Happy Father's Day

We celebrated Father's Day with Seth's parents. Here is a picture of us after church at their house.
And a picture of Eliza, Emmet, Ephraim & Eden.

The boys enjoyed the slip-n-slide with Mark & John.

Eliza

Eden

Ephraim

Checking out the high crick waters.

Emmet

There is a picture of Emmet on the slip-n-slide that I'd really like to post, if I can figure out how to but a black box over you-know-what. Emmet decided that his swim trunks were slowing him down so he took them off. And later he was wearing just underwear. There is a cute story here, also. Last week on Grandma's day to babysit the boys were enjoying the swimming and Emmet again took off all his clothes. Eliza was looking interested in swimming also so Emmet comes over to her--flexes his muscles like a superhero and says "Dit naked". Emmet, you make us laugh!

There were toads everywhere!

Uncle Paul & Emmet

Here is what we did for gifts for the grandfathers. A picture with a saying on the back with "We love you More & More" and a package of M&M's. And the photos were specific to each grandfather.

Pictures, Pictures & More Pictures!

Gardening is a once-a-week activity for us. Here is Eliza helping with the carrots.

The boys showing off how many peas they picked.

Ephraim picking peas. He was a great help!

"Yummy, strawberries straight from the garden."

We had the opportunity to travel to Johnston to see my high school friend Debbie and her two girls. This was the best group shot we could get. Her daughter Allison is in the center and her other daughter Jessica was asleep. However, let me tell you that I didn't think we were ever going to make it to her house. We left our house at 8am, perfect timing, I thought. Five miles down the road I glance back and notice that the girls did not have shoes on. I call Seth (because he's the one who loaded them in the van) and he did not pack shoes. Back home we go.

We're on the road again by 8:15.

We get about 8 miles down the road and Emmet says "Did you pack shoes for me?"

My response: "EMMET DEAN, ARE YOU BAREFOOT?"
In a whimpering voice, Emmet says "Yes."

Ugghhh! Back home to get another pair of shoes and we're on the road again by 8:30. It's going to take us 1 hour and 45 minutes to get to Debbie's house and we'd already been on the road for 30 minutes and gone nowhere! It gets better. We get to the Oskaloosa Wal-Mart exit and I hear this unmistakable sound of uk, uk, blaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Eden was throwing up. I pulled over and wiped her up. I decided that I would give her until Otley to decide if she was going to be fine or get sick again. She was fine, so other than a potty break on the side of the road by Prairie City, we eventually made it to Debbie's house and had a good time.

My boys taught Debbie's daughter how to roar like a t-rex, so I'm not sure we'll be back. :)

Made my first batch of strawberry jam. It made 12 half-pints and it is delicious. Thanks for the strawberries, Melissa!

The boys had a Lego semi-building contest with Daddy.

My niece Alyssa with the Cabbage Patch doll clothes I made.

Another Cabbage Patch outfit.

The first week of June we had the opportunity to celebrate Ephraim's birthday and Alyssa's birthday with my parents. Here are the kids cleaning up after the pinata.

Our family at the party.

Ephraim got more Legos!

Garret, Eden, Eliza, Alyssa, Emmet & Ephraim with Grandpa. The kids thought the sand and rock pile was for them, but it's actually for the floor of Grandpa's new shop. They had fun with it anyway.

This and That

Ephraim sharing a special moment with his sisters. This picture is proof that they don't always fight. In fact, Eliza is pretty quick to join Ephraim in his bean bag and settle in for a movie.


We enjoy coffeetime with Seth's grandparents about once a month. Here are the kids with them. You can't see it very well, but Elizabeth is holding a spider web crafted by the boys from skewers, wire and beads. It was her birthday gift from us.

Eden & Elmer

Eden sat so still and Eliza doesn't know what "sit still" means.

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A few random pictures of our cattle herd (10 in all). The kids love to go for rides in the pasture and get up close to the calves.

The boys had a few chances to ride in the tractor while Seth planted.

Mowing hay:

The boys love to ride with Seth anytime they get the chance. On this particular day Seth was mowing the hay. It hasn't been the greatest weather for mowing and baling hay this year. Regardless, the boys were able to ride for a couple rounds before going home.

Strawberry Pie

Here are some pictures at my attempt to make Strawberry Pie this morning. The girls were helping (?). Just a note: the pictures are posted in the order they were taken.

At first Eden was putting whole strawberries in the pie plate. Then she decides to taste test one strawberry. And she put it back with the bunch.

Mom, I better try another one.

Okay, I'll put it back.

Hmm, this one looks good.

Yep, it's a good one.

I'm starting to wonder if I'll have any strawberries to make the pie.

I'm a big helper, aren't I?

Here sis, let me show you what to do.

Yummy!


At least she's using a spoon.

Here's the recipe:

Graham cracker crust or make your own with 1 1/3 cups graham cracker crumbs, 3 Tbsp sugar & 1/3 cup butter melted.

1 pint strawberries, sliced

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

3 Tbsp cornstarch

3 Tbsp strawberry gelatin

Mix sugar and cornstarch in pan and add water. Cook over medium heat until boiling and thick--stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add gelatin. Cool to room temperature. Add strawberries. Pour into crust. Chill until firm. Enjoy!

Happy 60th Birthday!

Seth's father celebrated his 60th birthday on May 28 and we had a party for him at their place on Memorial Day. Family, friends and neighbors were able to attend. Here is a picture of Arlin (in the middle sitting down) during the program. The weather was rainy so we were in the barn which worked out pretty well.

Arlin with his gift-- a cane complete with a mirror, squeaker, pill bottle and slow moving sign.

We also celebrated Ephraim's 6th birthday, Paul's 25th birthday

and Great-Grandma Elizabeth's 92nd birthday.

The girls enjoying the food! I think they each had two hotdogs and the whole bag of Cheetos!

The boys guarding the bonfire with cousins Mark & John.

Grandpa Arlin reading his gift from the kids--a weekend with him at his place!