Trout

Connor and Terry have really enjoyed trout fishing. They have gone out a handful of times and I am sure there are more to come. Connor learned that one person can catch as many as 5 fish each time so when his sisters went with him once he was excited cause they could catch up to 20 fish! They didn't come home with that many, but the excitement was there. Connor is looking forward to the day that we are going to have family over to eat the fish!

Here comes Peter Cotton Tail...

The other day the girls came out of their room dressed up as bunnies! They used tights as their long ears and socks as their paws! They enjoyed hopping around the room and also wanted to dress Tessa up as a bunny also!

Little Teachers

I think I may have some little teachers in the future! Emma and Josie LOVE to play school and be teachers to Karley. It is funny to listen to them and how they instruct her. You can tell that they are imitating their own teachers. They do a very good job of keeping Karley interested in their games and coming up with new ideas. The teacher's desk in the back has been up in our house since the first week of school and has now sinced moved downstairs, but it includes everything a teacher's desk would have and some. They keep it very organized! Usually, they are dressed up with my clothes and shoes to act as really teachers, as they say!

Teaching Younger Siblings

The kids love being teachers to their younger siblings.

Connor teaching Karley his 4th grade math.

Karley teaching Tessa how to do puzzles.

First Sponge Bath

Karley gets the chance to help out a lot at home with Tessa during the day while her siblings are at school. She was the first one to help with a sponge bath for Tessa. She was a great helper and really liked to use the hair brush! Later she was using it on herself.

Walleye Fishing Day

Connor had the chance to participate in the Walleye Fishing day. He left around 7:00 am and got back around 11:30 am. Connor and his partner went out on a boat for the whole time with a guide and tried to catch as many fish as they could. Even though they only came back with one "big" fish according to Connor he had a great time. The groups all got to go on stage when they got back and share their experience. I remember participating in this when I was his age!

Terry was on a fishing trip that same time with my brothers, dad and brother- in- laws. They were trout fishing! Since both fishing experiences, Connor and Terry have enjoyed going trout fishing! Connor likes the BIG fish that they catch and Terry likes the challenge of trying to catch them. The girls even get a chance to go once in awhile also. Karley likes when they bring the fish home and watching Terry cut them up or putting them in the freezer. She'll say, "Dad show me the fish!"

Ride them Cowboys...

The kids have really enjoyed the ponies on the farm. They like to pet them, comb their hair and feed them apples once in awhile. Besides that, Connor and Emma have learned how to ride Patches by themselves. They do a great job and take great pride in being able to to this!!

Contacts

Karley will ask me what I am doing as I am putting my contacts in. So the other day after I was done, she took the case and pretended to put her contacts in!!

Busy Week.....

Josie had a very busy week the first week of school. Adjusting to going to kindergarten ALL day and then later in the week welcoming a new sister into her family and all of that excitement! Sunday we went to church and out to the farm for breakfast, after we got home she came in and laid on the kitchen floor and before I knew it she was sleeping!!

Welcome Home Tessa!!

We got home Friday afternoon around 1:30 pm (yes, it was a quick stay in the hospital). We got home to get a little settled before the kids got home from school. Terry picked them up after school and got Karley from Becky's house. When they got home, they were sooo excited to see Tessa. They had lots of questions and all took their turns holding her once again! After awhile they all went on to playing with their toys and outside but would check back every now and then to check on her! Since we have been home, they have been great helpers and take pride in holding Tessa and caring for her!

After a bath before leaving the hospital!

Tessa, Mom and Dad before heading home!

Tessa, Josie, Karley, Emma and Connor shortly after the kids got home from school!

Tessa taking a nap in her bed with Karley reading a story to her.

I had laid Tessa down and next thing I know I look in the room and their is Karley reading to her!

She was very proud of this!

Proud Siblings

Emma is a proud big sister who takes great care of Tessa and loves holding her!

Josie is very motherly to her little sister.

Karley is a loving big sister and is very attentive to Tessa's needs and letting people know it's Mommy's baby!

Connor is another proud big brother and is very glad to have a roommate again!

Family Welcomes Tessa!

Tessa was very warmly welcomed by her siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles! She has been a very alert baby!

Sleeping after a hards day work!

Karley keeps reminding me Tessa has brown eyes like Dad, Connor, Emma, Josie and her. She says, "Mom you have blue eyes!"

Proud sister Emma holding her little sister!

How many family members can you count???

At one time Tessa was welcomed by 10 cousins, 3 aunts, 2 uncles and her 4 siblings besides her mom and dad!

Yes, this was a room full but it's nothing out of the ordinary for our family!

We broke her in well!

(Thanks Tim for the photo!)