A Farm House Trip to see Maw

 We made our summer farm house visit.  

Maw had to work one afternoon so I babysat and did that my sending the kids out to run in the field.  They had a great time, picked some beautiful Queen Anne's Lace, and didn't get a single tick.

 This guy explored around the out buildings.  Isn't he breath-taking?

 It was also breath-taking to watch these kids run through fields of green- a picture of childhood summer!  

 Let's take a picture, kids!

 I thought it would be neat to take a pic with the kids wrapped around the tree.  Didn't work out for me.  Who knows why they didn't get my country photo op memo?

 We went back to the Sylvan Heights Bird Park again this summer.

 Please note the country girl, chicken farmer's hold on the parakeet. Love it!

Back at Maw's house, we had a little water play. Future hydro engineers right here---

 My little cuddle buddy got cold in the water and needed some warming snuggles.  Done.

Glad to fill our tanks with some country summer.  Thanks, Maw & Paw.  

Take some time off next summer, Paw. We missed you!

The Farm House- Summer Visit

It's good to go back and look at the summer.  Overall, it was all spaced out nicely.
The next week, we headed to my parents house to spend a little time in the country.  

My mom took us to this Bird Park.  I highly recommend it!!

It was so neat!  Picture overload...

This first one shows you the sticks that you hold for the parakeets to come and land on you.

 Then we gave Ben a stick.

I think he was OK with it for a split second....

 ... and then terrified & his scream scared the bird away.

 Then one landed on him...

 WHY WOULD YOU TAKE ME TO A PLACE LIKE THIS?!

 I couldn't stop taking pictures.

I have ideas of printing some to frame & hang.

They were so beautiful.  It was one of those times when I was stunned at God's artistry.
Their colors were brilliant.

 We saw lots of other birds and ducks from around the world, some endangered ones too.  Peter liked finding those.

See- the t-shirts- our summer team shirt.

We enjoyed a few days back at my parents house. The kids enjoyed the dogs (b/c we are not dog people).  I love this pic b/c you can tell they are talking to each other about who knows what.

 Ben decided he liked my mom on this trip.  She was beside herself.  He's made her wait for it.

 This pic is blurry but still love it- it looks like it belongs in a magazine.

Country Americana Summer.

 It was Mike's mom's birthday while we were there.  Also the day of the annual meteor shower.  She so kindly agreed to drive down on her birthday with Ski & Mike.  We had dinner, did presents, and all laid out in the front yard to watch the meteors (which weren't overly impressive).  It was funny- we all felt sorta young and silly.  Which can never be bad.

 A final smile with a dangy front tooth.

 This may be one of my favorite pics of the summer.

They just played outside together, used their imagination, got exercise, explored, ate popsicles.
It was great.

One of their cats shares my love of physical touch, so he came and curled up on top of me.  

I appreciated it.

 We enjoyed filling our tanks with summertime.  Ah, warm carefree summertime, we love you!