Family Vacation!

Well, we have been back for over a week now, so I guess I should start blogging about our big family vacation to Wisconsin!  For the last several summers, the Robertsons have vacationed at the Iowa State Fair.  Since, Doug, I and family no longer live there it was more difficult for Pa-paw to bring the sheep out for the fair; therefore, we decided to do something different this year.  We decided to take a trip!  We decided on Wisconsin Dells.  Over the next few days, I will be posting photos from our trip.  Enjoy!

We left on Friday, June 15.  We had planned on hitting the road at 7 a.m., but of course, we didn't leave until a few minutes before 8!  We met Pa-paw, Ma-maw and Aunt Lisa in Covington, IN (home of the Beef House!)  From there, we headed west to Bloomington, IL, ate lunch, and then headed north to Wisconsin.  Doug, I and the kiddos broke off around Dekalb, IL, and went to meet our friend, and Dallas' godfather, Fr. Chris.

Fr. Chris gave us a tour of his church where I snapped this quick photo of the kiddos in front of a huge, beautiful stained glass window.  I saw quick because they were much more interested in moving after having spent around 8 hours in the van.

We then went out for dinner at a local Mexican resturant, and we were able to visit and catch up with each other.  Before parting ways - so we could continue north - I was able to get this picture of Dallas and Fr. Chris.

We ended up taking a two-lane highway "across county" from the Chicago suburbs, and it didn't take us long to cross into Wisconsin and see those famous dairy farms!  Most of the farms were the "old" family farms, but we did find this rather large operation along the way.

The kiddos did very well on the drive - it took about 12 hours in all for us to get to the Dells.  Little Miss was able to catch a few naps along the way!

Once we arrived in the Dells, we met back up with Pa-paw, Ma-maw and Aunt Lisa, got checked into the hotel, and then crashed for the night!

Until next time...

Wordless Wednesday - Classic Iron Tractor Show

Until next time...

Reba's First Haircut

Before leaving on vacation, I decided everyone needed a haircut...including Reba!  Yes, she is 2 1/2 years old and she finally got her first haircut.  Mind you, I have trimmed her bangs multiple times, and I cut Doug and Dallas' hair, but I couldn't gather enough nerves to take the scissors to Little Miss.

-Aunt Katie, remember what happened when you cut my hair in junior high?  That's a story for another time...

Here's Reba before Bob-Bea (yes, that really was the stylist's name) started.  Reba wanted to sit on my lap and not in the booster seat - hey whatever works! (and, no, I didn't get my hair chopped, it's just tucked into the neck of the cape)

Snip, snip

Afterwards...

I didn't have Bob-Bea take much off, just evened up the back.  The sides of Reba's hair are still above her shoulders, and I didn't want to have her hair that short.  Also, Dallas couldn't decide if he wanted in the above picture or not, so please excuse his sour face.

Such a big girl for sitting still and getting her first haircut!

Bob-Bea saved a few trimmings for me and even made up this certificate for Reba...

Until next time...

Monday Memories

I haven't done this for a while, so enjoy the trip back in time...

2011 - Father's Day Sheep Show

2010 - Rainy Day in Iowa

2009 - Painful Popsicle

2008 - Carbon Copy

Until next time...

Pouring Concrete

The contractors building the mechanic shop on the lot next to us finally poured the concrete floor last week.  They started about 4:30 in the morning in order to get in all done in one day.  Dallas woke up before Reba that morning so we were able to go out and watch them work for a while.

Excuse the bed head and jammies...

This was about 7 or 7:30 that morning, and they already had over half the floor poured!

At one point, there were 3 cement trucks - one getting cleaned (far right), one pouring (in the middle) and one "on deck" (far left)

Until next time...

Fun Friday Fotos - Friends

Ciara and Mattison came over to play last week!  Enjoy the pictures from our afternoon together.

Flowers & Veggies!

Growing up, I never cared too much about gardening - both vegetables and flowers, but now I truly enjoy working in the soil and seeing what comes from it.  Last week, my rain lily bloomed again!  It did much better this time...take a look:

When those 8 blooms were done, there was already another one shooting up to bloom again!  I'm so glad that I am able to get such beautiful blooms even if we are in a drought.
Our vegetable garden is also doing fairly well - again despite the drought.  We have cut and put up broccoli, finished off the first round of radishes, had our first BLT's for the summer with our own tomatoes, and we have even had fresh green beans one night for supper!  The rhubarb that we started this year is growing so well - even better than it did in Iowa!  The asparagas, as well as the strawberries and raspberries, are doing good, too.  We even planted two peach trees and an apple tree, and so far they are holding their own.

Just this morning, Dallas was up and at it early, so he helped me in the garden.  We picked green beans, eggplant, spinach, broccoli and green bell peppers (yes, he really did help pick)

I took the green beans with us to swim class and broke them while the kiddos swam :)  Then after lunch, they went into the pressure cooker...6 quarts!

Lastly, I'm definitely late in posting this picture of my flowers, but I'm sure you don't mind...

A week ago Monday, Doug and I celebrated our 7th Wedding Anniversary!  Doug had these flowers sent to me (he's sweet like that)

If you didn't see on Facebook, I posted this fun little fact...based on June 4, 2012
‎4,295 days ago - went on a blind date
3,087 days ago - he asked me to be his wife
2,558 days ago - we said "I do"
Happy 7th Wedding Anniversay, Doug!

Until next time...

Wordless Wednesday

Until next time...

Fun at Gram and Pa's

As I mentioned in the previous post, we headed north for a cook-out with Gram's family.  Here are a few more pictures from our weekend at their house.

The kiddos love their Clifford (the big red dog) and T-bone friends at Gram and Pa's house

They also love to ride Pa's lawn mowers

and garden tractors

and big tractor

and ones without hoods

Little Miss doing a little solo driving

One last picture with Gram!

Until next time...

Up, Up and Away

The first part of June, we headed north to visit with Gram's family at a party hosted by Aunt Pegs and Uncle Jake.  The weather was fabulous and the food was superb!  We ended the day with Uncle Jake offering to take the kiddos on a ride in the boom lift.

First they rode with Daddy

and then they went with Aunt Josie

Well, it wasn't exactly a balloon ride, but the kiddos loved it none-the-less!

Before loading up and heading home Dallas wanted a picture with their dog, Radar!

Until next time...

Fun Friday Fotos - Tire Swing

Doug and I finally got the tractor tire swing (that the kiddos got for Christmas) hung in a tree!  Dallas had been asking about it for a while, and we finally remembered to get a rope while at Lowes one day.

Can you tell he was pretty excited about it?

Sorry it's a fuzzy picture, but you can see in her smile that Little Miss loves it as well!

Until next time...