Second Cousins

This week, Claudia had the opportunity to get to know some of her second cousins.  My aunt Ann (dad's sister), had her 3 grandsons for a week.  Being the wise woman that she is, she asked if Claudia could come and help her for a few days.  Claudia had so much fun with the little boys.  Mark and Luke are 4 year old twins, and Thomas is a chubby, adorable 3 year old.

This was the best group shot that I could get!!

I had a really hard time peeling the kids away from the farm every morning when I dropped Claudia off.

Adorable Thomas

 Greta gave my poor aunt a heart attack.  The battery was almost dead on the gator, but Greta was having a grand time driving it around.  It was the first time she had ever driven an ATV by herself.  She was doing a great job of maneuvering around the driveway.  A few minutes later, we were down by the pond blowing bubbles and I was trying to take some pics of the boys.  One of the twins was determined to not let me take his picture and I was more determined to get it.  Next thing I know, I hear Ann yell and run.  Greta was in the gator, driving right into the pond.  By the time Ann grabbed her, the front wheel had gone over the edge of the pond.  Oh. My. Goodness.  Can you say mother-of-the-year?

This was Greta before she drove into the pond.

Luke and Thomas

The edge of the pond where Greta almost went over.  Though it was a scary moment, even if she would have gone over the edge, she would have been ok.  There is a bit of an incline and it's shallow right where Claudia is standing.  Put still...my poor aunt... I wonder if her heart has slowed down yet??

Shy little Mark

Finally

After weeks of putting it off, we finally got our garden planted Monday evening.  We had the professional in to help (my dad).

After very exact measurements, we had to spray paint the rows so we know where to put them.

Team work.  Yes, the shrubs between our house and my uncles are dying.  

My little squash patch.  I threw some squash out there last fall and they decomposed.  Now I will have my own squash this year.  How's that for thrifty??

Showing off his legos.

Cherry Crest Farm

Last weekend we took our kids to Cherry Crest Farm.  Every summer I say I want to go...and we finally made it this year!  The kids had a great time.

This huge jumping pad was the girls favorite

Mini jumper for the kids

Watching the Strasburg RR go by

This launcher was Aaron's favorite.  I think he would have stood here all day and shot if I would have let him.

Playing in the corn

Steve... still proving the he has what it takes

Stylin'

Tubing

Earlier this week it was so, so hot.  The girls BEGGED Steve to take them tubing on Monday.  He thought that the water would still be too cold, seeing that it was just the end of May.  But b/c it was so hot, they won, and they had a great time.  Little bud was all set to go along, but the bank to get into the creek was quite steep.  On the way down, he fell and scratched his knee and he was done.  I told him he had to go home and take a nap or go tubing.  Can you believe he chose the nap??
I wish so bad I could have gone along. I love to tube... some day soon the kids will all be old enough and we can all go together!!   If you see the look on poor Greta's face, she was distraught that she did not have a tube and could not go along.

Baby Bump

Last night I thought I would attempt at taking a few pics of my growing belly.  I don't have many from over the years.  Probably my favorite is that one that Steve snapped just hours before Aaron was born
(I wasn't even in labor yet).  Anyway, I was trying to instruct both Claudia and Morgan at how to shoot a posed picture...it wasn't really working, but this is what we got.

Some little missy just couldn't stand being left out of the picture

I told Morgan she would have had a very artsy photo here if she would have actually gotten me in it!  

Not exactly sure how this happened...

Little Chef

Claudia has a very strong interest in cooking, she is always asking me if she can make something in the kitchen.  The other day she decided that on Saturday she wanted to make all 3 meals.  We ended up having lunch away from home, but she pulled off a pretty impressive breakfast and supper.  I left real early to do some yard-saling, and came home to everyone feasting on this:

I didn't get a pic of her supper menu, but she made meatballs, stuffed potato skins, salad, and a chocolate cake.  Other than instructing her briefly while I lay on the couch engrossed in a biography, she did it all on her own.  This girl is certainly a keeper!!