Jack Attack

 Kate wanted to hold Jack.  So funny, too.  He let her turn him to face her and with that, he was off.  Trying to eat her face!  He does this to me, but I don't become helpless with giggles as Kate did.

 Boyfriend has a good grip on her shirt.  Come here, sister!

 Kate tried the block.  He just thought it was something else to eat!

Innocence.  yeah, right!

fire truck party

 Today was Kate's fire truck party.  Long ago, at a silent auction, we won the bid for this.  Rather, my mom did.  Since Kate's birthday is in December, we waited until it was warm to have the party.  I made her pose for a couple of pictures before the party.  Due to the crazy-hot weather, our wave petunias are going nuts!

 Kate's strawberry plant has a ton of new strawberries bursting out of the flowers.  This could also be because I am watering every day.  Not something I was good about before.

 Introducing pin-up Annie.  She is a total doll and a good friend of Kate's (even though she is older).

 Kate, Eliza, and Tate hanging out on the back of the Engine.

 Miss Eliza Beth letting me take a face shot.

 Tate was not going for it.  Cute as ever even when mad at me for taking a picture.

 Kate was all smiles all day.  It was a hot one, too!

 Sweet Miles came and enjoyed seeing the rescue boat.

 Miss Annie again!  She is getting to be such a little lady!

 A quick tour of the trucks, a ride in the ladder truck and Fire Engine, and cake.  What a fun day!

Mason Tanner made it at the end!  Rocking the Fire Chief hat!

Kendall and Kaitlyn's Graduation Party

 The whole family was invited to the graduation party.  We even took Jack because...he needs to start attending parties!  Kate knew there would be a "magic carpet ride," but she wasn't really sure what it was about.  Apprehensive at first, she had to ride with Kendall and Kaitlyn.  She is with the whole Moore family for the first ride of the night.

 See, Mom?  I can do it.  I am a big girl.  I don't need you and Daddy to help me.

 A little wave, and off she went.  Again.

 The goal for some is to see if they can stand.  For others, it was to roll off.  For Kate, it was all about the ride.

 Whitley, a girl who goes to Kate's school and also the pool, came with her family.  And she brought some things to play with.  She really enjoyed them all. See, Mom?  I still don't need you.

 Auntie Nell takes over my kids every time she sees them.  Here she is holding Jack.  Naptime took place with Nell, too.  Yea!!!

 Kate ate dinner with the big kids, too.  And bessert.

Then it was time to go again!

visit from Frannie

 Mary Frances came home for a mother's day/dad's birthday trip.  Jack was finally feeling a little better though by these pictures you can't tell he found humor at all.  Fran thought a hat might be what would help the hair.  First she tried grandaddy's fedora.

 Next it was the farmer's shade hat.

Finally, an all-American baseball cap.  Guess we will stick with the hair sans hat after all.

figuring it out

 I said I didn't want to live on the farm.  I said I would never live at the farm.  I need city.  I need the grocery within five minutes.  I need streets to walk on and friends "just around the corner."  I said I wanted to stay home with my kids, and that pretty much placed this girl on the farm.  And the funniest thing?  I am staring to like it.  I find myself making mental lists of why this is a good thing, and each reason almost comes from some event or place in my past.  And most of them are from camp.

It is quiet out here.  Now camp is not always quiet, but that special hour -- rest hour -- gives one time to listen to silence.  To hear the birds, bugs, wind, leaves, and little sounds that disappear.  The same thing happens when we are rocking on the porch or newly-poured patio.

There is independence.  We are all able to try new things and it doesn't matter what we are wearing.  Jumping on the trampoline in your jammies?  Done.  Sitting on the front porch with baby dolls, books, iPad, and a million other things?  Yep.  And it doesn't matter.

Impromptu decisions for fun.  Let's grill out but let's roll the grill over to the patio so we can all just hang out while dinner cooks.  And by all I also mean Drake and Ezra, because both animals love that we are outside as much as we are.

Matt decided to put the slide and handles from the old swing set on Kate's new swing set and while he was doing that, Kate was busy screwing the handle into the table.  She could have played with the screws for longer, but Matt put them back in the baggie when finished.  Notice the magnifying glass on the table. Just one of the treasures that comes out with us some days.  The sunscreen should come out a lot more!  :-)

grandpa and grandma come to visit!

 Last week, Grandma and Grandpa stopped by on their travel north.  They arrived on a beautiful Thursday.  We were able to get some time in on the new swing set and also some time on the trampoline before heading to Kate's swimming lesson.  Jack was all smiles when they arrived and I thought this is going to be a good visit.

 I noticed a rash on Jack's arm at dinner.  Assumed he just broke out from being at the indoor pool (and kicking while on a towel from said pool), I didn't worry too much.  All night I got to worry...fever, up every two hours, crying, fussiness, and only sleeping on me.  In a twin bed.  In his room.  Morning couldn't come fast enough and the thought of the parents visiting while this was going on?  Rotten! The next day was parent visitation at Kate's dance class.  It was also time to call the doctor to see if Jack could take Tylenol before coming in (because all websites said NO!  Not under three months).  The doctor said YES! so we dosed him, left him at home with Grandma, and headed to watch Kate strut her stuff at dance.

 The recital piece is so cute, and my dad and I had a great time watching her showcase her talents during class.

Cartwheels are a big thing and Kate is trying trying trying to get one down.  She had the same persistence with a forward roll, so I know she will have it by the end of summer.  She does not like to be unable to do anything and the patience does not come with the persistence.  There is a lot of pouting, saying I can't do it, and general fussiness, but the end?  When she does get it?  Sweet reward!

The rest of the visit went well, thanks to the parents helping so much!  They brought Kate a bag of goodies from her favorite store (Best of Everything), and they had fashion shows with the goods.  Jack didn't improve much during their visit -- it was a four-day affair of sickness -- but they will get to see him in a month, so that is nice.  We had dinner at home and ate a salad with lettuce from our garden.  It was a nice visit and even nicer that the sickness was contained in Jack and not everyone else!

cousin playdates

 Aunt Jill was busy having her second boy, so Mimi and Papaw had Mason for a few days.  The weather was beautiful, so we had a couple of afternoon playmates with Mason.  I think he even napped after these dates!

 A little frozen treat on the patio -- what could be better?

favorites

not crying

When I need to do something and cannot hold Jack while I am doing it, I often put him in his swing.  He is not one to enjoy the swing -- neither of my kids have -- but he will tolerate it for small periods of time.  Kate, still bothered when he fusses, constantly fusses over him.  This is her mother hen time to work her magic on Jack.  When I returned to the room, all of the gear, including the blanket, was in the swing with him.  And he was quiet.  Probably because he was scared of what would be in there next if he uttered a peep!

love fest

 At first, it was all Kate.  She was in his face and was always talking to him.  It worked.  He now only has eyes for Kate.  It is so fun to see and something that is so sweet.  He responds to her and even reaches out to her.  So very fun.

 When he is in his swing, Kate makes sure he has everything he will need in there, even though he can't do much with it.  Packed and ready.

I am not...

tired.  said kate.

swingin' along

 And it arrived.  The Amish swing set that Kate chose arrived on Friday morning.  There were three different swing sets on the flatbed, so don't think all of that belongs here!  It took about an hour for the two guys to be finished.  Kate immediately had to play.

 And play.  And play.  And we have been playing ever since.

 We have lunched outside.  We have had nap time for Jack outside.  We have sat in the lawn swing.  This is one fun outside!

 Drake is loving it, too.  Not the swing set, but the time we are all spending outside!

Yep.  Still outside!