This Was Not Posed

Yes, I actually found her reading my Pioneer Woman Cookbook sitting amongst the perennials.  

Strawberries

One day last week, my Amish neighbor came up our driveway with a wagon full of strawberries.  They have tons and tons of produce that they sell to market.  Apparently, this batch of berries was sent to market but rejected and returned b/c they weren't in good enough shape.  They have had enough of their own seconds and wanted to know if I wanted them.  I was thrilled.  She brought me 24 quart of berries! For free! There were a few bruises and a teeny bit of mold,  but for me: perfect.  For days we had strawberry milkshakes and I made lots and lots of jam.

Just so you see a bit of our true colors...Morgan helped me make the jam while Claudia slaved away on a math lesson.  When it was time to take the pic, Claudia wanted to hop in.  Morgan was not happy b/c Claudia did not help with the jam.  I love what pictures I can get when I just keep snapping!!

Gymnastics

For this past school year, Morgan has been in a gymnastics class.  She fell in love with it and it seems a great fit for her interests and abilities.  Thursday was her last class.  She was very happy to have grandpa and grandma there to watch, she kept smiling and waving.

Love

Piggyback

Monday afternoon reading time

Afternoon Snack

Spittin' image

I am often told how much Claudia looks like me and lately have been hearing more and more the same thing about Morgan.  I myself can not see it.  I can sometimes see similarities in the 2 of them, but not how they resemble me.
Anyway, tonight I had the 2 of them at some yard sales.  I was looking through one lady's things for quite some time and she said to me, "Those are your girls, right?  Oh-my-word- it looks like you just spit them out.  They look just like you."  Not sure why that struck me so funny.  I just spit them out.  I got a good laugh out of that one.  I just wish it was that easy!!  :)

Stinker

The other day when I took my "five" picture, I had exactly in my mind what I wanted it to look like.  Hand off to the side, stuck straight out, face blurry in the background.  No matter what I did, Aaron would NOT cooperate.  You can tell by his face that he is determined not to do what I am asking of him.

Cinco

Five.  Come this fall, that's how many little ones I'm gonna have running around.  Ok, one might not be running in the fall...but you get the idea.  Yes, we are expecting again.  Baby #5 is due at the end of November.  We are all very excited.
Just this past weekend I was 12 weeks.  Can't believe that this pregnancy is already 1/3 of the way over.  I am extremely grateful that this pregnancy had been very different than my last.  Little Miss Greta had me sicker than sick.  20 weeks of severe nausea and vomiting every day.  This time around I have had low grade nausea but it seems like nothing compared to before.  Though I am very tired and don't have much stamina, I'm thankful to be feeling so well.
One of the highlights for me was telling the kids.  They were all super excited, it makes it all the more fun.  Even little G seems to get that there is a baby in my belly.
If anyone has any good name suggestions, we're open.  This well has run dry.  The kids love to give ideas.  If it is a boy, Aaron thinks we should name him Spock.  See what I'm working with here?
I had an ultrasound back at 9 weeks to determine the due date.  It's always such a miracle to see the little person swimming around in there.  At just 9 weeks, he/she was only an inch long, had a rapidly beating heart, and little arms and legs.  Thank you, God, for another little one that you have entrusted into our family.  Can't wait to meet this one!!

My girlie

Beautiful Girls

I recently took some pictures for my good friend, Grace.  She has 5 daughters and I thought it would be fun to capture them each as individuals and as sisters.  Her girls are great friends with my kiddos and we appreciate them so much.

I'm really not a bird hater.

I promise this to be my last post about birds, nests, or eggs in a long time.  But...I did want to defend myself just a tad to all those who think I am a hater b/c I ripped a nest out of my pansies.
So though I'm not a bird hater, I'm nowhere near a bird lover either.  Just like any other creature of nature, I appreciate them but I've never been overly interested in them.  My dad, he's a bit into birds.  He always has had feeders and known every species that came to his back porch.  And my neighbor friend, Abby Odell, she is a bird lover.  They go on vacation to watch and trap birds and such.  BOTH ABBY AND MY DAD TOLD ME TO REMOVE THE NEST.  There, I said it.  I'm shifting blame to those who love birds more than me.
Whenever my dad comes over he does a tour of the bird boxes that he has put up on our property.  The other day he and the kids found 4 nest with eggs or live birds in them.  Though these pictures are not impressive, they show the variety of life at our place.
And the little egg that was in my pansies...it's been deserted.  Mama ain't coming back for her baby.  I think we scared her away.

Chickadee nest.  Their eggs are very beautiful and petite.

A robin's nest and an egg in a tree

Bluebird babies.  Not a very captivating shot of them b/c they were sleeping.

Robin's nest with 3 eggs under the playground.  No matter how hard I tried I could not get a reach to get a shot of those eggs.

Train Day

This past Saturday our family rode the train down to Philadelphia for "National Train Day."  Kids rode free on the train and the station down at PHL had some events and activities for the kids.  We went with our good friends, the Priviteras, and their 3 youngest kids.  It was a great day together.  We didn't do much of the train activities but instead walked around the city and enjoyed the beautiful weather.

Enjoying modern entertainment on the last leg of the ride.

The kids minus Greta.  

Greta very much enjoyed the warm cookies from the "cookie truck" we found on the side of the road.

The adults in the glaring sunlight.

We enjoyed our lunch at Bobby Flay's restaurant, Bobby's Burger Palace.