Peach Picking

Finally sorted through our pictures from peach picking with my parents.  Natalie was a great picker but might have not been so gentle.  Oh well- we picked almost two baskets and I canned 16 jars of peaches- yummy!

Finally sorted through our pictures from peach picking with my parents.  Natalie was a great picker but might have not been so gentle.  Oh well- we picked almost two baskets and I canned 16 jars of peaches- yummy!

Baby Betsy

Horray- Natalie is not the only girl anymore!  Baby Betsy Christine has arrived.  My brother and his wife just had their third child -bringing my parents grandchildren total to 5, my grandmothers great-grandchildren total to 8 (with Natalie and Betsy being the only girls).  Natalie was so excited to meet and hold Betsy (as we all were).  She is such a precious and sweet little girl.

Natalie might be strangling Austin

Turtles

Two weeks ago I said to my sister-in-law I really hope we find a box turtle this summer to show Nat.  The next day my brother comes walking up from my parents' pasture carrying one.  Natalie cautiously watched the turtle but wasn't interested in keeping it as a pet like I always did as a kid.
Then yesterday we took the kayaks out on the Green Lane Reservoir (Nat's first time kayaking) and we saw about twenty more turtles.  She loved it.  I just wished this girl showed some emotion while completing an activity not just when we are done!!

 

Childhood memories

Who else remembers loving this as a child?

Fort diving

The other day we built a simple fort between our chair and ottoman.  The kids loved in until Natalie decided that the roof would support her and jumped from the ottoman onto the blanket.  This resulted in her falling straight through obviously- missing Austin by less than an inch.  Fortunately she wasn't hurt and maybe she learned that something about structure and gravity!!

Cowboys and Cowgirls

We decided to carry over a tradition from my childhood for Natalie and Austin.  My parents tried to take us to at least one rodeo a year ever since we were tiny tots.  We braved the late hours (one top of a short nap that day) and took the kids to Shartlesville Rodeo.  My parents, brother and sister-in-law were camping near the arena for the weekend (we were to be also but a broken fridge, broken iPhone on top of a crazy week resulted in a day trip for us) but we decided once there to stay for the rodeo.  I am so glad we did.  Natalie LOVED it and made it all the way till 11pm.  Austin slept great in the Bjorn (just a sore back for Gary and I).  I think this is a tradition that we will now be continuing every year.

Austin & Daddy near the bulls (I wouldn't let them go closer)

Natalie loved this little puppy (I have not met a dog she doesn't love)

Quick try at fishing with Daddy and Chad before the rodeo

Waving at the horses and cowgirls

This nice cowboy who let Nat pet his horse (he looks/acts just like a friend of ours)

Nat with the bulls and Poppop

Daddy I want a pony

Natalie has always loved horses but until recently refused to ride or even just sit on them.  Well she has now overcome that fear and more.  She insists on sitting on all three of my parents horse and then asks to ride Millie (the steer).  I think it just took seeing her cousin ride to persuade her- now she is hooked.  I already taught her to ask her Daddy for a pony- we will see how long it will take- I think I was around 7 which maybe right around the age Natalie will be (give or take a year or two).

Riding Kid with Colton, Chad & Nic

Held on tight at first

 On Kid again

 Dator

 Zip