Birth-DAY.

The eve of her birthday: just get her to bed and Jed calls me to come down the road and help get some cows in.  Afraid she would come downstairs while I was gone....she comes along!

Thumbs up for birthday number FOUR! 

She had a preschool "field trip", walk to the library on her birthday, so she was super excited!

And here is what a harvest birthday looks like.  You make some supper, pack all the goodies, get the birthday cake, candles, and present, and you head to the field.

And you let your 7-year old brother light the candles...

On the pet carrier that the new puppy, who we have now named Pepper, rode in to the field because she had to come with us.

The puppy that tried to eat the cake while we sang happy birthday.....

And there she is....the birthday girl.

Connor was so excited about her birthday present of Crayola paper, markers, crayons, neon crayons, metallic crayons, and stamper markers, she had to get right to work!

And....the birthday girl even got to bring Pepper inside to watch a little tv on her birthday...lucky Pepper!

Connor's real birthday present was horse riding lessons!  She wasn't too excited when we told her about it because she had new markers to play with!  But, the day of her first lesson Connor was beyond excited!  And they got right to it!  Connor got to ride Cheezy.  A 21-year old gentle fella.

They got right to it!  Connor had to help get Cheezy ready--brushing, picking hooves, helping carry the saddle pad, and even leading him into the ring.  Then it was time to get to work!  First learning how to just sit and ride, then working up to holding both arms out to learn how to balance!  

Connor LOVED it.  Can't wait until the next time.

And even though I got a flat tire when we got there because I drove over a piece of rebar that was sticking out of the driveway...we can't wait to go back.

ROAR! Connor is FOUR!

We celebrated Connor's FOURTH Birthday!

Her usual photos with family...got a little silly with Alexis and Melissa...

Great-Aunt Debi and Great-Grandma Darlyne and Great-Grandpa Richard

Grandma and Grandpa J

Grandma and Grandpa B

The Luedke Crew

Morgan, Max and Jay

Carl, Brook and Jena

She had great help opening gifts.  Jace read all the cards, while Brook sat on my lap and watched.

She got a lot of horse-themed gifts!  Horses to play with, horse shirts...

Max was looking so dapper in his collared shirt!

Jace was extra-cooperative during our family photo...

Just Mom, Dad, and Connor!

Connor's cake this year was Apple Crisp!  

And all her Lion Guard friends: Bunga, Fuli, Kion, Beshte, and Ono!

Happy 4th Birthday, Connor!  We LOVE You!

New family member!

This is Lady.  Or Gemma.  Or Alexis. Or Pepper.  We haven't decided yet.  We've been looking off and on for awhile, and finally Jed found one he really liked, the price was right, AND it rained, so he drove to pick her up while the kids and I were at school.  She is a blue heeler.  We are in love already!

It's also spirit week at school--hence Jace wearing his swim trunks for "Beach Day".  And in the picture below it was "Holiday Day".

She's getting to ride in the truck for a little while...while she is lap-sized!

And it looks like she likes to read!

"What I want to be when I grow up".  Jace: K-State football player.  Because one of his friends asked him to.  Connor: Cowgirl!

Would you look at that: More reading for the dog, and she is inside the house!

And--the same day we got the new puppy, we celebrated Jena's birthday!  (A few days late, but we had to wait for rain!)  She had a lot of good help blowing out candles!

 

Flag Football

We are in our second week of flag football.

Lane watching while Jace snaps the ball to Gavin...

Jace got to play quarterback a little bit! 

Handing off the ball to Riley!

Teamwork trying to pull those flags off!

And some cuties from the sidelines...

We got home from football and Duke had broke his collar!  He was hanging out in the yard...he is just like a little puppy! 

Jace got a bucket of feed and Duke followed him around!

Friday night we took supper to the field and Carl let Jace drive the graincart...

School + practice + harvest makes for a tired boy...

Brook came over while to play!  She loves Tinkerbell!  Connor was busy trying to shell some corn for the calves.

And we happened to catch the tractor cruise going by our road!  There was a pink tractor, and green and red tractors, and even a tractor that threw candy!!!