A few videos

Here's a compilation of some random videos over the past month.  The first is of Titus singing a John Deere jingle (though hard to understand in some spots), the second is of Lydia getting her first haircut, the third is of Titus playing at his flute recital, the fourth is of Katelyn playing at the flute recital (the same piece she will be playing at the international conference), and the fifth is of setting off a few fireworks on July 4th.

A Trip to SpringHouse Farm

The kids and I took a trip to Springhouse Farm, about an hour south of here, near Washington, PA.  It was a warm day, but the kids had a blast.  They learned a lot about dairy farms, and all that's involved in caring for the cows, milking the cows, and getting the milk from the farm to the stores.  I wasn't able to get great pictures of everything they did, but they had a wonderful time and hopefully learned a lot!

Titus milking a cow.

Katelyn milking Grace the cow.

 Lydia was a little intimidated by the idea of being so close to such a large animal, so she helped mom milk one...which is why there's no picture of her.  :)

The kids in the milkinghouse.

Lydia "helping" feed a baby calf.

Katelyn did a great job.

Titus also really enjoyed feeding the calf.

I love this picture, even though Titus wasn't too pleased with it. 

Baby calves are so cute!

They loved petting them.

This boy definitely has farming in his blood.

It wasn't a John Deere, but he still made himself very much at home on it.  (And had to be encouraged to let others have a turn on it.)  :)

Elise finally free from the backpack carrier & able to join in on the fun!

Lydia eventually warmed up to the calves & really enjoyed petting them.

Sweet Elise checking out the calves.

These two loved everything there.

And this girl was a trooper.  There was a lot of walking & it was a warm day, but she didn't complain once.

Ice cream was the perfect treat at the end of our time there.

Elise finally discovers the joy of ice cream! (Maybe it's because she had never been offered chocolate peanut butter before!)

Lydia was so sweet - sharing with her sister.

It was a great day!  We hope we can do it again sometime.

Springtime!

Miss Elise at 11 months (yes, I know these are a smidge out of order.  Bear with me.)

Love this baby girl.

 Two of my girls in braids.

How cute are they?

Perhaps someday, Miss Elise can join them legitimately in this picture.  :)

Cheese!

A beautiful day for a picnic...in MARCH, no less!

Elise's 1st Birthday

Winter 2012

We're not even going to attempt to play catch up over the past few months.  But here are a few pictures of the kids from the past month or so for the faithful few who still visit our blog.  Enjoy!!  :)

Elise - 9 months old...and already "cheesing"

Lydia Joyce - trying on a dress once worn by her namesake, Joyce Lynn.

Trying out our new rain boots - thanks, Grammy & Grandpa!

One of the few heavy snows we've had this winter - about 8 inches.

Enough for the kids to go outside & enjoy!

Enjoying some quiet reading time.

Elise - 10 months old - already?!

Some fall photos

Elise sitting in the sunlight.

A fairy princess, a football player (with Colleen's great handiwork on the homemade helmet), and a cowgirl.

Originally she was going to be Dorothy, but that dress was a little too big for her to use this year.

Titus appears to be more imposing than some of the current Kansas football players.

Titus is moving from a tractor guy to a football guy, though he still loves both.

The butterfly wings from her birthday party served as wings for this outfit.

Enjoying a little solid food, well as solid as baby food is.

A picture with each of their birthday stuffed animals.

Mr. Bear.

The cow

A little out of place here, but Titus with Poppa at the children's museum.

Primed

Painted.  It's a blue/gray, though it's a little hard to tell in this light.

Elise's 6 month picture with her elephant.

Colleen's handiwork for Katelyn's friend birthday party.

I viewed it as painstaking and time consuming work, but Colleen seemed to enjoy it.

Katelyn and Titus enjoying Grandpa's lap.

Katelyn's friends at her birthday party.

Katelyn on her birthday morning.

Grandpa went and got Oram's donuts for Katelyn's birthday.  Think she liked that?

Big brother with his littlest sister.

One half of the crew at the family birthday party.

The other half.

Katelyn trying on her new winter coat.

A live butterfly garden for a butterfly birthday girl.

New boots!

Nana and the three oldest raking up some leaves.

Lydia trying her best.

Nana holding Elise.

I'm not sure what this conversation was about, but clearly Titus is trying to make his point to Katelyn.

Elise wearing a birthday hat with Nana.

I don't know if she realized what was on her head, but she didn't seem to mind.

Nana reading to Lydia while Titus played the Indiana Jones game that was on Nana's phone.

Enjoying more solid food.

Lydia in an airplane at the children's museum.

Lydia caught the parachutes.

Titus put them in a bucket and pulled the rope to send it up.

Katelyn grabbed the bucket and sent the parachutes back into the air.

Wearing goggles in a wind tunnel.

Some sort of reflecting activity.

Lydia sitting on...something.

Lydia with cousin Breylynn

The three oldest playing with...something.

Titus squishing that something flat.

Katelyn doing a screen press.

Titus playing in the fountains.

Raincoat and shoes were provided.