A Sunday in July

I'm kind of in love with Molly's annoyed face here.  

We didn't *quite* catch everyone before they changed out of church clothes.

 My kids definitely live their best lives at Grandma and Grandpa's. Mornings spent weeding in the garden and feeding the horses and watering the flowers (all chores that they ADORE even after repetition, surprisingly). Afternoons spent on the tramp with a sprinkler, or helping grandma in the kitchen, or today I walked in to grandma and grandpa playing Cover Your Assets with them while the babies napped, and even an excursion to Gossner Cheese Factory! Evenings are delicious dinners and more trampoline jumping and playing on the playground and, in Ruthie's case, climbing up the poles of the swings. They get songs and stories from mom and dad and grandma and grandpa. They seem happy and carefree and it seems just like one of those most blissful summers that you never get back again. I just wish I wasn't working so much for it. But I am ever so so so very thankful that I am able to work so much, that the jobs are so good to me and so enjoyable to work at, and that I feel absolutely confident that my kids are getting possibly more hugs and kisses and love(and especially ice cream) while I am away than I could even give them myself! It's such a good feeling. And I am so glad my kids get to experience such a good summer. I hope they are old enough to hold on to these memories forever. It's been a good one. And they have such a special relationship with their grandparents. We all love them so!

Molly's grin here. She smiles with her eyebrows and I love it. Also my kids are so cute. And they have the best grandparents!

Grandma and the girls!

Cousin Journey really, really, really loves baby Grace. It's the sweetest.

Uncle Ethan gave rides on Smokey after dinner. 

Journey has the most gorgeous blue eyes. Baby girls are the sweetest. Especially in duos.

The sweetest newborn Sierra!

Poppy Field

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a wife that was starting to get really, really sad that her husband was only going to be there for another twelve or so hours. Her husband noticed that she was getting more and more sad, so he asked what he could do to help. She said "Well, there is something, but I know you would really really not like it, so it's fine." But the husband persisted and said that he really, really wanted to make her last couple of hours happy and what could he do? So she told him of this beautiful field of poppies that grew in the mountains that only existed in fairy tales and she wanted to take pictures there. But nobody wants to take family pictures. And nobody EVER wants to wrangle all their kids into nice clothes and make them smile for pictures. And nobody wants to drive twenty minutes (forty total) after driving 40 hours. 

BUT this husband-this prince!- rose to the occasion and without skipping a beat immediately said "Of course we can do that! If that would make you happy!" And so, they did. They hurried the kids into nice clothes and rushed over to the faraway, fairy tale mountain to fulfill the wife's dreams. And he was upbeat and smiled the entire time and even asked at the end if we had enough or if she wanted pictures of anything else.

And it meant so, so, so much to the wife. It was magical. Absolutely magical. 

We didn't have a real photographer--I just asked a random guy to snap a family picture and the rest I took myself. The light was dying when we got there but look, look how beautiful!!! Love it so, so, so much!!!!