may 10th - happy {mom's} day!!!....

We all got together to celebrate Mother's Day today...lunch at the 5x80...it was yummy...then to Nana and Papa's to play.  It was short afternoon since we had to get back to Indianola for Meghan's game at 5pm.  The kids enjoyed playing, but I felt like just when they got into their groove...we had to go.  We'll be back soon...and for longer, hopefully.  I usually try to get all the kids together with mom on Mother's Day...much to everyone's dismay...I hope we will appreciate it someday.  It is pretty hard to get 6 (soon to be 7) children all together and cooperative for the camera, even if it is only for a couple of minutes.  Today was Beth's turn to be "camera shy"...I think it adds a little something to the picture...or the story behind the picture!!!

So.....from left to right is Abigail Madolyn - a week shy of 2 years old; Meghan Lauree - 5 1/2; Drew Edward - 6 1/2; Aiden James - 7; Calyn Fay - 3 1/2; and Elizabeth Kay - 3 1/2.  Next year there will be seven little munchkins gathered around Nana!!!

may 9th - {con't}

"the men"
our little field picnic...complete with longaberger picnic basket...

the girls headin' for their ride...

Lots of pictures, but we had a lot of fun...

may 9th - saturday on the {farm}

Jory was in the field planting all day today and it was a beautiful day for it.  I felt like a real life farm wife....home doing laundry and tending to the children, preparing food to take to the field, a little cleaning, a little baking, could hear the tractor in the field with the windows open...it was GREAT!!!!  I couldn't think of a better day!!!  Anyway, Aiden went to the field with Jory and the girls stayed home with me.  We put together some hot ham and cheese sandwiches and some other things to take to the men.  Of course, I was prepared for a GIHUGIC photo-op!!!  Here goes....

The girls love to go to the farm with Jory, too.  Surprisingly Calyn is totally all about it....I tried to tell them that flip flops weren't appropriate footwear, but....anyway, they rode a round or two with Jory while Aiden and I went up to Wayne's garage and loaded 12 bags of seed corn in the pickup.  Ok, pick up your jaw now....I CAN lift 50 pound bags of seed and, yes, I CAN get it stacked neatly into the back of a pickup.  Aren't you impressed?!?!  One of my many secret talents!!!
I thought the above picture was a neat angle...look closely and you can see the girls waiting patiently for daddy to come and give them their ride!!
This is a corny family portrait...it might just be our 2009 Christmas card photo!!!  Can you see me in the back with the camera to my face!!!!
This would be why this child is going to the eye dr. again next week....enough said!!!

This is Jory and Aiden in the tractor ready to start back up after lunch....stay tuned for more lunch photos....

may 8th - spring {showcase}

Tonight was Aiden's concert at school...the first picture is of my "rapper" boy....the theme for the concert was traditional hymns, so Aiden was rapping "this is the day that the Lord has made....I will rejoice and be glad...IN IT!!!"  It was cute and his rhythm is getting better :-)!!!  The last picture is of the bell choir performing.  He did a great job!!!

may 7th - {blow} flower beauty

The kids LOVE dandilions...why?...I don't know, but they love to pick the yellow ones (see previous post) and they love to blow the seeds.  I looked out the window tonight and thought this was actually kinda pretty the way the sun was setting and this lonely little guy was hangin' out all by himself.  I guess I was hard up for a photo of the day.  HA!!  What would have been funnier is if you could have seen me belly down in the grass trying to get just the right angle for this shot....

may 6 - "G'ma B" - Happy Day!!!

Today was Grandma Belden's birthday...it has been nearly two years since she passed away.  Hard to believe!!!  This is the only picture I have of all three of our kids with her and it was taken at Christmas time in 2006.  I think of her often and remember the many things she taught me...I enjoy doing things that remind me of her...like baking cinnamon rolls with her recipe (extra butter); freezing sweet corn; telling my kids stories about things that are 'old, old'.....good memories!!!  As she got older, she always signed her cards "G'ma B"....so we'll leave it at that!!!