A Water Rat...

To finish off our milestone week...Connor got her first trip on Jay and Morgan's boat to the river!

She was unsure at first of course...but once I got in the water and she got in with me she was all about it!  Loved it!

And this little water rat has really changed!  No fear in getting away from the boat and swimming!  (He was really holding onto a rope...so he wasn't really "free")

And....another milestone!  Jace went skiing with Jay!  This was a first for both of them.  Jay put Jace inside his life jacket, and away they went.  Took 3 tries, and Jace didn't want to try the third time, but he wasn't kicking and screaming, and we knew they could get it on the third try, so he did it one more time and up they went!

And they skied a long ways too!  I bet they both slept good that night!

The boat ride back to the dock, Connor was in a daze.  She had a nap on the boat, but not overly long, so she was really just chillin' on the ride back to the dock....

It was a super fun day and so exciting for our kids!

Hay Season...

Seems to be never ending this year....

But...this was Connor's first time riding in the baler!

While Jace patiently waited his turn he was all over the field..."supervising" I guess!

The Hay Crew!

I wanna be a Cowboy...

So, Jace gets his picture taken all the time.  He's a good sport about it, and is sometimes squirrely, but doesn't complain.

I told him I wanted to take "Cowboy" pictures....and he was unbelievably excited!

(It helped that it was a great evening for the end of July!)

I. LOVE. THIS. PICTURE.

Gonna try it again to make it just right...but I love it.

Show me your muscles!

Next time, replace pliers with his pistol...

And yes, Connor was there too, in a tutu...would have been adorable if she would have been into it....

Maybe next time.

Add the cows in the background....ta-da!

Lions, Tigers, and Babies, Oh My!

Mother-to-be, Melissa, with Aaron's mom Joy, and our mom, Carol.

Kyler saw an opportunity to hold baby Brook!

Tried to get a shot of us girls...Connor wasn't about to look away from PBS Kids...."SUPERWHY!"

The Luedke girls with Melissa...

And just the Luedke Girls...

And an example of trying to get a picture with a toddler...

Her hair was a little crazy by then!

A week of Milestones...

Beginning with Connor's first haircut...by me!  I couldn't take the toddler-mullet any longer...so trimmed off the back.  It looks like I cut a lot of hair, but it didn't seem like that much!  It makes her look so much older!

Jed's dad bought a new semi, so of course the kids had to check it out.  I love these pictures...obviously the picture on the right shows how Jace loves to push Connor's buttons...and Connor can get really mad at him!

We harvested our potatoe crop!  It was hot...and Connor spent the time playing in the dirt...so excuse the messy kids!

Connor actually slept when Jed put her in bed with him...that's a first!  I was getting ready for Melissa's shower, so he went up and got her and laid her in bed with him and off to sleep they went!  Notice her hair---looking a little wild!

Jace made Monkey Bread with me!

And we went swimming at Jena and Carl's on Saturday evening...Jace begs to hold Baby Brook...and Connor actually sat by them without being crazy, so it was picture time!  I think this is the first picture of just the COUSINS!

And another milestone, not pictured: We separated the kids during church for the first time.  We had them sitting between us, and Connor was cranky (imagine that...), so Jed moved Jace to the other side of him.  She knows what she wants, when she wants it, and if you are in her way, watch out!  

Great-Grandpa George Turns 90!

Jace is smitten with baby Brook.  :)

Grandpa George turned 90 and we celebrated with a party at Jerry and Janie's.

Got all the "Great" grandkids in a picture!

Everyone likes to help with candles...we had to hold Jace back a little bit...

I love their expressions in these photos...