Country Kids

Cousins

Two weekends ago, my cousin Jenny and her family came to visit us for the weekend.  We had a great time just hanging out on the farm together, watching storms roll through, taking the boat out to the lake, and launching model rockets.

 The crew trying to catch the rocket as it floats back to earth under its parachute.

 Last weekend, we visited the Smith farm to spend time with more cousins and help with my brother's wedding preparation.  The kids so helpfully set up orange juice and lemonade stands to hydrate us as we worked.

 And this picture is just because I loved the look of our shadows side by side as we walked along our driveway enjoying a perfect summer evening tonight.

A Tea Party

This past Sunday, Mom and I made a very quick trip to Jen's hometown in Iowa for a tea party bridal shower.  Aren't the hats cute?

Jen with her grandma, mom, and two sisters.

Mom, Jen and myself.

The shower hostesses.

Morgan is 4!

Summer flies by!

How is it suddenly nearly the middle of August?  How is it that my baby brother gets married in less than a month (although I've been waiting for the day for a long time!) and my baby boy starts kindergarten also in less than a month?

A Farm Boy and his dog

Nora helps Auntie Melodee brush her beautiful horse, Mack.

Posey and the sunflower that bloomed at our door from last winter's birdseed.

Bathing by the daisies.

Rascal the coffee drinker.

Last Friday we went to the county fair with Grandpa and Grandma.  You might notice Nora's orange and pink hair from her activities with the babysitter earlier that day.

Arrrgh! Pirates!

Nora and her friend Sonja with braids and babies.

A big storm

Most of you who read our blog probably see the pictures I post on facebook and know that we were hit by a strong storm of straightline winds and a possible tornado on August 1.  If you haven't already seen the pictures, you can peek at them here.  The insurance company totaled the playset and will be hauling it away in 2 days.  Most of the trees have been cut up by friends who burn wood for heat in their homes.  And we have a contractor scheduled to repair the minor house damage within a few weeks.  It could have been so much worse.