Another Amazing Day

What a great job being a mom and staying home, there are so many fun things to do with your kids!  Today we went to project RED (Rural Education Days) at the fair grounds.  The kids enjoyed seeing animals, tractors, food made in Michigan, and of course an ice cream cone.  We went with my cousin Diane and her daughter Claire, and our friends Julie, Blake & baby Megan.  There were so many great pictures, I tried to just pick out a few, but it was hard.  After the event we came back to my house for lunch and some more playing.  

Big Swing

I always want to baby Emily and keep her little, of course she continues to surprise me with the things she can do.  We have a large wooden swing set, that I thought would take years for her to "grown" into it, nope, she pretty much can do everything now.  She can walk up the ramp hanging onto the rope all by herself, and she can climb the ladder to get to the top all by herself, and now she doesn't want the baby swings, she wants the big swing!  Of course she has been doing this for some time, and I am keeping the baby swings up in case she changes her mind.  :)  I don't have any pictures of her walking up the ramp or climbing the ladder by herself because usually I am right behind her spotting her every move in case she goes to fall.  So far so good and no tumbles yet.  Do I baby her too much?  Maybe after she is 2 I will loosen up a little?

Binder Park Zoo

We have had such a fun week.  This morning I was getting ready for the zoo at the same time that Jim was getting ready in the bathroom for his fishing trip.  I told him I have a great job, the park yesterday and the zoo today!  

We went with my friend from HS Jen Meyers and her son Davis, and her niece and nephew to the Binder Park Zoo.  It's a little bit of a hike, but the kids can get up close and personal with the animals.  Emily loved feeding the Giraffe biscuits.  When we first got up to fed them, Emily was noticing all of it's features, and was taken with their eyes as you can see in the first picture.

The zoo was great, you can go in with the goats and pet them as well.  The weather was warm, in fact I was hot in my jeans with the 80+ degree weather today.

Timbertown

The weather fooled me a little bit today.  I was so excited about a picnic lunch at the park and lots of fun playing outside.  We did go to Timbertown and enjoy a picnic lunch with our friends, but I was a little cold the entire time.  Luckily I dressed Emily in lots of layers and she kept warm.  

We met our friends Julie, Blake & Megan plus Abbe & Hunter at Timbertown.  There are some adorable pictures of Emily and Blake sitting on the park bench together.  They were holding hands just sitting there so cute I had to run to get my camera.  For once they were still holding hands when I came back with the camera and captured the top picture.  Then Blake leaned in for a kiss.  :)  Yesterday at Blake's house Emily wanted to kiss him and he didn't want any kisses, today it was the opposite.  Young love, so many ups and downs.  hee hee

My baby is getting so big ...

Friday after MOPS we had our friends Abbe & Hunter over.  When I looked at the pictures from our play date I realized how big Emily looks compared to Hunter who is 9 months old.  She looks like a little girl, I can't believe how big Emily is.  Next month Emily turns 2, she is a wonderful little girl, but is starting to show some signs of the two stage.  Friday she had 3 time outs within about 30 minutes.  Emily has been testing me a lot lately, it's so hard to remain firm when she is so cute, but I'm standing my ground.  We want a well behaved child that everyone enjoys being around.  :)

Big Cows Baby Cows & Big Tractors

Last summer we visited the Horning farm in Manchester, MI.  The people that own the farm are friends of my parents.  We took our friends the Cabble's with us and every time Blake sees us he says "baby cows, big cows, & big tractors!"  Blake just loved the day at the farm.  

Today we visited the Horning farm again with the Cabble's of course.  Emily was pretty quiet, but I know she loved it!  Here are the pictures from looking at the cows, sheep, pigs and going for a ride on the big tractor!  Blake had a little slip in fall in the mud, but other than that the day went very well, I am sure the kids will be talking about it for months!

Soccer Practice

Jim and I signed up for a adult outdoor soccer league.  There are three teams, 2 in Chelsea and 1 in Dexter.  Tonight we decided to kick the ball around a little bit.  Emily was better than I was, she can't kick it as far, but her ball control is better than mine.  :)  I hope she enjoys sports as much as Jim and I do.

Happy Easter!I

Easter is my favorite day of the year!  My favorite part is singing all of the great songs at church (and I am a horrible singer) - "I know that my redeemer lives ..."  I love getting up early and going to church, the spring flowers, dressing up in our best spring dresses, the little girls in their hats, Easter egg hunts, family events and more!  I love Easter more than Christmas!

Today we had a great day, I went to church twice, I played the hand bells in the services, so I enjoyed hearing the sermon in the first service and tending to Emily in the second service.  We enjoyed time with family at lunch and a wonderful Easter egg hunt.  The weather was brisk, but the sun was bright and so was I.  I hope you had a great Easter!

You gotta love the picture of Emily and Blake about to kiss.  :)  

Easter Egg Hunt

Kids are such a blessing!  It's so fun to watch them experience things, and see the joy and excitement it brings.  They are such curious little creatures and soak up everything like a sponge, I just love it!  

Today we had an Easter event at our church.  I have never been a big fan of clowns, but I just loved this Christian clown!  She said it's not magic, her tricks are based on lots of practice!  She told the Easter story with balloons and a little humor.  

After the clown, Emily enjoyed hunting for Easter eggs.  She got into it at the very end - of course.  The top picture is after the Egg hunt was all over.  :)

Good Friday

Emily is so darn funny, yesterday I got some plastic eggs out so I could fill and hide them on Sunday for Easter.  Emily insisted on getting to the eggs, climbing up on the dinning room table every second I turned my back to get to them.  So I gave her three empty ones to play with, and she carried them everywhere.  Emily would also throw them, all three at one time, drop them on the floor and kick them.  Who knew three empty eggs could be so much fun.  As soon as we got home from church last night she had to get her eggs.  When I got out my camera she "cheesed" for the first shot, and then was busy with her eggs.  I was amazed at how she carried them upstairs, one under her chin.  I don't know where she learned that at, but it was so cute.

Emily & Blake enjoying being outside

We are loving the sunshine and warmer weather.  Today we had a lot of fun playing outside at our friend Blake's house.  Emily really likes going down slides and riding around on little toys in the yard.  She would spot a larger slide in a neighbors yard and want to go on  that one too, she didn't understand that it wasn't part of their yard.  I think it's because we are on 10 acres and have so much space here.  

Grins & Giggles

I am sorry I've posted so many pictures in the last couple of days, but I couldn't resist sharing these pictures of Jim and Emily playing last night.  I might even post a video later.  Emily just loves playing peek a boo with Jim, they run around the circle in our house, Emily just squeals the entire time.  They both get out of breath and laugh so hard.  Of course she had to wear her hat most of the time and carry her babies too.

Easter Bunny Storytime

What do you imagine if you heard the library was having an "Easter Bunny Storytime?"  You would think the large adult sized Eater Bunny would come read easter and bunny stories to the kids?  Last night the treat was a fuzzy soft bunny came to storytime.  We did read easter and bunny stories as well as do a craft.  Emily one of the youngest children there, but had a great time.