Expecting a Baby!

We got word a while back that we would soon have another baby join our family!  Of course we immediately got excited.

Harris announcing that he would soon have a baby sister.

Then, we found out whether we will be getting a granddaughter or grandson.

Last weekend we joined together with Jessica's family to add a little bit of pink and girlishness to their household.

We all signed in by guessing the new addition's birth date.

We feasted with delicious food and fellowship provided by Jessica's brother and sister-in-law, Jacob and Whitney, and many of their neighbors.

The dessert table looked more than tasty, it was a picture of girly pink, ruffles, and sweetness.

There was a beautiful and delicious strawberry cake...

There were also cupcakes with ruffly rose icing set up in the shape of a pink baby onesie, too!

The children had a place to decorate their own bit of sugary deliciousness as well.

We showered them with gifts of a practical nature...

...as well as a few of those frilly extras that a girl might need in her repertoire.

The growing family posed for a few photos.

Then, Dad-Bryan gave a speech thanking everybody for their generosity and expressing their excited anticipation.

Now, we wait...and hope this boy is just as excited about having a baby sister as he is about getting ready for her!

Before and After

I got a message from our daughter-in-law the other day that made me laugh out loud - literally!  Here it is:

Before and after...innocent swim day turns mud bath

Sharing the Fun

I love it when the grandchildren interact, share, and just generally have childhood fun.  When Lydia was here for her Days, we went up to visit Levi and Easton (and their parents as well).

Levi invited Lydia to join him in a bit of jumping on the trampoline.  He sat and watched her and enjoyed the bouncing for a bit...

Then, he decided to join her in the fun.  He was soon up and hopping around like a jumping bean and I'll just tell you, folks, I could not keep up!  I only had my cell phone to capture photos but I didn't get a single one that wasn't just a blur!

This little one thought he wanted to join the fun on the trampoline.

He didn't get far from the entry point of the safety net before he decided that jumping with those bigger kiddos was not for him, though!

They also did a little climbing together.

Levi really liked it when Lydia climbed up on top and dropped down inside the geodesic climbing dome.

While he thought it looked fun, he wasn't quite ready to climb to the top and drop down inside.  However, he did figure out how to get over into it and then back out.  (Little mother hen had to hover just in case he got stuck and needed a little help!)

The chatter and giggles they shared left a smile on all of our faces!

Summer Days

I have really enjoyed the lazy days of summer.  Here in our family the term Summer Days also has a different connotation.

You see, since the eldest granddaughter was a wee mite, she has shared a few days with GrandB in the summertime.  They have come to be known as Days with a capital D.

Summer Days mean that the grandchild visits all alone and gets all the attention.  Who wouldn't love that?  This summer the only two who took advantage of that opportunity were Lillie and Lydia, the elder of the grands.

The other grandchildren just seemed to need to be closer to their mothers.  Or, maybe it was GrandB who knew she didn't want to be dealing with a younger grand crying for mother at bedtime!

We try to do a few fun things while the grands are here for their Days.  Both of them got trips to the local pool.  I am lucky enough to have a friend with a daughter near to the age of these two granddaughters.  She met us at the local pool and the girls seemed to have a good time splashing together.

Most of the time, my view was this one - looking out on a blue pool of water at a ponytail or splashing girl swimming along and enjoying the water.  On a late afternoon visit to the pool with Lillie, she spent most of the time just swimming round with her goggles on investigating and practicing her swimming skills.  There were clouds brewing on the horizon, though.

She had an hour or two on that Day of swimming and splashing and investigating with her goggles.

Then, we had to make a mad dash for the truck!

We barely made it before the bottom dropped out of those dark clouds that made a quick approach on the horizon!

Lydia enjoyed her goggles as she swam, swirled, and turned flips underwater.  She also liked jumping and splashing.

Among other things we took time for in the Days they were here were dinner out, stirring up and cooking a favorite meal or treat, riding with Mike in the ATV, gardening, and just chilling in front of a screen or a book with no siblings or parents to bother them.  The tween ages are some of my favorites because the things they enjoy are simple and easy.

Both girls seemed to be wearing smiles the whole time they were here.  So, I think they enjoyed the visit almost as much as Mike and I.

We just wish we had more time for Days like this!

Just Like Older Brother

A couple of days ago I posted a warm, fuzzy image of our middle grandson tromping toward the sunset in his boots.  Today, I was sorting through photos and saw this one of Easton that is almost a mirror image of his brother.

Oh, he may be wearing Crocks instead of boots and the sun may not be streaking over the treeline, but he looks like he is just as much on a mission and has followed the footsteps of Levi a time or two!

...And the Living is Easy.

Summertime and the livin' is easy

Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high

Oh, your daddy's rich and your ma is good lookin'

So hush, little baby, don't you cry

Bridgette, Lillie, Lydia, and Luci went west to visit with cousin, Harris, a week or so ago.  They spent some time squirting one another with water guns and splashing and generally playing in the water and hot summer weather.  I loved this shot that was shared with us.  Don't they look like a bunch of renegades with their water guns and goggles?

One of these mornings you're gonna rise up singing

And you'll spread your wings and you'll take to the sky

But till that morning, there ain't nothin' can harm you

With daddy and mammy standin' by

I think Levi and Easton did their share of splashing at their water table during the hot days.  Water is such a natural magnet and way of having fun for children and what better way to entertain and cool off during those steamy days?

When I am fortunate enough to get photos from the grandchildren's parents sharing their ordinary days, my heart just swells.  So, in typical grandmother fashion, I'm opening my brag book and sharing the love.  Of course, Mike and I think they are adorable and practically perfect in every way!  

These photos shared by the parents sure do make me think of lyrics from that old-time jazz song, Summertime.  I know when we had days where we just splashed in the plastic pool or the creek as a child, that those days were when the living was easy!

I'm already back at work and for the first time in my career I am not feeling ready and excited to go back to school.  Maybe I just need a little bit more of that summertime...

Summertime, and the livin' is easy

Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high

Oh, your daddy's rich and your ma is good-lookin'

So hush, little baby, don't you cry

An Ordinary Day

My daughter-in-law sent me this photo of our middle grandson, Levi, and I just love it.  I think it truly depicts the life of a kid on the farm.  When it is time to check the cows or feed the goats or water some form of farm animal, just slip on your boots and get the job done!  

The view takes me back to my own childhood days when my sister and I wore canvas tennis shoes and our underwear to the barn because the temperature and humidity were so high and we were back so far in the country that the only folks who would know were our parents.  

I just love the image of this little fellow tromping off toward the sunset in his boots!