Boots & Tractors

Today was a lazy day. But it was decent out so this afternoon, the kids played outside! Jacob has some "new" cowboy boots (thanks Jake!) He loves them. And I love seeing him wear them! So cute.

As soon as he saw me with the camera, he stood up and said "eeeeeze!" :)

He had to bring his tractor out, too.

I told Mom & Dad this boy was born for a farm! :) I'll have to post the picture I took this evening. Proof positive :)

Waving to the cars that go by.

This boy has never been unhappy if he's outside.

Anna wasn't in a very good mood today. Even after a nap, she was a bit grumpy. She did NOT want to go outside (they were still in their pj's after naps. hey--it's Saturday!!). I picked out some clothes for her to wear, but she didn't like them. Then she couldn't find the right t-shirt to wear under her sweatshirt. After close to 15 minutes, she finally came out wearing...

...new pajamas and her boots!!!

A friend gave me these boots for Anna when she was a baby. They used to be her daughter's and I'm so glad Anna can wear them (she wore them last year a few times, but they were still a bit big). I love them. Evidently, so does she! :)

Their New Favorite Things...

This isn't really a favorite thing, but I love how Jacob's blue eyes are so vibrant in this picture. :)

The kids & I went to a garage sale this morning. It was so icky & cold (Spring? Where did you go?!) so I told Anna to stay in the van and if I found any kids' things, I would come get them. The girl loves garage sales! Now, I'd just read Dave's newsletter and he talked about bargaining in one of the articles. I had $8 cash and that was it. The only kid toys they had were a couple of kitchen sets (already have one) and a wooden rocking horse. The horse had $12 on it and I thought "where in the world would we put a rocking horse?!" So after browsing around a bit, I went back to the van. I told Anna that the only toys were kitchen sets, which we already have. She gave me her sad face (have you seen it?? It's impossible to resist!). I told her there was ONE other toy--a rocking horse--but it was too expensive. Again with the SAD face!! I told her we could go ask the lady if she would take less for it, but if she wouldn't we could not buy the horse. So off we go in the freezing cold wind. We stopped by the horse and Anna agreed that it was a must-have. ;) Now, my intention wasn't to use my kids as a ploy to get this lady down on the price, honestly. Anna loves garage sales and I wanted to make sure she liked the horse. So we go up to the lady and Anna becomes suddenly very shy. I asked if she would take $7 (I thought that was all I had, not $8). She said "How about $9--we'll meet in the middle?" Sorry...$7 is all I've got. "Well, I would really like to see it go to someone who would use, so I'll take $7" As I handed her the cash I realized I had $8 so she got a bit closer to the compromise ;) As we were walking back to the van, I realized that only a really cold-hearted person would have turned down an offer with 2 children waiting to get a new rocking horse!! haha Oh well! I gave Anna a good lesson on bargaining! :)
So here's the new horse, which is a girl by the way.

I told Mom it's as close as it gets to the real thing for Anna right now!! She can't decide what to name her new horse.

She loves it. Jacob wouldn't get on at first but now he likes it, too.

But what he really likes is the magazine Daddy brought him...a TRACTOR magazine!!!! It was hilarious when Aaron gave it to him. He looked at the cover and went *intake of air* "ooooohhhhhhh" with great big eyes. He seriously has looked through it. He looked like a little old man tonight, sitting in the recliner watching TV and looking at the tractors for sale!! Love it!

Tractors + Blanket = Happy Boy

Jacob needed a light weight blanket. The poor boy was being covered up every night with a pastel pink and yellow polka-dot blanket (which I believe is the one we had to buy to bring ANNA home in)! So while I was shopping yesterday, I looked for some cheap, light weight material. Of course, it needed to have some kind of wheels on it! The total cost of this little project was around $8. I just got a yard of each material.

The tractor material (I guess technically implement material since there are also combines!) is a very light weight fleece, then I picked up some yellow cotton for the backing. And some satin binding. I hate that stuff! It is impossible for me to keep it from pulling so by the time I get to the end it's all crooked. Makes me so mad! Not mad enough to rip it out and start again. Mostly because I know I can't keep it straight anyway!!! But I figure Jacob (and Anna--the same thing happened to her pillowcase) won't notice if the binding is crooked or not! :)

I call this his "gifted child" face. HA!! He really is excited about all the tractors (Terry, there ARE some green tractors...don't worry! hehe). Not excited enough to want to just jump right into bed, but oh well!


He says "EEEzzzzzzzzzzAH!" I can't believe he'll be 2 in just a few months. It's not possible!!! :(

The Fun Out West Continues

We've been so busy! So here are some more pictures from our visit to my grandparents/aunts/uncles:)

Fun at Aunt Cara & Uncle Terry's with the farm toys! Anna has as much fun as Jacob with all the tractors.

Since we've been on the go so much, Jacob was in desperate need of a haircut. When his hair gets long, his callick (cowlick...how is that spelled??) gets WILD! So Aunt Cara, aka family beautician, gave him a trim. We distracted him with Baby Signs on the computer! :)

He did great...even around his ears (which he hates). Thanks Aunt Cara!!

Guess what I found Mama?!?!

MUD!!!

Oh! Oh! A birdie!

Who can resist that adorable face?!

He just recently started doing this...sucking on his cheeks. Mom said Bryce does this too? It's too cute!

Enjoying lunch at Great Grandma Betty's!



The tradition continues:) Chocolate chip ice cream with Grandpa Frank!! I'm sure there are pictures somewhere of me in his lap eating ice cream!

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Okay, up next are some pictures of calf feeding!

Boys and their toys!

Jacob got a new toy in the mail today...another John Deere tractor! (He had a hard time keeping it from Anna), but he loves it! Thanks Joyce (if you read this)!! He also got a new John Deere book, but he hasn't had time to sit down and read it. :) Anna, on the other hand, has requested it more than 3 times today I think!