Down on the Farm

This morning started off with a viewing of daddy's video of "Green Eggs and Ham" followed by Sierra's first sampling of green egss!  She was extremely hesitant... and went through much of the story saying no and yuck.... and then finally gave in and tried them... I like them, I do!  I do like green eggs and ham! 

After that we headed out to meet uncle Chris at the Farm!  He is such a great sport!  First he showed up with a new tutu and matching headband... then he took Sierra off for her first experience picking strawberries, blueberries, nectarines, and peaches!  We had a blast.. but got a bit hot and sweaty! 

After a break in the AC we headed out to pet some goats and a rabbit. Then into the corn pit! It was a wonderful morning~ Thanks Uncle Chris!!!

Down Day

Woo... so we took a break yesterday and had our first and only day of not going anywhere!  At least not in a car!  (we did walk down to the local Farmer's Market in the evening)  We had a fun day playing and hanging out at the house.  Here are a few snapshots from the day:

 Giving Lizzy a bath

 "helping" papa work on the sink

 trying on Grandma's cowgirl boots

A day on the coast

One of my dearest aunts... my great aunt Jo... aka Grammy Jo turned 90 this last week!  Her family had a party for her that we unfortunately missed out on with all of our travels and plans that had been set before hand.  So Mom, Amy, Sierra and I headed over to the coast to get the opportunity to visit with her and take her out to lunch.  We went by and visited at her house first and Sierra was in heaven playing with all of Grammy's cats (the kind you don't have to feed!) 

After lunch we headed over to the beach for some fun.  Grandma Lulu was a good sport and went and played with Sierra in and out of the waves.  They had a blast and Sierra was of course covered with sand! 

While they played Amy and I decided to try out something our Aunt Sonya had told us about!  She said that you can dig a hole in the sand and lay with your belly in it!?  Both of us having been belly sleepers prior to pregnancy tried it out.  I feel asleep for a bit which was wonderful... Amy on the other hand ended up getting up for fear of stretch marks!  It makes for some interesting photos =) 

A Hot Day with Cool Kids

Today Sierra and I got to spend some time with a couple more cousins.  We were blessed to have a day with Crystal and Andrew and it had been a good year or so since we had been able to interact in person.  We picked them up and headed down the hill into the hot valley temperatures of  We met up with Grandma Jeanette and Papa Mike and started our day with some ice cream (lunch for Papa). 

Then we headed over to paint some pottery!  Watching each of them pick out his/her piece of pottery was hilarious.  They were all very meticulous in their painting and each did something very unique.  After finishing our pottery we were ready for some lunch and enjoyed some oldies music at Johnny Rockets. 

Then we went on a mission to find a theatre playing "Mr. Poppers Penguins" in the time frame we needed.  We were in luck and so enjoyed the Penguin movie... especially watching the chicks hatch!  The car ride home nearly landed all three kiddos asleep... guess we had a pretty good day!  It was so wonderful to spend some quality time with these cool kids that are so dear to our hearts.   

4th of July

We had a busy day... and a hot one too!  We slept in a bit after an early morning bathroom break.  Then headed over to the park for the local HS sports booster Pancake Breakfast.  We got to see some of Cole and my old coaches which was nice.  Sierra scarfed down her pancakes and sausages... and then had some of mine!  We played at the park playground a bit and took at turn at the petting zoo before heading back home.  While we were at the park Uncle Chris and Aunt Rita arrived... and uncle Chris so willingly gave Sierra a shoulder ride home despite the drops of sweat it produce in the already hot morning sun.  (This is such a fond memory I have from my uncle growing up... and I have memories of Cole giving his niece shoulder rides when we were first dating!)

We sat around to cool off and have some water at the house before heading off for the small town 4th of July parade.  Sierra was excited about the police car, fire truck, horses, children dressed up, etc. that passed on by... and probably even more excited about all the candy that was thrown out her way!  We then wondered down to the park and spent the next couple of hours waiting in lines and letting Sierra play on the bouncy equipment, doing some finger painting, eating festival food, and visiting with folks we don't see often.  It was so nice for Sierra to get to experience a small town feel with the festivities!

Things kept on heating up in the afternoon so we headed back to Grandma and Papas for a cold shower to reset us.  Then it was time for more Bar-B-Q and fun with cousins.  Sierra played some tag and hide and seek with her cousins and there was a lot of laughter to be had... for Sierra and all those around as well!  As things settled down and family left Sierra headed to the rodeo with her Auntie Aim and Grandma Lulu.  Papa and I cleaned things up and got caught up on other things (such as blogging!)

Fireworks... oh the fireworks!  Sierra was awfully tired but determined not to miss these!  I don't know if she remembered them from last year or not but she knew they were going to be a big deal.  As we walked down to the end of the street she kept saying oh I hope I see a pink one.  And sure enough right from the get go there were several pink ones.  She was in awe... mouth open wide watching!  It was almost as much fun to watch her as it was the fireworks! 

And of course this blog wouldn't be complete without reflecting on our life and what the 4th means for us.  The 4th... about twelve years ago was the start of something much bigger for Cole and I.  And now was the beginning block of a 12 year friendship, 7 year marriage, a pup and two children!  It is also the main cause and purpose for Cole's job as he currently serves our country.  The defense and preservation of our safety and our country is what has called him now three times over to so bravely, boldly, and selflessly spend time in places that most of us cannot fathom.  To my wonderful husband, those that serve with and around him, those that have gone before him and will come after him I am grateful.  We live in one of the greatest nations of all time... May God Bless America and guide those that lead us as we try to steer back on track!

"Pop Out"

Sierra is trying to learn new games... such as tag and Hide 'n' Go Seek.  It is really funny to watch.  While Grandma Lulu was visiting last week they played several rounds of Hide 'n' Go Seek.  But Sierra really doesn't get it yet!  After starting a game of "Garrett"... aka  Tag You're It... with Zach in the house tonight someone suggested that they play Hide N Seek instead as it was a full house! 

Sierra was super excited and all over it.  Zach counted first and Sierra went running down the hall and hid in a bedroom.  When Zach went to find her she would holler out, "I'm hiding!"  as her voice gave her away.  But then even funnier was the fact that when Zach entered the bedroom she was hiding with her head under the bed but the rest of her body sticking right out! 

Then they switched turns and Sierra counted.  They played several rounds... but the funniest round had to be when Sierra really couldn't find Zach.  She started asking other people where he was... and as they tried to give clues Zach tried to beat Sierra to a new hiding spot.  He had started off down one hallway in a bedroom.  As Sierra was getting clues in the living room Zach made a b-line for the back porch.  As Sierra caught on to him being in that direction Zach ducked down under the kitchen table to pass through.  The two  kris crossed as Sierra ran past the table and Zach went crawling under neath behind the chairs.  When Sierra realized she'd been tricked again she went running back towards the living room shouting "Pop-Out! Pop-Out! Zach Pop-Out!"  It created a great deal of laughter in the house!  Great free entertainment right there =)

GARRET

Sierra had a blast the last day and a half playing with "my cousins" as she calls EJ, Max, and Zachary... who are actually my cousins.  This evening she was having an extra good time with Zach after dinner as they began to play in the cooler house.  (It was a hot day out!)  Zach chased her and tagged her... saying "tag, you're it!"  Then Sierra mistakenly followed in playing tagging Zach and saying, "GARRETT!"  I guess that's what she thought she heard!