A day and the life on a farm...

My kiddos are so very blessed for so many reasons, but the one blessing I am writing about today is the fact that they still get to visit with both sets of the GREAT Grandparents often...

My children still have both sets of their (very active) Great Grandparents and both sets of their (very active) Grandparents...

They all bring something special to our kiddos life, particularly farm life...

Great Grandpaw Sanford (Grandpaw Piggie) always says, "Every child in their life needs to experience taking care of a farm animal."  And because of that, he and Grandpaw Kennedy (Grandpaw Sheepie) always make sure the kids have a baby animal around to watch grow, feed, 'play with.'

Farm life is a normal way of living for both the Kennedy's and Sanford's and my children are in heaven when they are at either farm.

So.....I captured a few of my favorite farm moments and thought I would share them with you.

 Bob the Pig and her babies (pictures taken last year) 

 

No fear....the kids let Jerry the calf suck on their fingers.

 Jerry the baby calf being fed her bottle

 Rainbow the sheep

 Picking strawberries with Great Grandmaw Sanford (Piggie)

 Grandpaw Sanford picking us a whole bunch of strawberries

 Baby kittens have arrived at the Kennedy Farm and the kids LOVED them!

 Gigi in the sheep barn (she could care less about all the sheep poop) having a blast playing with the kittens.

 This is pretty much why all farm kids drive early....looks like Garyn will be mowing the farm next year.

 Gigi practicing with Great Grandpaw Kennedy (sheepie)

 Of course...no matter where we are....we are the Frog Hunter!!  He found and caught a frog!!

A day and the life at the FARM!!  Quite honestly, there is nothing better!!

It is why every time I am there, I come home wanting to buy land...to move to where life is simple (of course hard work keeping up a farm, but simple)...to have animals, a garden and the quietness!

these smiles melt my heart....

 a smile,

a look,

a touch,

these simple acts of kindness can make a person's day, month, year, and well, maybe a lifetime...

I often talk about making a difference and it's usually in the typical methods: donating time, knowledge, money.

But REALLY.... sometimes all it takes is just 

.... a smile, a look, a touch....

Make a difference to a stranger, a friend, family...

It will feel amazingly good for both ends!!!

GUARANTEE!!!

Watch this to see how these simple acts create HOPE in all of these beautiful, little human beings!!!!

Ordinary Hero & Kristi Neumann Help Bring Waiting Children Home from Kelly Putty on Vimeo.

Tiny Dancers....

Garyn and Gigi choreographed a dance,

practiced and practiced,

and

here we have the "Tiny Dancers...."

Spring has hatched....

just off our our deck,

in perfect view,

a robbin's nest,

with 4 healthy baby birds...

it has been so much fun watching the baby birds grow over the past week....

saying good morning to them is such a fun way to start our day!!!

 The first morning they hatched....

Look how much they have grown in 1 week

a few things I don't want to forget...

Just a few things that have been said over the past few days that I do not want to forget...

Garyn and Gigi have great conversations...

Gigi is smart as a wipe, she doesn't miss a beat...

and

Garyn has a heart that is honestly too big for his tiny body...

So here we go with a few conversations: 

Gigi: 

Me: "Gianna, we have to go to bed in 2 mins."
Her reply: "okay."
Her father says, (after the two mins. expired) "Gigi, it's time to go to bed, two minutes is up."
Gigi: " Oh no Dad, Mom said four minutes."

Yep, the negotiator at 3....even better she is learning math!

Garyn:

Me: "What was the best part of your day today?"
Garyn: "Hold on Mom, let me think."
Gigi's favorite part of her day yesterday was eating pizza in front of the TV, playing in the basement, and taking a nap (yep, you read that right....she said taking a nap...)

Back to Garyn,  I asked him again and he looked at me and simply said, "Chase."
What a sweet, sweet boy.  But then again, if you knew Chase, you would say the same thing!!!
He is a little angel that has landed here on earth!!!

We discussed about our first drive to PA with just the three of us.
Garyn's concern was "Mom, who is going to change our movie's for us?"
I replied, " Well buddy, you will have to be patient with Mommy and we may have to make more stops."
Garyn quickly after, "I really wish I could be a grown-up so I could help you on the way home."  Again.....his heart is too big for his little body!!  How sweet....

Gigi is ever so sassy.....it's a girl thing, I am convinced!!!  On the way to the wedding on Saturday she was ever so excited, therefore she talked even MORE than normal!  And if you know Gianna, that is ALOT!!!  So Ryan asked her to please be quiet for a few minutes to rest.
She quickly, too quickly asked me, "Mom, can I please say a porcupine?"
 I gave her permission and she said, "Dad, really just Shut Up."
OH BOY!!!!  All we could do was laugh.....

They are so sweet to my soul.....

Gigi and Ryker

Gigi and Ryker...so proud! They did it!

Flower Girl....

This past weekend Gianna had the honor of being a flower girl in a family wedding.

Our  cousin Abby (aka Princess Abby) married Phil (aka Prince Charming.)

Gianna did an amazing job, we are so proud of her.
She loved getting the attention from everyone, but mostly from the bridesmaids...
she was in absolute awe of all of them!
She was connected to Courtney pretty much the entire day and whining for her when Courtney was away doing her bridesmaid duties. 

The wedding was beautiful from top to bottom....the entire celebration took place outside; simply tasteful.  And yes, this includes the down pour of rain after the ceremony.

This Kennedy family (Dan, Angi, Zach, Courtney, Abby, Phil, Caleb, and of course, Bailey) are an amazing example of family love and 'togetherness'...  Throughout the entire weekend, their family bond and love shined bright.  It was so nice to be involved in such a wonderful weekend.

We all wish Abby and Phil a life full of God, Love, and Laughter.....
Congratulations!

 Gigi and Princess Abby at the rehearsal dinner

 Keeping busy....loving being a boy....loving the idea of an outdoor wedding...

 Gigi and her girly friends...

 Gigi getting her toes painted for the big barefoot day...

 Gianna and her buddy Courtney

 Gigi and Prince Charming

Me and my baby girl

 Two beautiful ladies in white...

 Big smiles from all the girls...

 me and ryan...(isn't he so good lookin')

 once again....Garyn loving the fact that he is a boy.....love him!

Dancing the night away

AND OF COURSE....I HAD TO REMIND RYAN,
PROBABLY IN 25 YEARS....
THIS WILL BE HIM WALKING TO 'GIVE' HIS BABY GIRL AWAY....