Farm Girl

Meg decided this morning that she was going to go work over at the farm with the boys.  She got herself ready, picked out her own clothes (and she didn't pick out a dress) ... and donned her work boots. 

She fixed her hair, put on her cap and hopped outside with the boys.  THEN .... she remembered that she needed to "Hannah Montana" pose and get her picture taken, and she needed her make-up ... and her purse, and her lipstick and hairbrush.  She also needed a bag with a few snacks, a drink and something to play with while she's there.

... and right before she hopped onto her waiting coach (4-wheeler) she remembered that she needed to go pee, and while she was back in the house, she made a cheese and bread sandwich, grabbed some ice in a baggie so she wouldn't get hot, and gathered up a few more girly things.  Then she was ready to go!

This girl NEVER goes to the farm ... and she never gets dirty!  I have to say .... I LOVE IT!!!!

Buddies

As much as they fight .... they love just as much. I took a wet wash cloth with me to the field last night ... just so I could get this.

Trust me, within a few minutes, these clean little faces were dirt and sweat covered with John Deere hats on their heads. They love the dirt ... and farming!

A Farmer

Yesterday evening I took the kids to the fields where Von was planting.  Then we made the rounds of all the fields.  The kids played in the dirt and ran up and down the freshly planted rows.  That wasn't cool ... but they did have fun.

I snapped this as Von was gathering them all up just as the sun was setting.  I love it. 

Joey and Mariah {Engaged}

 

There's going to be weddin' bells soon!  These two people are so happy together!  What's even better is that they both totally live for God.  

  

 July 18th is their big day! 

  

It was hard to keep them serious for all the clowning around ... or maybe they were just "jumping for joy."

  

Isn't she beautiful?  Inside and Outside.  There is no Bridezilla going on here.  This girl is so genuine and humble, and is so much fun to be around.  We had a really great session and she was game for every shot.

  

 She talked him right into a few precious moments poses .... and like a good guy, he did whatever she wanted.

  

Joey looked down as we were walking along the path and picked up a nutshell that had a perfect little heart cut out on the inside!  Ahhh .... it's "meant to be" Love!

By the way ... for those of you that don't know, Joey is my kid.  How lucky am I?  

(click the pictures for a closer look) ... I'll come back and post a slideshow link here after I get their whole gallery up!

Welcome to the World Sweet Baby

 

A couple of weeks ago, T was born.  I have to say I think he's right up there as one of the most beautiful babies I've ever seen.  

As I've been editing his birth gallery this evening, it dawned on me that I didn't welcome this sweet sweet baby to the world, and since I know his Mama is now reading my blog .... here's your gorgeous little guy!  Hello handsome little Man!

I love love love being able to photograph these little ones as they come into the world!

Jay

Dear Jay, 

You have many faces!  Yesterday evening I sat on the step and watched you and Sam play.  Every once in a while you looked up and glanced my way.  I played that game, "can I shoot faster than you can blink" because you don't like getting your picture taken anymore.  I've done you in with all my begging for one good shot.

Every once in a while you would look directly at me.  It was a game.  You knew I had my camera, and you were teasing me.  You're like that.  I love that.

 

You and Sam were having fun.  So much fun that when your Dad sees it .... you're probably going to be in trouble.

 

But you don't care.  It was all worth it to you because you were having fun.  Don't worry ... I'll cover your butt.

 

You're only a boy once .... and boys do boy things!

 

Then they grin about it and smile cheesy smiles for their Mom ... right Jay?

 

You are so cute and I love you so much!

Even when you and Sam go outside, pull all of the tools out of the garage, rework the yard that was just seeded, haul all of the straw away and make a big mud hole again.

I'll protect you ... and we'll tell your Dad that we don't know what happened.  Gremlins were here!

 

Cute little Gremlins!

 

and you did it all for HER!

 

Sammy the Dog!

Aunt Lou and the Auction

Today we went to an auction. It wasn't just any auction ... but Von's Aunt Lou's auction. So immediately I formed an attachment to everything I saw ... and I wanted everything that wasn't attached. I have to say that "Aunt Lou" was a wonderful lady, and she was Von's favorite Aunt, and she was an collector. Boy, was she a collector.

Aunt Lou and her husband had a couple of funeral homes before they retired ... and they had the most awesome chairs I've ever seen. I had photo shoot's in my head, and had some serious visions while standing there drooling. I was immediately snapped back to reality when Von told me in his most authoritative voice, "Don't even think about it!"

What started off as a little something to do today, turned out to be a fun fun fun (fun fun) day! All of Von's relatives and cousins were there and we were all bidding against each other. It was serious business! Some, like me ... were on a mission, and others didn't have it in them to bid against each other. Some knew what they were after ... and some (me) were impulsive and couldn't stand to lose.

Before we even got there, I was planning my catch. Being that I've never bid at an auction before and I didn't know how, I let a gorgeous pink crock pitcher (150.00) slip right through my hands. Let me tell you, I didn't make that mistake again. Being that I'm only five foot tall, I learned how to hold my number "147" high in the air, and keep it there. A couple of times, I was bidding against myself, but the good man in the booth let me know ... ha!

I didn't get the one thing I really wanted though. There was a little old red rocking chair that Aunt Lou had sat my babies in when they were little. I wanted it. So did Von's cousin. We went back and forth until that little chair was at 180.00, and when I saw the sick green look on his face ... I let him have it. I'm just kidding about running the price up. I really wanted that chair, but I knew that if I bought it at that price, I'd have to walk to home.

On impulse, I bought two very old quilts, a huge set of Pfaltzgraff dishes and accessories, a 30.00 fan that sells at Wal-Mart for 19.00, two old milk bottles, a king size bed (yes I did ... now what?), a 70.00 dollar Fiestaware pitcher that is on Ebay tonight for 27.00, more Fiestaware for another 60.00, a little table that I don't even know what it's for, and my favorite find was a little green metal teapot for 10.00.

I think it was at about that time when Von snatched my number away from me. .... and guess what? I figured out that I didn't need that little bit of paper with number 147 on it, because by then, the Auctioneer knew me. He knew me well!

You see, Aunt Lou left the bulk of her estate to her twenty-four first generation Nieces and Nephews. She was very very generous to us. Very. But I think she had an ulterior plan. She enabled all of us to have a fun day ... and she enabled all of us to buy her collections and a part of her life, when most everyone wouldn't have been able to do so otherwise.

Aunt Louise never had children of her own .... and she really loved her Nieces and Nephews. In return, they loved her too! We now have lots of bits and pieces of Aunt Lou throughout our house, and when Von is speaking to me again .... I'm sure he'll love them too!

Thanks Aunt Lou! Although we miss you, it was a wonderful day ... and I truly love all of my new treasures!

P.S. Hey cousin that bought that little red chair ... I really hope that you're not mad at me, and I really hope that you'll love it as much as I would have.

Their Inner Child and the Rocket

Tonight Von came home from the barn and said, "Want to go over to Don's and shoot off a Rocket?"
Huh?  A Rocket?  Is that safe for the kids?  Sure thing Sherlock ... let's go!

A little history:  I take it that these two .... the twins .... not the triplets, used to shoot off homemade rockets when they were younger, and the Inner Child spoke to Don when he saw one.  I'm presuming he just had to do it again ...or else, he thought the kids would love it.  Knowing how much he loves these kiddo's, he probably had them in mind.

So, the kids followed him out into the driveway and didn't understand a single thing that was going on.

 

Yes Kids .... this is the Rocket, and below is your Dad reading the instructions while your Uncle Don gets the Rocket ready. 

Can you tell he understands .... or is that complete puzzlement on his face!

.... and we're ready, and we're still ready .... and still ready!  Did I hear you say it takes batteries?

 It didn't used to be this way Von says .... it only took a match back in the good old days! 

Finally .... after the countdown, it shot off like a Rocket.  Straight up in the air.  It was pretty cool to watch how high it went, and how the wind carried it, as it fell across the road into a field. Tomorrow's mission is go find it.  It still has one more life.

Von talked about that little rocket all the way home (one road over) and all during dinner.  I think his inner child was pepped up a bit this evening.  It's funny how something from the past or childhood is fun to do again many years later.

Thanks Don for buying that Rocket!