Here a bean, there a bean!

Saturday was the day to can green beans. We met at Seth's parents' house with Uncle Paul and picked green beans. We canned 10 pints for Paul and 21 quarts for us and Seth's parents. Here is Ephraim helping out--wearing Grandpa's hat.

Emmet helping out.

Eliza trying to help.

Eden sticking close to Uncle Paul.

Eliza wandering off toward the sand pile. Apparently bean-picking wasn't exciting enough.

Eliza posing for the camera.

Ephraim and Emmet helping wash beans.

Grandpa and Daddy snapping beans.

Ephraim helping snap beans.

Ephraim and Emmet's efforts in snapping beans were short-lived.

And we picked a few tomatoes.

Thanks to Grandpa Arlin, Eden learned how to pull on her ears and stick out her tongue!

Taking a break with a trip to the crick.

Eliza and Grandpa sitting on the dock. This was while the beans were still in the canner processing.

Grandpa and Eden on the dock.

Emmet goin' fishing.

Daddy and Eden

Eliza, Grandpa and Ephraim

Grandpa, Ephraim & Emmet

Emmet, Grandpa and Ephraim

Emmet with Grandma and her new puppy

Picked a pepper!

Daddy Days!

We are in the midst of Daddy Days here at our house. Seth has July and August off from his farmhand job, so he's home full-time with the kids. Here are some pictures he took. The pictures above and below are of Eliza on the swing. She is Miss Fearless. She discovered swinging on her belly and then twisting the swing or getting a running leap for it. Her laughter was precious.

Emmet, Eden, Eliza and Ephraim playing train outside. This is one snapshot of a typical day at home with Daddy.

Here are pictures of Emmet and Ephraim driving the Cub tractor for the first time. Above is Emmet with the girls and Ephraim on the hayrack. Seth was repairing some fence in the pasture during the day and took the kids along for the experience. Below is Ephraim at the wheel. And yes, the girls are buckled up in car seats!

That's a lot of Apples!

Yes, this is all the apples we picked last week. We got them from BJ & Cassia and Seth's grandpa Gene. Seth thought it would be cool to weigh them at Pioneer. And the result is 750 pounds of apples!
"Don't look at me for help!"

"I want to crank!"

"No, it's my turn!"

"Move over!"

"Okay, you're done!"

"I want to crank!" {Repeat}

Surely my sister and I never fought over the strainer like that!

Ephraim stirring the applesauce with the red hots.

Emmet taking his turn.

We found what makes the girls happy! And it was all fine and dandy until . . . .

their diapers got into the sink and we decided it was time to wash the apples in a basin instead of the sink.

Emmet wanted to help slice apples.

Ephraim taking a turn.

Having a great time!

Emmet, Emmet.

We did 104 quarts of applesauce on Wednesday with Seth's mom and brother Paul. On Saturday we did 60 quarts with Seth's parents. We are well stocked for the year!

VBS

Ephraim had the chance to attend VBS at Fremont United Methodist Church. It was held Sunday through Thursday, July 12-July 16. I stayed with him the first night and after that he was on his own and did just fine. These pictures were at the program on Thursday night. Ephraim is in the middle in the tan shirt with the blue stripe. He really got into the songs! Their theme this year was "Crocodile Rock".

Ephraim with his crafts and "Bible Buddies"--a plastic bendable toy with the Bible verse on the back. They made a turtle pillow, a lantern, an opposom, crock keychain and paper crockodile with a clothespin mouth.

Outside Fun

Here are a couple of pictures of the boys enjoying their swing set. Here they are doing "twisties". This has been a great summer to be outside a lot!

Ephraim & Eliza

The kids on the sandpile in the backyard.

We have a Memorial Day tradition of putting pinwheels by our relatives gravestones. However, that tradition grew in complexity this year with the girls being older. Last year they were in their infant carriers and pretty easy to tote around, even if they were sleeping. This year, sadly, we have only been to one cemetary so far. This is Graceland Cemetary by Pella and is the grave of my mom's parents Evelyn & Lewis Van Wyk. And as you can tell from the picture, it was difficult getting the kids to stand still and cooperate.

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Welcome Ace, Tiger and Raptor.

We got three baby kittens from BJ & Cassia the middle of June. Below is Eden's reaction to the whiskered creatures :) I let the kids pick the names.

And she still doesn't like them. If they are within 10 feet, she starts crying and yelling. This yellow one is Ace, who has already gone to kitty heaven. But the boys just know that he went mouse hunting and hasn't come back.

Eliza and Ephraim

Emmet and Eliza and Tiger

Ephraim and Raptor. Don't let this picture fool you, this was probably the last time Ephraim held the cats because he's petrified of them also.

Emmet and Eliza

Emmet and Ace

Again, Emmet and Ace

Ahhhh, the memories of learning to drink out of the hose or hydrant. And the challenge when a sibling is holding the hose . . . .

We got a $10 slip-n-slide from Dollar General that you see in the background, but now it's been too cool to use it.

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Thank you to everyone who suggested a dermatologist for Emmet's mollescum. FYI: the dermatologists in Pella and Ottumwa are not accepting new patients. The dermatologists in Iowa City and Des Moines have a 6-8 week waiting list for appointments. So, I went to the internet again and found someone who used Clearasil zit cream on their son's mollescum. I figured it was worth a try for us. I'm hopeful it will work.