What we did today...

We decided to go to the Roots Farmers Market in Mannheim PA, it is not far from Lancaster and they hold a large market every Tuesday. It was probably THE BIGGEST market I have been too. There was tons of fresh fruit, vegetables, crafts, antiques, and things to buy. They even have an auction in the morning where they auction off animals and produce. We didn't get to see that but did get to see the animals. I did love all of the fresh produce and we ate fresh corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers tonight for dinner. We will have to eat the cherries and blueberries tomorrow. It was delicious! Most of the booths were run by the Amish and there was pretty much anything you wanted to buy there.

There were lots of people there too and we each had to be in charge of someone, I tried to be in charge of myself because I am usually lost.

Isn't this a large mound of radishes and don't you just want to take a bite!

We drove home in the afternoon and drove through Lancaster so Caitlin could see all of the Amish homes and see them working and driving their buggies around town. I never tire of watching how they live, it is quite fascinating.

After dinner Sofia was sleeping in her swing and Mel made the comment that if we didn't wake her up she would probably be up all night. So I volunteered to play with her ( they really had to twist my arm.) I thought maybe if we took some pictures and changed her clothes she would wake up for awhile. Some of these pictures turned out so cute, it is not hard to take a cute picture when you have such a cute subject.

I was playing with the color on this one and I think the pale pink turned out so cute, I think this is one of my favorites.

She was really quite good for most of these photo's which is amazing for a newborn.

I think she is saying in this one,"Grandma, you are pretty funny!"

I love the innocence of babies, isn't it just the best.

" Peace out"

Another cute pale pink.

Okay, so I saved the best for last, isn't this just the cutest little face, I am sure she is thinking, "Okay, Grandma that is enough!"

Bringing Sofia home

Not all kids could say that their Mom walked to the hospital to have them and then walked home afterwards. Sofia will be able to tell her grand kids that her Mom walked to the hospital and then when it was time to be discharged her Mom and family walked back home. Of course they only live a couple of blocks away but still that is quite impressive!

It seems when you take off the little hospital t-shirts they are no longer newborns and Sofia was not real excited about this part.
Jon was the official carrier of the precious cargo and we all followed along.

We had fun at Cocoa Castle while we waited the afternoon away before little baby Sofia could join us at home.

When you are in Hershey everything is chocolate even the play grounds and if we could have taken a nibble we would have.

Jon is such a great Dad and it is so fun to watch the kid in him. Take him to the play ground he has as much fun as Liv and Jaedon.

Today we went to church and let baby and Mom stay home and get a well deserved rest. Do Mom's ever catch up on their lost sleep? We will try and give Mel some rest while we are here, this pioneer woman deserves it.

Sofia's birthday!

Today is Sofia Lorraine's birthday she was born at 3:06 pm and weighed 9lbs. 7oz. and was 20 3/4 inches long.
It is so fun to be here on her special day. Livy and Jaedon were so cute and excited to meet their baby sister.

Mom and Dad are doing well and did a great job!

Olivia and Jaedon have a new sister! Her middle name is from her great Grandma Jones (Lorraine)

Welcome into this big, old world baby Sofia!

The swing set

Isaac has been working really hard this summer and has finished a lot of projects outside. Mary is opening a day care in their home and she has been working hard as well to get licensed and have everything fun for the little kids. She really wanted a swing set in the back yard and after getting the yard fenced they bought a swing set and it was delivered in several big boxes. The instructions said it would take 2 individuals 3 days to assemble and Isaac said that was a little under estimated. After several days he finished it and it looks GREAT!

It was good that the little boys weren't there waiting to get it finished because they would have been quite impatient. They had fun playing on it when we met at Isaac's and Mary's to celebrate Bryce's birthday. They really liked all of the toys that Mary has bought for her daycare, Tydon loved tending the baby doll and Lincoln while we played volleyball.

We had a full week

This last week was a full week and I feel like I need to post some pictures everyday because I took so many! (I know Rachel is waiting for the tree hugger blog.)

The Cannon's came to visit and it seemed like we were doing something every minute and I don't get to take pictures of their cute little faces very often.

When I was little I took swimming lessons in the summer at Katherine Johnson's pool. She would always have diving for pennies at our last swimming lesson of the season. Kace and Layne spent much of their time in the hot tub doing everything but relaxing, (I think that is what hot tubs are for?) They wanted me to get them something to dive for so I went in and got a handful of pennies. The competition was on and I think they would have spent the rest of the day diving for pennies but we had to stop because they hadn't had any food in the last 5 hours, their hands looked like prunes, and they were beginning to gasp for breath. The breath holding under water was getting to be hard because they each wanted to find the most pennies. It was funny because they wanted to have an equal number of coins. I had thrown in a few dimes and a nickel with the pennies. The nickel seemed to be the grand prize because that was the one they wanted the most. The winner was the one who found the nickel.

We had a lesson on learning which coins were of the greatest value. When they were finished they made it fair and square.

We then went to Kace's ballgame and watched him play. It was so hot and humid that we almost melted but Rainee's treats were definitely more exciting for some than the ball game. We then went back to Rachel and Nate's and played, danced, and ate Pizza.

I wish this picture on the bottom was a little more clear because I am loving the hug by the 3 boys in the middle. I think Isaac's cheese is pretty good too. Oh, we have fun when we are together.

Granpa's hay haulers (Rollers)

Our 4Th of July was kind of boring and a lot of hard work because Ryan spent the day finishing hauling all of the hay. Earlier in the week he had some helpers and he was wishing that they were still here to help.

For their size they did a great job and Evan would not be out done by his brothers so he wouldn't even let me help him. He would just say "Me do it Grandma!" so I let him go at it. Our hay field is on a hill so it is easier to just roll them down the hill in a line and they are easier to pick up.

Thanks for your help you strong little men, I know they have muscles because they are always showing me, (I think they get that from you know who?)

Carson, Kace, Layne, Evan and Bryce thanks! Grandpa can't wait until you are older, maybe we can have it finished before the 4Th of July then.

Happy 4th of July!

These are not pictures from the 4th of July but it has been boring around here with all of the kids gone. I guess we celebrated all last week so I just had my 4th a little early. Rainee and the boys came and we had a lot of fun at Idaho days.

Evan is so fun to watch, I think because he is so animated he loved the bouncy house and because I was in charge of him there are a few more pictures of his cute little face.

Even more than the bouncy house he loved the train, I guess you would call it a train, maybe a country train, I wouldn't want to call it a redneck train but maybe that is what it is. He could go as many times as he wanted and he, Layne, Bryce, and Carson definitely got their money's worth.

Bryce liked catching the ducks in the pond and all of them loved, loved, finding the candy in the haystack. They weren't hungry for the rest of the day because they filled their pockets and munched on it as much as they could. I think the Idaho Days royalty was getting tired of seeing them at her booth.
They checked out the Tee Pee and acted like the little Indians that they are.
It was a hot day so of course when we made it home we had to try out all of the water acitivities. It was a great day and hope all of you had a Happy 4th holiday!

So you think you can dance?

It is fun to watch when the music comes on at our house or I guess I should say Nate and Rachel's house, because you can't help but start dancing. Rainee and her boys were here this last week and Kace was so glad that his cousins were here to visit and play with. We made a visit to his house and you may remember a video that I posted at Christmas time when the music was playing, well here is the next episode of "So you think you can dance". I think they have a chance at the grand prize what do you think?

It's Dad's Day!

It is Dad's day and I want to wish all of those Dad's out there a very happy day. Of course I want to wish my Dad the best because hands down he is the best Dad out there. He has always been there for me and for my children and of course for all of his grand kids and now great grand kids. We have a lot of great stories about Grandpa and we love him so much.

He has always loved each and every one of them and there is always a beard snuggle for each little beaner that sits on his lap.

Of course Ryan is not my Dad but he is the Father of my children and I can't tell you how much he means to me. He has always been willing to do what ever my desire, vision or project may be and he will even stand in the millions of pictures that I take. The older I get the more I begin to understand men and of course him and I know that men and women do not think a like so I am thankful for his patience and understanding as he has made me realize that we indeed have different thoughts.

I am thankful for his Dad as well even though he is no longer here with us on this earth but what a great Dad he was and I will be eternally grateful to him for raising such a great son.

We love Dad and all of the adventures that he has taken us on we have definetly seen parts of the world that we would have not seen if it wasn't for him trudging us all up the mountains.

Sorry, Mel this is you and we just had blue the day this picture was taken. This is Melanie with Dad, maybe he had secret desires that you would be a great baseball player someday. He is a great Dad to my children and have taught them so many life lessons that have resulted in some pretty fantastic kids. Ryan we love you and are so glad that you are such a wonderful Dad and husband, have a great day!!

It wouldn't be Dad's day without some hunting and fishing pictures.

And lastly, the best Father of all, I am most grateful for a Father in Heaven who has made this life possible without the sacrifice of our brother and Savior Jesus Christ we would be in an impossible state. Because of Him we can stumble our way through this life of trials and return to Him some day. I love Him and what a differnce He has made in my life.

Happy Father's Day.

Dad

You can't help but smile when you see this guy!

Dad, we love you! You have been such an example, teacher, coach, and friend to us all. We couldn't have asked for a better Dad and Father! You are always there to help support us through whatever it is we are doing. Thank you for everything.

Happy Father's Day!

I love the rain

We have had a lot of rain lately and I am loving it, everything is so green and beautiful. Yes, it may be difficult to mow the lawn but just do it like they do in Pennsylvania where they get this kind of rain all the time, when it is time to mow the lawn they just mow whether it is raining or not. I have been walking to the top of Giraffe hill a couple of times a week and one day I took my camera because the views from a top the hill are breath taking and totally make the walk worth it. What a beautiful world we live in!!!

Creating...

I was excited to give this to the newest member of the Larson family, her name is Marley and she is the 10Th child of Jennifer and Troy Larson. I decided I am going to have to make some more onesies to match the little shoes, it is so much more fun to have something to wear with the little Mary Jane's.

Graduation!

Yesterday I watched Tydon while Kace and Nate went fishing and Kace came up the stairs and presented me with this note and flower.(If you can see the flower was poked through a hole on the note.) I love these kind of notes and I will decipher the words if you can't read them it says,
Dear Grandma and Grandpa,
You Guys are the Best. and I Love You. The Best part is the Games. Im so excited so Is Tydon.
Love Kace
Look at my Teeth
He was so excited because he lost another tooth and he wanted to make sure that we didn't miss it. Now he has, I think 4 missing teeth, it is a right of passage, he is growing up!
He graduated from kindergarten this week and we went to his program and listened to the cute songs that they sang. He also received his diploma and was able to wear the hat that he had made.

CHEESE!

Here is his diploma.

CHEESE again!

The excited parents, next year he will get to go all day!! Congratulations Kace, we love you.