pretty girls on a grassy hill

they were like this when I walked outside. so I promptly fetched the camera.

{I love how different their mouths look when they say 'cheese'}








{my favorite}

a very Dairy day.

I first discovered the Hatcher Family Dairy a couple of years ago at the Franklin Farmers' Market. They had a booth, and the men selling the milk were actual Hatchers (which I thought was charmingly authentic). We took home some of their milk, and ever since, I have wanted to take Ella and Sadie there for a visit.

That day finally came. A few days ago, my friend, Flo, and I packed up our girls and headed to the country. {Oh wait, let me interject a few sentences about Flo and her children. Flo and I had heard about each other through mutual friends (namely, Alice) because Flo was new to town (from California) and has two girls (Sera and Amelie) similar in age to mine. Well, after dilly-dallying for a few months, we finally met and hit it off instantly. It didn't occur to me until the day we first hung out that I didn't have any other friends with two daughters. Especially so close in age, size and personality. Seriously. They all mesh so well it's a breeze to hang out together, and I am so glad to have Flo as my friend.}

That said. We pulled up to the farm, and the girls played with oats while we waited for the tour to start...



These oats served a double purpose - you could also feed the miniature (I never confirmed they were, but dang, they're small) ponies. Ella wasn't so sure about that...



Our tour guide was fifth-generation Hatcher dairy farmer, and took us all around. Throughout the tour they encouraged the kids to feed or pet the cows, which I thought was really fun for the girls to experience...



{this was right after Sadie touched the cow}

They pasteurize and homogenize right there on site, and we got to look through windows at the big vats of milk where it all happens. Ella and Sadie were more interested in sharing a pink chair...



And this was parked right outside that building...

{all the girls were fascinated by all the cows' "earrings." Flo and I were fascinated by all the cows' names, which were written on all the earrings. I think my favorite name was Minta}

sweet sister train...



our little grouping...



holding on...



As the tour was moving on, I looked back and saw Ella giving the cows some extra snacks...



The tour ended with samples of milk (white or chocolate - pretty sure no child asked for white) and freshly churned butter spread on crackers. yum...



All their chairs were milk crates...



We stayed for a picnic lunch, and the weather was perfect. Sunny, breezy - perfect for the children to enjoy all that space to run around. Makes me think living on a big plot of land might be awfully nice.

Photo session by the big, red truck...



{instead of saying "cheese" for the camera we said either "dairy" or "moo"}

Before leaving we bought some milk and cream to bring home. Andy specially requested chocolate. Theirs is his absolute favorite...



Oh, and that pony Ella was so uncertain about? By the end she couldn't stop feeding him...



Twas a good day on the farm.

"slippy-slide"

That's what Sadie calls it. This might be best outdoor purchase I make all summer. And we've had it just a few hours.



(Aside from snapping these shots) I just sat on the porch the whole time and watched. And was entertained. The girls started making up songs about how fun the slip-and-slide is. And I'm pretty sure all the neighbors enjoyed hearing those songs. From inside their houses.





Andy and I started taking pics of ourselves...



Then Sadie wandered over...


{I LOVE these sweet moments between them}



Next came Ella...



Then came this...



Soon enough, they went back to slipping and sliding...



It's going to be a good summer.

the family that rocks together...

...umm, I'm not sure what. But something awesome.

We went to a little friend's "rock-n-roll" birthday party where the dress code included black shirts...



And the inflatable guitars were party favors...



We told the girls to each do a rocker pose...



interesting.


They put on their bathing suits for the first time this summer (and both looked and smiled at the camera!)...



And Andy and I took an apparent family photo with this yummy guy. Who I might have to steal in the night...



rock on.

The Bobbsey Twins

This is one of my favorite pictures of all time. Will and Drew are Ella and Sadie's best boy buds. They have been friends since infancy, and when they are together it's one big (blond) lovefest. Ella and Will often get married (or talk about getting married when they are seven) and Sadie only calls Drew, "Drewy."

Just three days ago their beautiful baby sister, Grace, was born. And while she won't have a Bobbsey counterpart, I do love looking in her closet and seeing my girls' tiny clothes ready and waiting for her to wear.

Last week they came to Ella's recital (and brought her a flower).


{Drew definitely wins the Best Expression Award.}

nibblet

While I'm sorting through the many (many) pictures from Ella's dance recital (in preparation for a proper post) I thought I would share this tasty treat of my younger child.

Sadie, in one of her fabulous ensembles...


{the toy box on which she is standing doubles as a stage. naturally. plus, my brother made it which is extra awesome}

What? You want just one teeny glimpse of dancer Ella?


{pic taken by my good friend, Krista}

more to follow...

matchy matchy

It took me two-and-a-half years to put my children in the exact same dress. My impetus? Sadie Osenga. She is in a phase where she wants to wear exactly what Ella is wearing. If it's not directly from Ella's closet, she needs (lots of) assurances that Ella actually wore it at some point (and preferably, if Ella states herself how much she loved wearing it).

(I do realize her feelings on this will drastically change in a few years.)

So I picked these up, and think they are gosh-darn cute summer dresses. Simple, with a slight retro feel. Just how mama likes it.

We love sidewalk chalk. Today's art was all caterpillars, butterflies and ladybugs...



Then we moved on to sisters-hugging-in-the-sun pics...


{Note Sadie's exuberance when I told her to hug Ella in this last one. Does my heart good.}