David, Molly, Annika, Benson: September

family pictures in Beusie's front yard, by Zack

dress up days are my favorite

poor sick baby. She is pretty mellow when she's sick.

Annika earned a "date with mom" by doing chores. She made a shopping list and wanted to go to Country Cousins, a produce stand a few miles from us. She had been one time last spring and she loved the little carts. We bought some produce and ate some free samples. Her paper bag was her "purse." We ended up using her change because I didn't have quite enough.

I take as many pre-church pictures as I can. I just love my babies!

Keenan bought this suit jacket when I was pregnant with Annika, before we knew her gender. We've waited 4 years to see this on one of our kids. :)

A tomato from the garden and a dripping sprinkler. She was in heaven.

Our harvest queen. She is in her element when she is harvesting from Beusie's bounteous garden!

We went to Jan Walker's to see her farm animals and ride the ponies while Zack was here. It's one of Annika's favorite places to go. Benson rode the pony this time (maybe I didn't get a picture of that?)

We went to Papi's for the day while Zack was here. I took the kids to Lincoln Park (the Castle Park). I loved going there as a kid and it was so fun to watch them make memories there too!

the kids were all asleep by the time we drove home from Costco. It was probably 5 pm.

the highlight of Zack's visit, for Benson. Benson loves tools! Zack was sanding a shelf for me and a table for Heather and Nathan. He was so kind to let Benson "help" him.

one of Annika and Benson's many photo shoots :)

We took the kids to the temple to eat lunch on the grass by the parking lot and then walk around the grounds. It isn't convenient to take the kids to the temple very often. But, we're always glad when we do. After our little visit, we dropped them off at the Raab's, then we came back and did sealings.

I just love the parades in Othello. We always see friends, they're short, and the kids get candy (ie- David and I get candy:). This was the Rodeo parade. It rained all that morning. But, it cleared up by the time we parked and got out to watch the parade.

The candy spoils from the parade! It's better than Halloween.

We helped Daddy clear the corn from the garden and weed before he put ground cloth down. I don't think I'm ever happier than when we're all outside working together.

Esther and Benson love to pull daddy's ties down and wear them.

Papi gave Annika this puzzle for her bday!

We visited Papi after church. We went for a walk to a pond near his house. The kids want to kayak there sometime.

gross. Uncle Keenan found a dead fish.

skipping rocks

The Kents have 5 pigs just up the road from us. We go visit those stinky animals almost every day. Esther gets so excited!

I haven't worked out for awhile. I decided to do a 10 minute ab workout with weights. While I was laying down to do crunches, Esther picked up my 5 pound weight and dropped it on my head! I was in shock that she just did that! I ran to the freezer and franticly searched for peas or corn. And then I took ibuprofen. This picture (above) was right after.

This picture was a few days after, when it looked the worst. I was embarrassed to go out in public most of the time. But, sometimes I found it kind of funny to think about what people must be thinking. I did enjoy telling friends that my 16 month old baby did it to me. :)

love this babe and her cowgirl boots!

This is her favorite spot outside right now. She loves to look in Sadie's bowl and put any pieces of food that have fallen back into the bowl. She ate some food one time. Must not have tasted very good.

Benson wanted me to take a picture of his funny face. :)

I didn't do this on purpose! But I always love it when the match!

This wagon has been awesome on the gravel around the farm!

Annika's first year of soccer! I coached her team of 5 kids. They were so cute. We were undefeated (because we had two really skilled boys on our team). Annika was the most nonaggressive kid out there. But, she loved it! The three girls held my hand whenever they were on the field for the first game. But, they were all more comfortable on their own during the other games. There were no goalies. But Annika was a self appointed goalie anytime the ball started to go in the direction of their net. It was a fun 5 weeks, with one game per week. Annika scored one goal by being in the right place at the right time. She was standing by the goal when the ball came and she tapped it in. It was perfect! :)

We went to the Adams County Fair on daddy's birthday. It was dinner time so we brought granola bars. The kids did great until Benson's balloon popped. He cried for awhile after that.

Minion haystacks!

I love seeing their excitement with all of the animals!

after his balloon popped :(

trying to recreate last year's fair picture. didn't turn out so well :)

We had homemade pizza as soon as we got home and cooked it. I made David a yummy chocolate cake. But only the kids felt like having some. Kinda funny.

my favorite annual pose of David's :)

Over the summer and into September, we did a cousins preschool! It was just once a week for an hour. Most of the time, one of the moms stayed. But by this week, the kids were all doing well and they all stayed without a mom! It was a little hectic.