Random May Photos

One of the most fun parts about having two girls - getting to dress them alike every now and then.  Reba thinks it is the absolute coolest thing!

One day on Doug's way home from work, he found this guy sitting in the road!  Apparently, it seemed like a great idea to bring him home...

Jep lived with us for a couple weeks before we released him back into a creek.  He was fun for a while, but then he started stinking up the barn!

Our strawberry patch did amazing this year!  I was able to freeze multiple gallon sized bags of berries to use in milkshakes throughout the next year, and I was able to make a few of these gems...

Julianne loves it when Dallas holds her (even if both of them have a hard time sitting still for more than 1 minute)

Reba and one of the many flower bouquets she picked for me this spring

Lastly, to end our month, Dallas had some major dental work done (two teeth pulled and two crowns).  We were so blessed that he did amazingly well with the procedure, as well as the recovery.  He goes back in June to have work done on the other side of his mouth.

Until next time...

Spring is Blooming

A few nights ago, I decided to take the camera around the yard and capture my flowers and garden in bloom.

A hanging basket I got from Pa-paw and Ma-maw for Mother's Day

Dallas picked out these flowers at the greenhouse when we bought plants for the garden

I picked out a couple Gerber Daisies; Dallas and Reba picked out the other flowers at Rural King a few weeks back

Our garden - (l-r) onions, broccoli, bell peppers, tomatoes, kohlrabi, and various seeds

On the other side of the garden are the "hill" plants; cucumbers, zucchini, watermelons, cantaloupes, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins

The first year our apple tree has had apples!

The peach trees are loaded for the time being (last year, many of them fell throughout the spring)

Another angle of my garden

Reba picked out these flowers at the greenhouse

Our clem did awesome this year! So full of blooms :)

Until next time...

Meal Time!

On May 15th, Julianne got her first taste of "solid" foods.  I started her on Oatmeal cereal because Dallas and Reba didn't care for Rice cereal when they were infants, so I wanted something that had a little bit more flavor.

Daddy was excited to help feed Julianne one of her first meals.

As well as my little mother hen!

Dallas was able to help one day because he was home from school (he had a dentist appointment, and I let him stay home all day).

Julianne has a few items on her meal list: Oatmeal, Bananas, Applesauce, Butternut Squash, and Rice cereal.  I decided to try the Rice cereal because Julianne started spitting up more than normal after eating the oatmeal.  She did much better at keeping the rice cereal down.  I have reintroduced the oatmeal, and she is doing great with it!

Julianne has started to curl up her nose when she eats, and makes a snorting sound.  It's pretty funny.  I remember Reba doing the same thing, but I don't recall Dallas doing it.

Next menu item on the list is going to be green beans, but first I have to dig them out from the bottom of the deep freezer!

Until next time...

Kittens

On May 5th, we noticed Rhonda had had her babies!  We decided not to go looking for them because we knew she would then move them.  Over the next couple days, I heard them in the barn while doing chores, but I still didn't search for them.  After 3 or 4 days, I wasn't hearing them anymore, and Rhonda seemed to be spending a lot of time on the patio.  I began to think something found her kittens and she lost them.

Fast forward to today.  I was mowing the backyard inside the fence, when I noticed something odd in the flowerbed.

Rhonda's babies were alive and well!

Reba fell in love instantly.

We have 5 kittens: two black and white ones, a gray one, a yellow tiger, and a calico.

Needless to say, we couldn't keep the kiddos out of the flower bed for the rest of the afternoon.

Until next time...

Last Day of Kindergarten

Look out world!  Dallas is now a 1st grader!!!  Yesterday was his last day of Kindergarten.  I can't believe how fast the school went...even with all the snow days this winter, we only had to extend the school calendar one day.

Big D's Last Day of Kindergarten
Height: 47 in
Weight: 50 lbs

Big D's First Day of Kindergarten
Height: 45 in
Weight: 46.5 lbs

Of course, our family changed dramatically this school year with the addition of Julianne.

Our kiddos at the start of the school year

Our kiddos at the end of the school year!

To celebrate the end of the year, the school had field day competitions in the morning (tug-o-war, three legged race, etc).  The PTO then sponsored a picnic lunch for the students and their families.  Daddy was able to slip away from work and attend!

Dallas and one of his best friends, Dylan.  Their other buddy, Ryan, wasn't at school that day.

Until next time...

Preschool Finale

Yesterday was Reba's last day of Preschool!  Momma had to take Dallas to a dentist appointment first thing in the morning, so Daddy got to take Reba to school for her last day.  She was super excited about that.

Little Miss' Last Day
Height: 39.5 in
Weight: 31 lbs

Little Miss' First Day
Height: 38.25 in
Weight: 30 lbs

Last night was also Reba's End-of-the-Year Program.  She was so excited about getting to sing songs and dance for everyone.

Reba and her teacher, Mrs. Gries

Now, the part you have been waiting for...a video of the program!

Until next time...

Dallas' Spring Field Trip

This past Friday, Dallas' Kindergarten class took one last field trip.  Along with the first and second grades, we headed to Mesker Park Zoo in Evansville.  Doug and I have taken the kiddos to the zoo on a couple different occasions, but it has never been as crowded as it was on this trip!  I guess all the other local schools had the same idea.

We lucked out and had a very nice spring day.  The forecast had called for rain in the morning, but it held out until all the kiddos were back on the bus at the end of the day!  Aright, on to pictures...

The first animal we came across was the Jaguar!

Dallas' best bud, Ryan was with us (along with Julianne - she refused take her milk from a bottle; therefore, I didn't think it would be a good idea for her to spend the day with a babysitter).  Ryan was most excited to see the wolves.  You can't seem them in the picture below, but they were out and about playing that morning.

The zoo recently opened a new history section.  I didn't realize, but Mesker Park Zoo is Indiana's first zoo!

We had a little bit of time to watch the monkeys play before we had to head over to the shelter houses for lunch.  I told the boys we could go back after eating, but the little monkeys were not in the playing mood then.

Luckily, we found a place where my two monkeys could play!

The zoo has a lot of peacocks that roam freely around the zoo.  On more than one instance, we had to step to the side as they passed us on the sidewalks.  Unfortunately, the only one we saw with his tail feathers spread open was quite a bit away.  I only had my cell phone for a camera; therefore, the pictures didn't turn out well.

A few more random photo opportunities around the zoo...

Dallas' Kindergarten class

Back Row (L-R): Dillion, Dallas, Katelyn, Maddi, Ella, and Lily
Front Row (L-R): Emily, Catelyn, Payton, Elliot, and Ryan

Until next time...