Grant's Farm

After spending saturday at Traci's house we spend Sunday at Grant's Farm! I hadn't been there in years so I was really looking forward to taking Olivia (and Ben)! I remembered the goat feeding experience as being a pretty funny one, so I couldn't wait for Olivia to take those bottles in there to those crazy hungry goats! I took about 15 pictures of this while laughing the whole time. It started out with 2 goats and ended up with seven. I kept waiting for her to freak out and start crying but she never did! Daddy did eventually have to come in a rescue her when the milk was gone!

Standing in front of theAnheiser- Busch buggy (I guess that's what it is called) at the Clydsdale Stables.

The horses were beautiful!! We paid a pretty penny (thanks to my begging) to get a group picture with one of them, I thought it was worth is since we were able to pet him before the picture. All of the kids loved this part!

Olivia watching the Clydesdales in their pasture. These horses had it pretty rough with fan's in their stables! I'd say these beauties are treated like royalty in the horse world! :)

Another pretty picture location outside of the stables

Weekend in Carlyle IL

This weekend we went to visit Nate's sister and her family in Carlyle.  We hadn't been there since Olivia was Ben's age so this trip was way past due! Even though the weather was scortching hot we had a great time! Here a few pictures from our weekend. I'll post picture from our Grant's Farm visit in a day or two!

They live very close to Carlyle Lake so we drove over to play at a park and see the Lake, and of course to take some pictures!

The kids were so hot (along with adults) but they were good sports when we requested that they stand still to smile for a picture!

Ben's first time swimming! He was a big fan!

attempt at a summer time photo shoot

Our little guy starting sitting up yesterday! He had done it for a few seconds earlier this week but yesterday and today he's been sitting up for longer periods of time.  I know I say this all of the time but I cannot believe how big he is getting.  Today I got the genius idea to take them outside for a photo shoot.  I took about 25 pictures and came up with 3 that were just ok.  I'm not cut out to be a photographer but it was fun trying. 

Ben wouldn't look at the camera the entire time so this is all I could get! It still captures his cuteness!

This was the only picture I got of Olivia actually smiling without squinting her eyes while shouting CHEEEESE!!

Olivia loves her wagon and she did a good job pulling Ben around for a short time.  And hey! they are both looking at the camera! haha

Father's Day weekend

We had a busy Father's Day weekend! We celebrated our nephew, Bryson's, 7th birthday (unreal), we attended Nathan's cousin's wedding, and spent time with our fathers. I'm so thankful for my Husband who is such a great dad! I'm so happy to have a wonderful father and a wonderful father in law! I'm also thankful for my mom's husband who is a wonderful grandfather to our children.  I realize how blessed I am to have all  4 men be great examples of God's love for my kids! Here are a few pictures from our weekend.

our attempt at a family portrait (don't mind the truck in the background, or the fact that Olivia wouldn't smile) We are all in the picture, we are all looking at the camera, and no one was crying! That's more than we usually get :)

Nate's wonderful parents! Teresa and Randy. So blessed to have them as my in laws

The Stanarts, Nate's sister and family.  Bryson, Mati, Traci and Slade (love this family!)

The big 7 year old, Bryson!

Olivia with my brother Landon and his beautiful wife Erin (love them also!)

Ben enjoying his ride home (after mommy climbed in the backseat to keep him entertained). He had a long weekend and wasn't willing to sit quietly on our way home :)

doesn't forget one thing!

Olivia cannot let things go. We went to Mason's birthday party and Ethan's birthday party over a month ago and at night when I tuck her in she still says "thanks for letting me to go to Mason's (or Ethan's) birthday party.  Three sunday's ago when she was in the nursery at church a young girl took her to the bathroom and still to this day she tells us "that little girl hold my hand and take me to go potty at church".  It cracks me up!

Well two nights ago it stormed pretty badly here, and while we were looking out the front window our trash can went flying down the road.  When I talked to Nate on the phone that night he told me I should probably go get it after it stopped raining. When I got off the phone I told Olivia daddy wanted us to go get the trash can when it stopped raining. I decided later I didn't want to load the kids in the van to drive down the road to get it, but that wasn't good enough for Olivia. The entire night and following day she asked about going to get the trash can 20 times!

So about 5 minutes ago I check the radar and said "Oh boy Olivia, it looks like we are going to get some more rain today". Her reply was "Uh oh, guess we are going to lose the trash can again!"  :)

Trains and swimming parties

Ben is so funny. He loves when Olivia plays with him and thankfully for now Olivia loves to play with him :) They sat and watched Thomas the train for a long time.  I'm sure when Ben gets older and wants to play with Thomas there will be a few fights but for now I'll enjoy the cuteness!

I love Ben's face in this picture. He looks confused

We are really enjoying our Thursday playdates! Yesterday the girls took a dip in the pool. It didn't last long but it was fun.

Tooth update

Little Ben is getting so big! He got his second tooth today! Hopefully that means we'll sleep a little better tonight :) Here are a few pictures of him playing with all of his toys (Olivia had to make sure he had a lot to choose from)

Olivia's favorite thing to say is "I can do it all by myself!" She doesn't want help doing anything. Brushing her teeth, putting her shoes on, getting a drink of water, and getting dressed. Today she came to show me she put her clothes on and said "Look I did it all by myself!"

Olivia has been preparing for our trip to Disney World. Today she wanted her Belle dress on. She told me she was going to wear it when she sees Belle and that she was going to wear her hat when she sees Tinkerbell. Hopefully those two things don't happen in the same day!

Crazy birds and silly kids

Saturday we noticed a Cardinal bird hanging around on our deck. He kept running into the window. I thought surely he'd get a headache and realize he wasn't getting through the window but its tuesday and he's been banging into our windows every day. I can't figure him out. Its kind of creepy and VERY annoying.  Here is our not so friendly little friend

sitting on the chair waiting for the flight into the window

BAM!

I put Ben in the jump er roo when I take a shower and I noticed when I got out today he was a little fussy. A few minutes later I didn't hear him jumping or fussing.  When I went in I found him asleep. I knew he had to be tired to fal asleep in this thing!

Tonight I told Olivia she needed to pick up her toys before we read a book.  She had been playing with a big bucket earlier. She came out of her room pretty quickly. I asked her if she cleaned up her toys and she said yes. I went in and this is what I found.  Clever little stinker!

Olivia spending some time entertaining Ben before bed. He is very entertained by her!

Our new golf cart!

We recently purchased a golf cart. Nate has been looking for one for months and we finally found one! Olivia was so excited to take her first ride!

Waiting for Daddy

Putting on her sunglasses before they take off

ready to go!

waving as they pull off :)