Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy Papa's Day

Papa sent this e-mail and I thought you may want to enjoy. It has been modified for our target, G-rated audience (you're welcome!).

Ok, you may have seen USDA’s “Top Five Tips for Father’s Day”:
• Visit a local farmer's market:.
• Explore a local forest or park.
• Plant your own garden.
• Cook a healthy meal with dad.
• Give dad a food thermometer to make sure food is safe..

Now let me give you Papa's “Top Five Tips for Father’s Day”:
· Visit a local bakery
· Explore a local bar
· Plant your *butt* on the couch
· Get dad a brat and a beer
· Give dad the remote and a pillow

Sorry that we won't be able to spend the day together Dad. You'll manage.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

All McMeyer's On The Farm...


We typically head to Great-Grandpa H's farm once during the summer. This year we met up with Gpa & Gma H, Aunt H and Uncle C. The kids were able to see a lot of baby geese, ducks, chickens and turkeys. The kids loved it (and the little birds weren't as 'fowl' as you would expect).

Gpa H had a large refrigerator box to keep all of the little birds. He cut out a few small openings that were just the right height for the kids to peek in on the birds. It was very entertaining. Here are some pics from the day...


Gma H helped give M2 the bird.


As you can see, I think it was worth it. A very happy girl!


M1 held a bird most of the time (& did a great job!).


M3 couldn't get enough of the bird box.


"Hey M2! Come here!"


"Look! There are so many birds!"


"They're so close!"


"Come here birds!"
...I think the birds have a different thing in mind.


M3 & M2 loving the bird box.


M1 with Gpa H.


M3 would get so excited when a bird would be close by, he could barely contain himself. (Too cute!)


Here are M2 & M1 showing Great-Gpa H one of the chicks.


This is just a neat generational shot of Great-Gpa H's hands and M2's hands holding the little chick.


M2, M1 & M3 giving us a great shot on the stairs.

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We brought the girls bikes to let them practice in an isolated setting. The only problem was the uneven gravel. Here Gpa H is helping M2 get her motor running.


Gpa H stopped to negotiate with M2 about the process of biking.


After further review, Gpa H decided to cut his losses and "guide" M2 into the ditch.
(Well, not really, but it looks like that...)


Meanwhile, Dad was trying a new, more aggressive approach to teaching M1 to ride the bike (J/K! He was holding the vise-grips because he just put the training wheels on M1's bike.)


You always need to be leery when you see a bunch of bikers along the side of the road.

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Another event of the day was driving the Porsche roadster (late '70's?) that Gpa H had just obtained. The car was in good shape. Just be glad that through these pictures you can't smell the mouse that died somewhere in the car soon after the Porsche arrived on the farm.


Here is Uncle C about to take H in the roadster.


H & C up close.


Is THIS too close!?


And they're off!


"Bye, Mom," they said unenthusiastically.


M3 (the avid car lover) was ready to roll once H returned from her ride.


Later that evening, M3 had his turn in the car. He was overwhelmingly excited when he first got in the car, but I don't think it was quite what he thought it would be because he wasn't as excited as the ride occurred. Oh well...


M3 smiles before the ride.


Gma H says some parting words to her eldest grandson. M3 just wants to go!


M2 went next & loved her turn.


M1 went last. Contrary to the rumors, this is not what her face looked like after the ride.

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Another event of the day (yes! this is all in the same day!) was playing with the hose. Here are some action shots from the "water park".


M2: "Just a little closer (heh, heh)."



M3 was not in the mood to get wet (yeah, I know...'my son'). Here he is telling M2, "That's close enough!"


Eventually H took the hose. M1 & M2 were really cute. They would start close to the barn, hold hands, & run towards the hose. Their faces were priceless!


Gpa H fired up the kiddie portion of the water park, but M3 was still not very interested.


Aunt H arrived just in time to pick up some drying (but still wet) nieces. (A very cute shot.)

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The kids also had tractor rides with Gpa.


M3 LOOOOVED riding on the tractor with Gpa. The funniest thing about his ride was when they came back to the house. The wind was blowing M3's and Gpa's hair up the exact, same way. Ah, genetics!


M2 liked her tractor ride, but for some reason she failed to express her happiness with her face. She seems to be mesmerized by Gpa's chin. What a zoner!


Here M1 and Gpa re-tell the story of how they were robbed by a gang of cows (their name was "Thistle Herd Tomorrow").


Eventually, the day came to an end. We headed home the same day. The kids of course fell asleep on the way home. We brought M2 into the house. She then walked back to her room (shared with M1 & M3 at the time), and crawled into the closest bed (M3's) and promptly fell asleep. The funny part was that I didn't even notice her right away because when she's curled up she's about the same size as some of the gigantic stuffed animals.

As usual, a fun day on the farm was had by all.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Shotpourri

These shots do not go together, but they're worth sharing.


M2 LOOOOOVES her little brother, M4! She loves to give him hugs & kisses, hold his hand (typically too tight), etc. She is all about "tough love" so you have to keep an eye out for M4's well being.


M3 loves to go up and down the stairs that go into the dining room. Here are some cute shots from his stair adventures.


M3 also is pretty strong, but not strong enough to lift and carry Marco down the stairs.

Kitchen Krew and Wardrobe Malfunction

When we stopped renting rooms upstairs we took the cabinets from the lobby/kitchenette and added them to our kitchen. We more than doubled our cabinet/counter space by making the move. We quickly took joy in our new kitchen setup.


Here the kids helped Mom make some food (& Mom didn't lose her patience with kids climbing over her limited space now that she has so much more to work with).


M3 follows suit with his sisters and LOVES to help whenever given the chance. (What a patient Mommy!)

Later that day...M3 was trying to get ready for bed on his own. The shirt got stuck on his mongo melon.

"Hey Dad, I think my shirt is stuck."


"Cuz, see, when, I, try, to, pull, it...it, doesn't, want, to, come."


"Maybe if I pull REALLY hard, like this...?"


"Eh, forget it. I'll just deal with it. Is this too close!?"


Eventually M3's shirt found its way off. Here is M3 bringing the diaper bag over so we can change his pants (sporting the new shirt-less look).


You might be able to see that M3 worked up quite a sweat during his wardrobe malfunction.