Summer Summer Summer Time...

...time to kick back and unwind.
After spending two rainy, cool weeks in Iowa, we are HOME.  Three weeks of vacation took a toll on us, especially the youngest, so I'm glad to be settling back into our routine.  Iowa was AWESOME this year.  I definitely have too many pictures...

We started off with a new cousin, Sinclaire Grace, born June 26.

 The kids stayed with their first real babysitter.  Thanks Sam and Mary!  I'm so glad Sam was our first sitter.  I babysat Sam almost every Friday for a few years while in high school.

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Lots of gardening...

Yummy!

We "got" to pod peas three times.

By the second time Hot Wheels were more tempting for some.

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Lots of time with family at Great Grandma Kitty's...

Davis, Isabella, Avery, Christian, Julianna, Austin, Lydia, and Emerson

Grandma has grapes.

We ate so many delicious desserts...homemade ice cream!

Some pictures at the barn.

It was a little chilly and right before dinner so overall everyone did great, even Teddy.

We tried to see/catch fireflies but not much luck.

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Of course our trip would not be complete without tractor rides.  This time we got to experience the thrill of the sprayer which is huge and so loud.  Grandpa also gave us a hay ride.

Gotta wait your turn.

 Okay, everybody in this one.

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We had a few thunderstorms (my least favorite part of summer in the midwest), 

We tried to move the kiddos downstairs during one nap due to tornado warnings but most all of them 

woke up.  The power went out so...computer time.

 corn on the cob (Emerson's first time), 

 and lots of outdoor time.  

All the rain makes lots of green in every direction.

So glad our cousins stay with us almost the whole time.

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Christian really liked being able to watch the trains from the dining room windows and from the front porch.  

A rainbow our first day there.

 We took them down to the tracks but Christian was so nervous that a train would come.  

He finally joined us.

We also went to Trainland to see the smaller trains.

And finally...The Fourth of July!

Parades, sparklers and fireworks (more firsts for everyone).

So glad Mary was there with everything I forgot - sunscreen, a blanket and an umbrella (for shade).  It's been awhile since my last parade.

Collecting candy was everyone's favorite part.

Grammy caught some butterflies for us during naptime.

We tried to find fireflies a few more times but it was just to cool I guess.  

Emerson wasn't sure about the noise but the twins really liked the show.

Happy Birthday America!