool chilled at the beach

We enjoyed the amenities at the Hotel... Pirates Cove

Then off to the splash zone at the pirate ship..

After a long hard day of swimming the kids relaxed on the beach chairs!

The boys also enjoyed their free rounds of MINI-GOLF.....and I use that term very lightly!

They had a good time

Thank you Ocean City...we had a great time!

Lake Tobias

I feel like I keep writing 'blasts from the pasts'!! I am having a hard time keeping up my blog with actual 'real life' time. Oh well, better late than never!

This past saturday we headed to Lake Tobias Wildlife Park with Grama and Pops for a day of adventure.

All aboard the safari bus!

Pops and Kbud keeping a watchful eye for animals.

Grama is desperatley holding on to Ethan so that the Ostrich's don't eat him!

Nice tongue Mr. Buffalo...

Members of the safari.

The safari ride on the chopped off bus comes to an end

After we toured the rest of the park by foot, we headed to Melanie and Jason's for a major feast! As always they cooked up a storm for us! Thank you guys for feeding and fellowshipping with us.

After the delicious meal, the kids cruised around on the Cooters...as Kaden calls them. While Brian had a fiesta!
Aunt Melanie even got in on the action to show these boys some of her stunts!!

Then Crazy Dakota gave us some after supper entertainment as he swam around the pool. Here he is finished so he is getting out........

Oh, Wait a Second....he only got out to shake off and get us wet.......now he is jumping back in! Crazy, Crazy dog!!!

It was a very restful saturday!

Cascade Lake & Corn Harvest

What do Cascade Lake and a Corn Harvest have in common? They both make you exhausted at the end of the day! Last week we were able to enjoy the weather and spend some time at a local lake and spray zone! The kids had a blast.

The following day we headed to Grama and Pops' to help husk, cut and bag corn. Over 530 ears to be more specifc. Needless to say we were tired by the end of the day. We only did the cutting...Pops did most of the husking the day before, I think it took him around 8 hours!!!!

I think Ethan ate at least 3 ears of corn while we were cutting!

The 'production line'!!

The guys digging potatoes! Look at those fine Espenshade body's!!!! (before I took the picture I told them all to 'suck in'!)

So that's last weeks update. Saturday we enjoyed the day at Lake Tobias...I'll have some more pictures tonight.

Summer Days Drifting Away....

We have been enjoying being in the water over these hot days.

Finally my dreams came true....our very own rubber-dingy raft!
Ethan and I cruising the pool.

Sadee taking a dip..showing the boys how she can swim.

Kaden helping haul the load of mums.

Then of course back to our little pool of bubbles.

Cooling off.

Ethan hiding from his brother in the trees.