a new beginning...

It's time this poor, woebegone blog got some attention, methinks.

{My piddly explanation...

About six months ago I got a phone that takes fairly passable pictures (as far as a phone goes, of course). At about the same time, our point-and-click camera bit the dust. Therefore, the last half-year has been documented by my phone. And they have gone directly to my TwitPics. And not here.

And I started twittering more. But those are just tiny blurbs. And, sadly, it has taken the place of blogging.}

With the new year (and new decade) I thought it only appropriate to resolve to post more frequently. For posterity. And for my mother.

A couple of weeks ago, our friends Josh and Flo Oakes came over and took some pictures of our family. This is a talented duo, I'm telling you. Due to the (shall we say) emotions that were (shall we say) dramatic, Andy and I were afraid there wouldn't be a whole lot for our friends to work with.

We were happily proved wrong.

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.