New this year to the farm is the irrigation system that the Kies boys put in this spring. Thankfully, they put in an electric pivot so we don't contribute to the noise pollution in the neighborhood. The corn looks good. It has had lots of HOT weather to grow, just what it likes! The boys and I spent some time playing in the "squirt gun" one of the really hot 97º days. That water was COLD! :) We liked it! While I was doing my exercises in the pool, I was watching the sunlight on the misters as they spun around. Luckily the sun came out from behind a cloud after I got out of the pool and I was able to get this shot. I love living in the country!!

Swimming!

Christopher has as much fun in the pool as his kids, I think! Oliver wasn't real thrilled about whatever they were doing here, but Magnus is having a blast!!

Pam and Effie stayed out of the way of all the horseplay, but Effie got her two cents worth in, for sure!

Effie is a little mermaid! She doesn't care if the water splashes her and likes to drink it! Yuck! She also likes to throw herself backward and dip the top of her head into the water! :)

Oliver is still a bit timid. He really doesn't like water in his face, however, he doesn't have any trouble splashing you! He has really come a long way toward learning to be a swimmer. He has a very good kick and paddles all over the pool with his life jacket on. It won't be long and he will be swimming like his big brother. If he happens to fall in, we just tell him he had a good dive and he is okay with it! lol

Magnus has done excellent this year with his swimming. He now can enter the pool without his life jacket, as long as there is an adult in the pool. He has even learned to go in head first! (We'll have to put restrictions on that in another year!) His best feature this last week was his A+ cannonball! I'm very proud of his accomplishments in the pool! :)

Doug and Connie's Cabin, continued...

More camping photos from Doug and Connie's cabin....

Oliver was the sprinkler king and got great enjoyment out of spraying unsuspecting people! Look at those muscles!!

Ali is going to be a senior this fall and we snapped a few shots that she might choose for her senior photos.



Erik is always in his hoodies - even when the temperatures reached near 90!!

Makenna gave me her best "cheese" face so I could take her picture - she is a little doll.



And below is Oliver replenishing his liquid levels with a juice box.

Camping at Doug and Connie's Cabin

We had a great weekend camping up north in Michigan. My dad, my two brothers and their wives, and my sister and her husband, and lots of kids and grand kids all gathered at Doug and Connie's cabin. What a great place for a family get together! The weather was hot, but the sprinkler cooled the kids down, and pitching shoes in the shade or tossing bean bags in the yard kept the adults busy enough to forget about the sticky weather. Doug smoked some awesome meats for us to feast on and everyone had a fantastic time!