Inspired {they're getting so big}

Now that it's getting nicer outside, I find myself getting my D200 out more. I enjoy taking photographs so much. One of these days (or years...) when the economy picks back up again, I can't wait to get my business going again. I miss it. It misses me.

Yesterday after the babies nap (Joey slept longer, which is why there are more pictures of Rowan and Elijah together) I took them outside and snapped some photos of them as they ran around and played. Then later after Joe Man woke up, Daddy got him up and brought him outside. Joey doesn't enjoy the camera as much as his brother and sister do, but I did manage to get a couple of good shots of him. :)

There's a lot! I had so many favorites I decided to share them all. It's been a while since I've dedicated a photo blog just to the babies, so this one is all about them. Kay Kay didn't mind not having mommy chase her around like a crazy woman with her big old camera for an hour. ;o) While editing these photos, I couldn't help but notice how big the babies are getting. Don't they look older to you? So hard to believe that in 2 short weeks my babies will be turning 2.


I'm going to Iowa for the weekend, it's my best friend Stephanie's bridal shower, and I get to shoot her engagement picutres. Yay! So I won't be posting again until Monday or so. Hope everyone has a great weekend! It's supposed to SNOW in Iowa while I'm there. Are you KIDDING me? Guess I'll bring my winter coat...


Rowan

Elijah

He climbed up this hill all by himself!!! We dubbed him "King Eli" when he got to the top. Davey and I were trailing behind trying to get Joe and Rowan up the Mt. Everest-like hill we had to climb to get back to our house. :)





Joey















Elijah loves to hold my hand when we go for walks. It's so sweet.




Rowan contemplating giving her bubby a kiss...



Eli gives sissy a kiss. ^_^



Elijah and Rowan




Just giggling away. :)



Have a great weekend. :)

Inspired {Spring}

{Photo copyright of Kristi McDowell}

Feel free to use this for your desktop if you wish. I left the copyright off of the photo just for you. :)

Please Pray for Baby Stellan

This little guy could really use your prayers right now. He just went into prolonged v-tach, which is very dangerous. Go here to read his family's blog and to read all about Stellan. I've also added a button on my sidebar that will link you straight to their blog.

Thanks guys.

Waiting Anxiously

One of my readers asked how Davey's job was. They had heard Caterpillar had more layoffs.

Well, we're not quite sure. As I speak, the Cat plant in Decatur where Davey works is having a 9 day plant shut down, with no pay. And every night he goes into work, we just don't know what news he's going to receive. Last week he was told that if production doesn't pick up in the next six weeks, his job (amongst many others) will be gone. There is a possibility they may take some guys and move them back down to a position they once held before, but odds are, knowing Caterpillar, they'll just "permanently" lay them off.

It's a very stressful time, as we're trying to figure out how we'll support a family of 6 on unemployment pay until he finds a new job. And in this economy...well, it's just not easy to find a new job.

I know there are millions of families out there in this same situation. It's just so sad.

For now we're trying our best not to worry about it, and are grateful he still has a job. I will keep you all posted if anything changes. Thanks for checking in with our family. :)

Farm Fresh Eggs

We are slowly adding to our little farm. Our newest addition, as you can see, is 25 baby chickens. 15 cinnamon red pullets, and 10 barred rock straight run. I'm learning a lot with this whole farm thing, can you tell? For those who are not educated in the chicken variety, cinnamon red is a type of chicken, a pullet is an egg laying hen that is less than a year old, a barred rock is also a type of chicken (the black ones in the picture) and straight-run means there is a mixture of male/female birds- straight-run birds weren't sexed, so you have no idea how many females you have or how many males you have. Do you feel smarter now?

So all of our chickens are egg layers. In about 4-5 months, they should all start laying eggs. This is super for us, because with a family of six, we go through almost a dozen eggs just for one breakfast. And farm fresh eggs are better than store bought anyway. ;o)


Kadence loves her baby chicks. She reads to them, and sings to them until they fall asleep.






Her daddy was teasing her and pointed at a baby chick and told her "that's where they get chicken nuggets." She didn't buy it. She's a smart girl. Chicken nuggets don't come from egg laying chickens silly. They come from fryers. (a fryer is the kind of chicken that you eat)


Not sure what our next adventure will be. We may be getting a baby sheep, or a baby calf. Or both. How lucky are my kids?? I would have been in heaven as a kid being raised on a farm with all sorts of fun animals. Heck, I'm in heaven now.





And a shameless plug. Anyone intersted in a puppy? Or 4? ;o) Gaga has 4 puppies that she's trying to sell with no luck. Thought I'd try and help her out. They are toy poodles, 3 males and 1 female. The 3 males look like these 2, and the little girl is the white/creamy colored one. They are just too stinkin' cute. I think she's asking $200. Email me if you want details! kristi_michelle@hotmail.com

Sharing Some Pics

We've been busy playing outside lately- Spring is definitely here! Just wanted to share some pics from the last few days. You can click to enlarge them.

And for those of you who missed it in one of my posts, yes Kay Kay got her ears pierced! I'm going to post pics and a video soon. :)


Rowan being cute




We all take a "wagon" ride a few times a week. Daddy pulls all 5 of us behind the 4-wheeler. It's one of the kids' favorite things to do.



Me and Kadence on the wagon ride



Taking our daily walk. :) (Elijah, Joey, Rowan, Kadence, and Aunt Ashley off to the side)



Elijah wanted me to open the screen door. One of his funny faces he makes.



Not a typical Joey face, but SO FUNNY! I was playing keep away with one of his toys and this is the face he gave me. I love it!

She's All Set

My beautiful little girl showing off her stickers she received today at the stations at registration. She charmed them and knocked their socks off. Which if you know Kadence, that will not surprise you. :) One of the women who tested her came up to me and said, "I asked her how high she could count, and she started to count for me. When she got to 70, I had to make her stop! I asked her how high she could count, and she told me 100. I told her, I bet you can sweetie!" Then she went on to say how much of a doll she was, and how sweet she was. Several other women who tested her made it a point to come over to me and tell me how adorable and polite Kadence was too. Awww, talk about making a mommy proud!

In passing we saw some of the little kids that will be in her class. It was so funny to see them and think, wow! Those are the little kids she's going to grow up with! Too cute.

She had a blast, and can't WAIT to start school. "Mom, August is too far away. Too too far."

"I know sweetheart. It will be here before we know it though."

She's Growing Up

My little girl registers for Kindergerten tomorrow.

Though I know she won't start until this Fall, it's still tough to swallow. Ya know? Of course I want her to go meet new little friends, and learn new things, and have different experiences than she gets here at home. But she's my little girl. And it's tough to let go. She's been my whole world for the past 5 1/2 years! How do you go from being with your favorite little person 24 hours a day, to sending her off to school for the majority of her day?

I'm being over emotional, I know. And this has nothing to do with me wanting to hold her back- because that's the last thing on my mind. It's just tough for a mama to let go, that's all.

Buuuuut......

I'm so glad we've still got the summer together. :)


Oh, and that big girl I was just talking about? She decided it was time to get her ears pierced yesterday. I'll have a whole other blog for that though. She is just too precious for words. :)

Hide and Seek with Kay Kay

During our walk today to Sarver Gaga's house, Kadence and I managed to squeeze in a super-fun game of hide-and-seek. Like any typical 5-year-old, Kadence just loves to play hide and seek. And like any good Mommy, I totally pretend not to see her bright pink shirt hiding amongst the pine trees, where she chose to hide every single time. :)

I love this little girl so much.

Playing Outside Rules

It got into the 70's here today! Absolutely gorgeous. We played outside ALL day today. The babies are going to be so bummed- it's supposed to start raining tomorrow and get colder again. :( Spring is teasing us, that's for sure!

Anyway, some pics from our day. :)


On the 4-wheeler with Daddy.



We always have to make a detour to check out the Papa's tractor in the barn. The boys go nuts over it. :) And EVERY time they see a toy tractor, or a picture of a tractor in a book- even though they can say tractor- they say "Papa!" So cute.



This was towards the end of our day, and they were all pooped. Especially Joe. Poor kid had even lost a shoe. ;o)



Though I hate these bugs, the kids enjoy them. Here's Rowan checking one out that landed on her hand.



The boys going 90 miles an hour on the back porch. Which is the only speed they have. :)