Lance & Caleb's Spring Photo Shoot 2011

We are moving onto to the individual pictures now....Lance is first.

 I really like the angle of this shot!

Now onto to Caleb......

Caleb LOVES to climb trees, very tall trees, this picture captures it so well!

If you missed  the all the group pictures of the kids you can go here, tomorrow Zach & Julia's pics.

Spring Pictures 2011

Aunt Janelle came over several weeks ago for a photo shoot with all the kids.....she did such an incredible job! I finally got all the pictures (350 of them) loaded onto my computer so I can finally share them with you all! There are so many good ones I've decided to show you them over the course of a few days.....so here are the first group of pictures!

I LOVE THIS PICTURE!! I know you can't see the boys faces in it, but I just LOVE it! Another BIG thank you to Aunt Janelle for sharing her gift with us!

Slip & Slide FUN!

With all the heat and humidity Grandma Byrd thought the kids needed something to keep them cool!

Lance gets some air!

Caleb trying to get more air...ya' know cause everything with brothers involves a competition!

Julia & Zach are not such "slippers & sliders" but they like to sit in the little pool at the end of the run.

Introducing Lance's Ducklings...

Lance was promised some ducklings for his birthday...and they just hatched!

These little guys are just 5 days old...and so stinkin' cute!

He looks like such a PROUD papa doesn't he?

MORE CHICKENS!

We had the chance last week to add to our flock of chickens....some of these chickens are laying already (or will be very soon)! I'm absolutely thrilled with all the variety we have now! The kids are totally giddy about the fact that we are getting to collect eggs already. We have a chicken that lays green eggs....how fun is that!! The others are brown egg layers....we got a fun speckled brown egg a couple days ago. This brings our total to 16 laying chickens. I have four baby laying chicks along with 25 meat chicks arriving next week as well!

 The nesting boxes was another item we scored at the swap meet!

Our First SWAP MEET Experiance......

Over the past week we have added several new animal friends to the Homestead! Over the next couple days I will introduce them to you all! Two weekends ago we made our first trip to a local SWAP MEET! It was SUCH FUN!

It's not everyday you get to pet newborn fawns. I think the guy said they were 9 days old...I forgot to ask him how much they were!

We went to the swap meet on a mission....to find the much promised puppies for the kids....and as you can see we didn't come home disappointed!

We came home with two beagle pups. The are both boys...Hunter & Camo..they are so adorable!

These puppies are playful, ornery, energetic, and love to play in my flowers were they aren't suppose to be....just the way you'd expect puppies to be. We are loving on them and trying to teach them the basics on obedience. They seems to listen best to me for some reason, but the boys keep trying!

My Little Girl Turned 4!

This past Saturday my little girl turned a BIG FOUR years old! It warms my heart to have another girl in the house with me. A "mini me" in so many ways...I just love her to pieces!

She was so proud of her little cupcake dress-up dress that I let her wear it to church on Sunday...

We celebrate with family on Sunday and enjoyed the wonderful weather out on the lawn.

Dear Julia, Mommy treasures you so much, but you already knew that cause I tell you all the time. I am thrilled when you want to put your hands on mine while we sew together. I love playing babies an dkitchen/restaurant with you. Your brothers still dote on you now four years later as they did when we first brought you home. We LOVE you sweetheart and look forward to watching you run around in those new PINK cowgirl boots!
Hugs & Kisses, Mom

Fruit Garden Update

The fruit garden is coming right along.....

 At the bottom: Thornless Red Raspberries Top: Four Blueberry Bushes, Shasta daisies

Zinnias

Thornless BlackBerry Bushes

Strawberries

I also transplanted some rhurbarb from the old house!

Lazy Summer Days...

When the afternoon heat is at it's peak, finding shade it a good idea. The boys have been using the tree house as their shade haven. Whether playing their DS or reading a book, it seems a logical place to hang out till mom calls them for supper!

Staying Cool....

 It seems that here in the Midwest we have just skipped right over Spring and went straight to the Summer HEAT and HUMIDITY! To battle to high temps. we thought a new sprinkler was in order! I think you'll see in the pictures the kids really like staying cool....even if it's only with a sprinkler.

 Julia wasn't so sure she wanted to get in the freezing cold water, even if it was 90 something out.

Zach kept cool and enjoyed running...running...and running around it some more!

Caleb's always up for a good time and he spent most of his trying to stay as close to sprinkler as he could without touching it. I made it very clear that if they touched the sprinkler they had to sit out....Caleb likes pushing the limits.....much to my dismay.

Lance had fun getting all wet...even thought when your 10 a sprinkler doesn't seem nearly as cool as a pool. He never complained though, and was thankful just to keep cool with whatever was available.

 I really LOVE the sprinkler the kids and I picked out! I knew we needed something that did NOT sit on the ground (because then they will just step on it and break it within a day). This one sticks right in the ground and rotates in a 30 foot diameter. It is going to serve a duel purpose, watering the fruit garden and entertaining children on hot days....life is good!



DANIELLE