Little "Mary Poppins"...


She was so happy to be able to use her umbrella and rain boots yesterday. It was a damp wet day.


Samuel started feeling better yesterday after being diagnosed with the virus Roseola. The poor little guy came down with a fever Monday night which lasted until Friday. Then Friday evening he was covered in a rash. It's a virus that usually only affects babies 0-2. We are hoping Elsie gets lucky, because Sam had a rough week.


Sam ready for his walk, waiting under a tree for the rain to stop...



Elsie having a conversation with her Daddy.


Sam enjoyed his walk, as usual. He wanted to sit up like a big boy, and refused to lay back, so he fell asleep like this.



Happy kids playing.



Here's Samuel feeling MUCH better this morning. We finally have our happy baby back.

Butter Hair Gel (the new thing)

While eating her toast with butter... Mom- "How did you make your pony tail stick up straight Elsie Rae?" Elsie- "I put butter on it."
Hmm... She even managed to get some crumbs in there.

Elsie Rae Looking Pretty Silly

Frogs and Snakes OH MY!!

Yesterday Elsie found a tiny, baby snake slithering through the grass and called for her bug catcher. A few minutes later she discovered a green frog after she stepped on him, but don't worry, the frog was OK. Here she is letting the slimy, not-s0-cute, critters go back home after watching them in cage for a little while. Of course we had to wait until Daddy was home to let them go. She had to show him what she caught. There was even a couple crickets in there.


Here she is encouraging the frog to hop away. He didn't need much! You can see the baby snake in the corner of the cage planning his escape.


Not so fast baby snake! Elsie will make sure you get back home safe and sound. ;)


She thought it was pretty cute, and after she let it go, she caught it again... But After recapturing it a couple times it learned to be a bit quicker once he felt the grass under his belly. :)


Samuel wished he could get in on the action, but was happy to watch the show for now.

Playing Outside

Yesterday we visited Grandma and Grandpa D. (It's been raining, so they weren't doing hay). Samuel tired himself right out, and this is how he took his nap all sprawled out with the heat. ;)


Playing with cows out in the grass (The same ones their Daddy and Aunts played with).




Where did Sam's toes go Elsie Rae?


Oh, there they are under the grass. Here she is uncovering them.

This and That

Hanging out in Daddy's truck. For some reason this is always a hit.


Last week we got together with the "B." girls and Aunt Jenny, to play on the playground and go on a nature walk. Here's cute little Margie in her sun bonnet, ready to go!


Stopping for a rest along the way.


Yeah, so Elsie has a strange habit of "painting" her face with her peanut butter and jelly (when I'm NOT looking of course ;) . On this particular occasion I asked her if she rubbed jelly all over her face, and she said she didn't. So I took this picture as proof to show her how she looked. ;) She looks guilty doesn't she!


Today we attended a nice family reunion. I didn't get many pictures because for some reason I was really busy. ;) Here is a family shot (thanks cousin Amy!), minus Cassie and Roger, and Paul, who couldn't make it and were missed!


Cousins dancing on the stage to some fiddle music.


My three brothers. (I think I caught them off guard!)


My grandpa H. chatting with Matt (and Samuel!).

Babies at Play

I thought this was a pretty cute video...

Happy Birthday Cassie!

Happy Birthday Cassie. We love you and hope you have a great day!

We found this little brown frog a couple weeks ago, hopping around our flower bed after a rain shower. It was seriously the size of my thumb nail, and a really good climber. We had never seen one like this and didn't know we even had them around here.


Elsie wanted to show Daddy when he got home, so we kept him for a couple hours and then let him go back in our garden.



We went to a family reunion last weekend, and Elsie made a new friend. This little beagle pup was named Copper.


Little drooly man playing frisbee.


Last week we noticed this little chipmunk popping in and out of a hole at the base of this apple tree. We were about 10 feet away and this little guy wasn't too phased. Elsie went right over and put a little apple next to his hole and he came right out, grabbed it, and started eating. Then we went in and found his some wheat bread and peanuts. He was very appreciative. ;) We see him around the yard and he is always very curious. Elsie calls him (or her I should say) "Chip".



"Where did Elsie go? Oh, there she is..."


When ever Elsie goes out to cool off in the pool, she goes right to work making me "iced coffee".


What a face.


Elsie and Emmy enjoying a puppet show on Ava's birthday party day.


Samuel enjoyed the show too, for the little time he was awake for it!


Afterward the kids got to visit with some neat animals at "A Day on the River". (I think that's what it was called.) Here's a very cute Prairie Dog.


We piled the cousins (minus the littlest two who were napping in their strollers) into this boat for a picture with the big fish.


Two kids enjoying a trip to the playground.


Samuel was lulled right to sleep.


Oh dear, well this is better than the time before when she came down head first!


Elsie is is NOT going to be ready for the tight rope anytime soon!


"Elsie Rae, where did your toast go? Oh, there it is in your bib pocket..."