Canada Part 1

We just got back from visiting my family a few days ago. It was a great time!!!

I will share our time there over the next few days......

Off we go. Here we are in the airport, ready to begin our journey.

One of the most exciting parts of going home was that I got to see my niece for the very first time, and boy, was she a sweetheart!!!!!!! Auntie gave her lots of love. My sister and her husband live in Australia, so getting to see them was a real treat.

The three grandchildren had a great time with Grandpa Keith....The boys got their camo gear from grandpa!

Kaden was spoiled by grandpa and got to drive the four wheeler!!!

We chased some geese and a coyote. It was great ripping around!

The boys with Grandpa and Margaret. These pictures we're taken at the end of our trip when the weather had warmed up.

My cousin Cameron teaching Ethan how to walk on stilts

And Kaden too

Great Grandpa letting the boys pet the rabbit

Here all us 'Ladies' are in front of my grandma's. It was a lot of fun to be together~

.......until tomorrow for Part 2

Visitors

This weekend we enjoyed the visit of some more family.

Brian's Aunt Penny and her mom Dot

Penny's daughter Crystal, husband Justin and children Olivia and Jackson.

The kids had a lot of fun playing together.

Kaden loved holding baby Jackson!

We had fun showing them around,

playing games, going on a wagon ride and hanging out!

Come again anytime!

A Summertime Memory

Last week we were visited by Aunt Melanie, Cousin's Katie and Hannah.

Although the weather was cooler and rainier than we liked, we all made the best of it.

We had a lot of fun playing games, going on hikes, mini golfing, and the boys had a lot of fun playing with the girls!

Here are my paddle boat team mates....

Melanie and Katie won the race....going backwards!

We had a really good time. Thanks for the visit!

Hello Corn!

Once again.....Corn Time!

The question every year is....."How many ears must we husk?"

The answer...over 450!!!

The boys and I were able to come down after our trip to Knoebels and help

harvest, husk, cut and freeze the corn. It was quit a day starting around 9:00.

What a great picture of the house and garden.

First to pick...the boys helped

for awhile hauling the corn to the wheelbarrow...

We then sat under the shade of the tree's and husked for a few hours.

Just like Pops, no shirt!

The boys had a great time helping out....

and getting really really dirty!

After we hosed the boys down & fed them, they took a nap. While they slept

we cooked, cut and bagged the corn all afternoon and finished around 5:00. Sorry, no pictures....that is a messy job!

We finished off the day with a nice swim in a friends pool and then of course, CORN for supper!

A Day At The Park

Last week we took a day and headed to Knoebel's Amusement Park. It was a beautiful day and the kids were super excited for all the rides!

They enjoyed controlling this helicopter up and down!

Riding on the mini-ferris wheel

They took a big splash on the log ride

Rolled around in this gnasty germ....I mean ball pit!

Loved the Tilt-a-whirl

and of course the tea pots!

We had a really great relaxing day!!

Thanks Knoebels!

Raising Monarchs

Our friends have been raising monarchs and we have been very lucky to be able to share in some of that process. I know of a lot of people who have done this before, but this is our first time in seeing it.

Here are the caterpillars eating the milkweed.

The caterpillar stage lasts about two weeks. During the Crysalis stage the caterpillar hangs upside down in the shape of a 'J', and then I read that it 'molts'...that is the craziest thing...the caterpillar shed it's outer black skin and is encased with a green shell (for lack of better word). Here are a few different stages...some are beginning to for the 'J', others are in the Crysalis and then there are the Monarchs that have transformed. It is an amazing process!! Taking no longer than three weeks for the full change.

It was also very exciting to be able to release the Monarchs...although Kaden did not like them getting to close to his face.

Kaden and his friend Sarai...with Monarchs on their head

Beautiful!

Party On!

We continue to celebrate Ethan's birthday around our house.

Ethan was excited about his Woody and Horse that he got from Computer Grama

Yesterday we had family over to celebrate

Ethan and his Toy Story cake. He could hardly wait to get Buzz off the top....

MMmmmm...icing!

It was a great day and we ended it all with a round of mini-golf