More Fair

Just a few more shots from our evenings at the fair.  I love this time of year.

Morgan and her greased pig attempt.  She's in the middle with a white t-shirt.

Greta and G-ma snuggling while watching the greasy pigs

Claudia getting congratulated by Mr. Freeman

SHE CAUGHT THE PIG!!

This has been quite the week for Claudia at the fair.  Tonight we headed back to the fair because Morgan really wanted to be in the greased pig contest.  Claudia decided last minute to give it a shot too.  They do it by age group so Morgan was first.  There were a ton of girls in her group, she said she touched the pig but that was it.  Claudia was up next... and shocked us all by CATCHING THAT CRAZY PIG!!  Such a funny moment, I would not have pegged her as the one to catch it.  Didn't know I had a farm girl on my hands.  And she even won $15!!  I got a few shots, but we were so far away they are really bad.  Here she is at the starting line, far right in the white t-shirt.

First Place!

It was a big night for my sweet Claudia.  We entered a couple of her things in the local fair.  Her photo got a blue ribbon!!  She got first place for the black and white amateur photo!!  She was so excited.  Steve and I knew she had gotten the ribbon (a friend from church called to let us know he saw it) and so we headed over to the fair.  I brought my camera to capture her reaction.  Way to go, Claudia!!

Here is the blue ribbon photo:

Love this

Too high ponies put in by sissy and too short leggings put on by herself.  Not sure what is up with the double attitude either.

Parade

Greta getting a back massage from Cameron.

Lexi's expression at the marching band was too funny!

G is 3

Hard to believe my little baby girl is already past the 3 year mark.  I just haven't had a chance to stop and do a little photo shoot with her.  Thankfully, she is probably the most photographed member of our family, so there is no shortage of pictures of her!!  I typically like to shoot in the evenings, but it's getting dark so early and our evenings are just busy busy.  The other day it was overcast and the perfect weather for it.  Totally last minute when I should have been making lunch for my hungry brood, I took her outside and grabbed a few shots.  She's such a dear, she loves getting her picture taken and was no shortage of smiles.

Sometimes it's hard for me to discern Greta's personality in all the craziness of her older siblings.  In so many ways she is such a mix of Claudia and Morgan, yet she really is her own little girl.  She is more quiet, does not have much to say, though she has no trouble expressing her opinion!  She loves to giggle and be silly.  She loves to be outdoors, really and truly would stay out there all day if someone was with her.  She has even started to go by herself some, just to ride bike on the driveway.  She is a very happy playmate with her big brother, going along with whatever he has in mind for her.  Greta loves to run, and I love to watch her run.  She always runs with a smile with her hair blowing in the wind.
She has her sister Claudia's blood who loves all things pretty and loves clothes.  Greta could dress herself long before Aaron could and does so all day long.  She is very particular about her clothes and hair, though there is no rhyme or reason to it.  Her latest obsession is purses, she LOVES to carry around a purse (or two!!) full of her little treasures.  Thankfully, there is no shortage of them laying around, leftover from her sisters.  She does not know or care that they are hand-me-downs!
One of my favorite things about Greta is that she loves to snuggle.  Though that translated into a very high maintenance newborn who never wanted to sleep on her own, it is now quite sweet.  Steve and I never tire of getting a chance to snuggle with our G.
We love this girl, she's such a sweet treat for our family.  She is really and truly adored by her siblings and we are so happy to have her!!
And yes, we really do call her "G"!!

I got this dress for Greta for $1 at a yard sale and it was her favorite this summer.

New birthday shirt from Grandma.

Birthday's Out

My parents are so kind to take my girls out for their birthday every year.  They get to pick the restaurant and it's always fun to see where they go.  Morgan picked S. Clyde Weaver, kind of a deli, but she once had their chicken pie and loved it and wanted to go back.  Claudia picked Olive Garden.  Greta has to wait until she is 5 to go, though I think she had them convinced they should take her out for ice cream.

Early Morning Hoops

Steve recently put up a basketball hoop.  It's provided hours of entertainment for the kids.  Aaron and Morgan are often found out there early.

30 weeks

Photo Credit: Miss Claudia Heitland

Instigator

This little boy is something else.  He is either all sweet or all trouble.  I have been grateful for a few days in a row of sweetness after a really bad week last week.  One of those days, Steve had him for the morning.  I had an amazingly peaceful morning with the girls, doing school, chores, etc.  They minute he came home it was like unleashing the dragon.  Fights were breaking out, crying, etc.  Incredible how much power a little man can have.

Last night we had a sitter.  Pamela is here often and loves the kids and they love her.  When she was putting Aaron to bed, she prayed for him.  He told her that she did not pray right, it was too short, not long like daddy.  He also told her that he would show her how to pray and had her repeat after him.  Thankfully she got a bang out of his little attitude and went along for the ride.  We had a good laugh out of that one.  Especially b/c Steve neither 1.) prays long or 2.) does "repeat after me" prayers.  Don't know where he got that from.

His sweetness this week has looked like a lot of hugs and "I love you, mom".  Also made my day when he said, "Mom, you're so pretty."  Raising him has been an adventure thus far.  He certainly is made out of different stuff than my girls.

Miss My Girl

Morgan left this weekend to go to Ohio with my mom.  We sure do miss her!!

This picture was taken when I did her b-day shots.  We had moved to a new location and I said to her, "You don't have to smile, I'm just adjusting my camera."  It's funny the shots I get when I do that, they are never intended.  I'm sure she hates this of herself, but I love it.  She just looks so...childlike and innocent.

Mossville

My girls recently have spent hours in the trees between our house and my uncle's.  It's become their "woods".  They recently made a little village that was quite impressive.  I am going to have Claudia fill in all the details:

I started to build a little elf house and a well.  Then Rachel came over and we changed it from a elf village to a little town called Mossville.   It was a LOT of fun to make!

Here is an overall view of Mossville.  The places include a house, a well, a tavern called the Green Cricket, a feast table, a pavilion, a bakery, a playground, and a big field of moss.

Here is the bakery with the stand in front with the pies on it.

Here is the well with a lady fetching water.

Here is a house with a doormat and trail in front.

This is the man with his vegetable stall and his garden is behind it.  There is lettuce, tomatoes, watermelon, and carrots.

This is the playground with a little boy flying his kite, a see-saw, a slide, a bench, and a awing.