Personalities

Isn't it amazing how children from the same family
are so different?
Same mom and dad, but different personalities and temperament.
For example...



My son,
He is a cautious kid.
He makes sure he is 100% confident before he does something new.
At eleven months old, he would cruise around the furniture, walk behind the walking toys,
but had no interest in actually walking by himself until 14 months.
But at 14 months old, when he was confident that he could walk, he walked.
Not one or two steps, he was walking across the room and no return to crawling.



Today at his last day of swimming lessons, my son decided that he could jump off the diving board without a life jacket.


There wasn't any hesitation.
He had purpose, determination and knowledge that he could do it.
He was confident that he could swim to the side of the pool.



But my daughter...



She's the adventurous one.
Willing to take chances.
At times not even considering the consequences.
She was in the same class/level as her brother.
She had no fear of the water and was willing to try all the skills her teachers were demonstrating.
Due to this she excelled.
She was one skill from passing to level 3. The teachers noted that if she practices her back stroke this summer she could take level 3 next summer.
With my daughter's willingness to try and practice, my kids will probably be in the same swim class once again.


Here's my girl doing a twist off the board:


I'm proud of both of them.
Both for their individual accomplishments.

Fading Fall Colors

I'm already missing the fall colors.

Why does it go so fast?

These pics of my kids were taken after some fall mini photo shoots

a few weeks ago.

Pictures of my kids just make me smile.

Apple picking

Taking a bite of a freshly picked apple

takes me back to my childhood.

There is nothing like it. It's so good.

My family went apple picking

at a farm that I have come to adore.

The farm is beautiful,

and the owners are the nicest people you will ever meet.

You can check them out here.

They sell 100% grass fed Angus beef.

We bought 1/4 beef this year for the first time and love it!

Anyway back to the apples.

Here are some pictures from our little adventure.

This bull intimidated me, but not my boy. He played fetch with him with an apple.

Isn't this farm gorgeous!

Love it! And I think my kids are pretty cute too :) -Jen

My little sunflowers

Is it me, but they look older especially my son.

Last Day

Of swimming lessons.

So proud of my kiddos.

It's amazing how quickly a child can learn to swim.

We have been TV free for the month of July. As of tomorrow, we will be computer free for a week. If I don't reply to e-mails, facebook etc. you know why. I'll be enjoying the social media silence and enjoying my family. - Jen

Apple blossoms

Last Saturday, my kids and I went to a farm to take some pictures.

This place is so beautiful.

They have apple and peach trees as well as acres upon acres of

God's beauty.

It was a cloudy day.

And unbeknownst to us at the time,

but a tornado was going to hit a few miles from our home.

I just love the country!

This pic brings joy to my soul!

Lots of love - Jen

The snow didn't melt

So we had to go sledding......

I see a smidge of a thrill seeker in my son.

Firsts

I love doing things for the first time with my kids.

We went to a bowling birthday party this weekend,

and it was the first time my little ones had ever bowled.

Okay, my son bowled at age two,

but he doesn't recall.

They enjoyed it immensely.
And my daughter.....
well she acts as if she doesn't even have that splint on.

Before the bowling party, my son had stated for his next birthday,

he wanted to go to "Pump it Up."

But now he thinks a bowling party sounds like a lot of fun.

Not too posed

Most of my favorite shots are not posed. I seem to prefer the more candid shots. Here are a few photos of my kiddos with their cousins. Just wondering....which one do you prefer.

The favorite pic will be given to the grandparents and great aunt/uncles.