Farm Weekend

A few weekends ago, we headed to the King Farm in South GA to spend a few days with my college girlfriends, their husbands, and all of the kiddos. We make a lot of effort to get together, especially with the guys and kids, and it may get harder as time goes on (there are 4 more babies on the way in the group!) but we love when we can make it work now.

Jill and Davis are excellent hosts, and we had a ball all weekend long! 

Here's my curly headed little boy all snuggled up on the wolf rug. 

He and Hampton have such a good time together! 

That's Judson, Hampton, Henry and David taking in the new addition to the group - Miss Elly - during her bathtime. 

And then it was their turn! Emerson joined them too! 

While we have traditionally done a Secret Santa swap for the past 11 years, this year we tried something new - all nine of us chose one of our favorite things and gifted it to everyone else. It was SO MUCH FUN! Everyone was super creative, and I loved all the loot! 

We still do a Secret Santa for the kids, and a White Elephant ornament swap too. 

Saturday was outdoors day. We got the kids bundled up and played all day long. 

Here's Henry with sweet Emerson. 

And with Luke - Henry was enamored with him, the "big" boy! 

We tried to get the chickens to come out, and a few were willing. 

We played with the horse through the fence. 

And I tried to snap lots of pics of the kids in action. 

Sweet David saying "cheese!"

Henry and Hampton

They love each other! 

Sometimes so much they fall down! 

I chased them around with the camera and they obliged :) 

My man on a mission 

Our darling Emerson! 

We took a hay ride with Davis pulling us with the tractor! 

The boys set out to find some birds to shoot.

And I took a few shots at the clays. Hit my first and last one! Not bad for 3 years of no practice. 

Nick took the cool slow-mo pics where you can see the clay, my shot, and the smoke. 

We took one last pic on Sunday morning of all the kids together. 

Judson (15 months), David (2 years), Luke (6), Elly (2.5 months), Hampton (20 months) and Henry (20 months) 

Later that day, Henry helped Ben celebrate turning 9! I cant believe our nephew is 9! He should still be Henry's age! 

Happy Birthday to Ben! We love you! 

Farm, Home, and a Christening

At 15 months, Henry is really into cars, trucks, and tractors. He has a few books that show pictures of them, and currently, these are his favorite ones to read. When we pass a car, truck or tractor, he says "caaar", "ruck", or "racta" and sometimes makes the "vrmmm vrmmm" noise. 

It makes me so proud to hear him remembering words, trying to pronounce them, and making the noises! 

Of course, I think he's the smartest baby ever. ;) 

With all of this car, truck, and tractor action, it seemed like a trip to the farm was in store soon. So, the last time we visited the grandparents, we had an afternoon full of tractors. 

It was cute to see his eyes so wide at the tractors in "real life"! 

He even got to ride one with Coot. Made. Henry's. Day! 

There was a lot of action at the farm that day...pivots were on, they were picking corn, the combines were working, and we fed the fish. Not to mention it was a gorgeous afternoon to ride in the truck! 

Back at my parents' home, the hay had recently been baled. 

This seemed like the perfect photo op to me. 

Henry, not so much.

He seemed to enjoy it at first....

...but changed his mind pretty quickly. I had to do the "crazy mommy dance" to try to get him to smile. 

And even got up there with him.

It didn't work.

:/

While at home, we celebrated Grayson's Christening with a service at church and lunch at Vicky's. It was all wonderful!