Goodbye, Red Rolla!

Joel has had this car for eleven years.  It took us on our first date to Panera and ice-skating in Knoxville.  Really, I think that was one of the few times I ever rode in this car.  Ha!  But it was almost always faithful to get Joel to work, so we were thankful for that.  The time came for us to part ways.  No one thought it would be wanted by another, seeing as how it is twenty three years old, BUT

It sold the same day Joel posted it for sale.  Oh yeah, baby!  :) 

Finger Paint!

Lydia has been asking to finger paint for a long time, and I finally got around to getting her some paint.

She wanted to make Josiah and Caleb paintings using their favorite colors.  

We tried out the trick where you put down tape first, paint, and then peel off the tape.

It worked okay, but I think you're supposed to use painter's tape so it doesn't rip the paper.

I helped with a few paintings.  That's supposed to be George on the right.  Let me just say, it is very difficult to finger paint with someone else's finger! :) 

We had fun!

Lydia and Poppa!

Lydia loves her Poppa!

They have lots of fun times together! :)

Jessica and her boys!

Here are some hilarious attempts of Jessica trying to get a good picture with her boys. :)

Fun with Caleb!

A few weeks ago, Caleb came over for the day while Jessica went to the longest yard sale.  We had a grand time!

Anna Kate enjoyed watching all the excitement!

And I'm pretty sure Lydia adores her sweet cousin Caleb!

Diaper Heads!

While I was cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, I came back into the dining room to find this.

I live with a bunch of nuts! :)

Kitchen Cabinets!

Before:

After:

Much better!  I even made a list of all the canned food I have, because there are a lot of cans in there!  Happy organizing!

Hopscotch!

ABC Club!

Jessica and I thought it was time to start teaching our girls their letters.  A bit early for Eleonora, and a bit late for Lydia, but oh well!  So we decided to start up an ABC Club, which Lydia thinks is super cool!

We meet every Monday and do one letter a week.

We are making alphabet books with the girls' handprints.  I forgot to take a picture, but just imagine a cute little red handprint turned into an apple.

We take turns teaching the class at our houses.

Jessica helped Lydia write her first A's.  She was proud!

Pioneer Day!

Since Jessica posted yesterday about Pioneer Day over on her blog, I thought I would follow up with the pictures I took from the fun event!

Lydia posing in the ultimate Habermas hand-me-down.  The dress was made by her Great-Great Grandmother!

Now this one is just for giggles.  I think she looks like the muppet baby.  Ha!

Super cute nephews making butter!

Delicious vanilla ice cream!

Jessica took the children out to cut daisies while Josiah and I made the ice cream.

Jessica is good at giving chores.  So cute!

The feast!

Man, they are cute!

Jessica led the little pioneers in a craft (her specialty).  They made buzz saws.

Then she led them in some hand clapping type games like "Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?"

They ALL loved it!

Here is Jessica trying to help Lydia get her buzz saw going.  Lydia loved that thing for days!

Thanks for hosting and planning such an incredible event!  We had a fantastic time!

Green Beans!

Anna Kate finally got to eat some food a few weeks ago.  I thought she would love green beans, like her sister did.

But she did not!

Oh well.  Still a happy baby!

Here's a little flashback of Lydia the first time she ate green beans.  She kept opening her mouth wide for more.  Anna has never opened her mouth like that.  I have to shove the food in between pretty closed lips.  She did enjoy carrots a little bit, I think.  Hopefully she will warm up to the idea of eating her veggies! :)