child labor

I watched a news documentary recently on child labor in America and how legally your child can work (meaning get paid) on a farm at age 12, but that there are migrant workers all over the country who bring their children along to work with them long before age 12 and how it is illegal. Good thing we didn't pay ours right?

G was up early to help Nana with the peas.

Then it was time for tomatoes.


B joined them for the tomatoes and had a few melt downs about some pesky wasps, but he was a good helper too.

love those chubby little hands

they were pretty proud when they found some big ones

we almost lost B ... not really he just had to get all the way down to get the cherry tomatoes

then E joined the fun ... she had a great time

G took a break to drive the tractor

E almost got lost too :)

so proud of her find

not happy she had to put them in the bowl

then B saw G and took a break too

look at all those tomatoes ...
Nana picked most of them
but they happily took the credit :)

the second birthday in June

Happy Birthday to G! We were in Gilmer for G's b-day. We celebrated all day. She loved it. After breakfast we took her shopping for birthday essentials and she was excited to get to pick everything out. At one point she was dancing down the isle chanting "It's my birthday" over and over and a lady looked at me and said "Good Luck!" We asked her what she wanted to eat for lunch on the way to the store. She said, "Peanutbutter. Do you think Nana has any bread." Yes, G, Nana probably does have bread, and even if she doesn't we could probably buy some. Silly girl. She ended up spying cheese pizza at the store and chose that and little mini cupcakes. I am completely fine that her birthday requests are small. I am sure that will change.

Eating lunch. She wanted me to just take a picture of her hand showing how old she is so she hid under the table.
birthday girl

the candle on her mini cupcake

She got to open presents from Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt L after lunch. Do you think she was excited?

Great job on the strawberry shortcake, Grandma and Grandpa :)

Aunt L did an excellent job as well with the Princess and the Frog sound track, bracelets and books.

For dinner, we went to Chick-Fil-A with Nana, Papa, Uncle C, Aunt C and cousins C and B per the birthday girl's request and then we were off to Chuck-E-Cheese's where Nana P and Papa D joined us for cake presents and of course all the fun we could handle.

Not my greatest cake masterpiece but I think she liked it. She was especially happy when she realized she got to keep the princess toppers.

More present exitement... I love her expressions. She got 3 new barbies from Mom, Dad, B and E.

She got $6 from Nana P and Papa D. She opened the card held up the dollars and said "What do I do with this?" She hasn't had that much exposure to dollar money so she honestly didn't realize it was money. I am sure she will learn all too soon but for now I am happy that she is content with quarters :)

sometimes even little boys get tired

just tell E no

and this is what you get...

pancakes

summer mornings are perfect for pancake breakfasts.
just add chocolate chips or blueberries.
and it is always nice when the big ones let the little one help.

the first birthday in June

For Dad's birthday we went to the Boardwalk at Kemah for the day. It was hot but it was fun.

what a good big sister

E wants to be just like G.

Riding the train around the boardwalk. It was nice to sit and not be walking and it was even mostly shaded.

Can you believe she is about to be 5?

We also got to feed some stingrays. Doesn't B have the cutest fingers?

At first, we didn't know what we were doing and told the kids to put the fish in the gills. And by the time we figured out where their mouths actually were the kids were done being brave :) I guess that sign when you go in is actually important to notice and read ... on your way in. We noticed it on our way out...

the only time G even got close to touching one

Another good-big-sister-moment for G. B couldn't see the sting ray in the tank so she picked him up.

Happy Birthday to Dad! And they all helped blow out the candles :)