Memorial Day Weekend

These photos pretty much speak for themselves, but I'll offer a bit of commentary. Grandma and Charlie were trying to fill a water balloon, but when it came time to tie it, the water kept squirting out at them!
The lawnmower is always a highlight. The adults all want to mow with it. The kids practice their driving skills on it. Hannah is now able to pull others in the wagon (a privilege she had to wait for until she turned 10). Sarah just learned to drive it this weekend. Ethan's an old pro so he's on to bigger and better things...the 4-wheeler! He got up the courage to try it for the first time this weekend - he takes the "not safe for anyone under 16 to drive" warning very seriously so it took a little convincing. Those extra girls in the wagon are Eliana and Abigail, daughters of Mom and Dad's new pastor.
The water balloons were definitely a highlight one afternoon. Nedra filled and filled and filled and filled (and then filled some more) before lunch. The kids could hardly stand it to leave them alone until it was "time". Here Ethan is chasing Hannah around the yard trying to nail her with a water balloon. Some of them really sting when they hit you. The weather was really hot so the cold water felt good... The "fight" soon gave way to "let's see who can fill the largest balloon" with many squirts in the face as you're trying to get it tied!



Pretty brave there Grandpa!

Grandpa and Dana hung the tree swing for the summer. The rope kept stretching out as we sat on it so eventually Grandpa came up with a fix - a vice grip holding the rope tight underneath the swing! Leave it to Grandpa...

You don't need to run into the house when you've got the privacy of the countryside :o)
Tractor-driving, building stools in the shop, hunting for baby birds in their nests (we saw one with just eggs, 2 with babies, and a few empty ones), 4-wheeler-riding...
Kickball in the front yard using trees for bases, visiting the horses and brand new baby kitties at Uncle Mark's, doctoring Rudy's sore foot (blisters from running so much)...
Water balloons, swinging on the tree swing, conversing on the patio, asparagus-hunting and eating, the Rushmore Cafe for breakfast...
Trying on flower girl dresses for Natasha's wedding this summer (Hannah and Sarah will be in my cousin's wedding; Natasha and her sister were my our flower girls), Pizza Ranch, taking Great Grandma Elsing along to do both...
Grilling chicken and pork burgers (always Dana or Hal as Dad has only one way to do it...the hotter the grill, the faster it gets done, also the drier the meat:o), eating fruit pizza...
Watching Grandpa disassemble the old rusty swing set and rotting sand box, checking out our trees on the yard (there are individual trees planted in honor our weddings and each of the grandkids' births - even one that grew from the seeds of our beautiful maple in our front yard on Bennett Street)...
Birds chirping, sun shining, calm breeze, screams of delight, lots of laughter...
When we visit, it's always hard to leave. This time was no different. We love that the simple things have become traditions our children look forward to. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa. We love you!