Horse Riding Fun

 One of Leah and Ella's favorite things to do on the farm is ride the horses. 

 So this year when they asked to ride and my dad kindly obliged, 

 they were all smiles. 

I also decided horse riding might be a good occasion to break out my nicer camera. 

Enjoy the non-phone pictures. 

Even Annie enjoys her time on the farm. 

 We were to THANKFUL for a trip to Kansas for Thanksgiving and the nice weather while we were there, even if it did get cut short from the Blizzard of 2018. 

Kansas Visit

I like to try to visit my family in Kansas at least once a summer for a week.  This summer we ended up going in June and got to be there during wheat harvest.  Wheat harvest is always one of my favorite times of year and I find that I miss it so much since we don't live in Kansas anymore. Corn harvest in Illinois just doesn't have the same appeal to me as wheat harvest, it just something about a big green tractor in a field of wheat.
We were able to spend time in Manhattan, Dorrance, Salina, and time just relaxing on the farm.

We took supper to the wheat harvest crew and I took my big camera along to take some pictures.  These certainly remind me that I need to be better about using it.

 I love Emily's face in this one, so much personality! 

 Leah and Emily love playing together.  I love that they're such sweet friends.  

 Ella at Natalie's softball game, it was hot!!

Natalie plays at the same complex where I played softball growing up and I can't believe that I have a niece who is old enough to play competitive softball.  Being there brought back so many memories.  

And now for the iPhone pictures of the rest of our trip.  What did we ever do with our cameras on our phones?

 We were able to spend Father's Day with my dad.  Here is papa with his four granddaughters. 

 Another one of Ella at Natalie's softball game. 

 We spent a couple of quiet mornings on the porch.  I'm not sure if it's me getting older or having two kids and being busy, but I sure enjoyed our quiet mornings of sitting on the porch.  

 Leah got to ride in the combine with my brother, John.  I'm not sure what she thought of it, she didn't say much, only that she got kinda dizzy. 

 A visit to Manhattan is always on the 'to-do list' when we make a visit to Kansas. The splash park in Manhattan is one of our favorite stops. 

 Tim met my parents and I in Missouri and we took the opportunity to pick up some fireworks for the 4th of July celebration in Dorrance.  Leah and Pursley helped pick out the fireworks.  

Ella and I weren't too sure about all this fireworks shopping.

And just like that our summer visit to Kansas is in the books (or blog!). 

Stay tuned for more summer fun pictures and recaps. 

4th of July 2015

The 4th of July with the McClelland family is always a big deal.  Tim and his dad spend hours and hours researching what fireworks to buy, the order to shoot the fireworks off, and preparing the fireworks for launch.  This year was no different.  The event this year also included swimming, the bounce house, good food, and plenty of good times.

 Leah couldn't wait to get in the pool. 

 Ella wasn't quite as fond of the water as everyone else, she preferred to spend her time on Papa's lap.  

 Ella did love the bounce house though. 

For the second year in a row, I failed at getting a family picture.  Guess I'll have to settle with these sweet pictures of Leah and Ella.  

 Ella loved sliding down the slide and trying to climb up it.  

 5 of the 6 McClelland 2nd cousins, Trent busy getting things ready with Papa Jim. 

 Stanley with little Grant. 

 A bounce house full of kids (and Tim). 

 When the sun goes down, the sparklers and fireworks come out. 

 Jim and Trent were the official scorers for the fireworks display, nothing like a spreadsheet and a whiteboard to make the scoring complete.  

 A trailer of fireworks just waiting to be shot off.  

After much discussion, deliberation and some prep-work, this was the shooting area.

Here are some other 4th of July recaps 2012, 2011(part1), (part 2), (part 3), 2009,