Rural Indiana

I grew up in farm country Indiana... my childhood was a lot different even from other people my age who lived in the next town over.  Rural Indiana is what I love.  It created a nearly perfect childhood in my opinion.

In the past we always seem to head to the Midwest when it is cold, so Thomas has never been to my grandma's creek!  This trip gave him a little taste of the things I loved as a kid.

Crawdad catching

Long hours were spent in the creek building dams and catching toads.

Weird ducks

The sweet tree house over the water some of my cousins are making.

Catching fish with grandpa's net.

Macey had country in her blood.  She was perfectly content to make mud pies all afternoon.

Walking back up the house.

My Grandma even has a working hand pump.  The water is delish!

My Uncle cutting honey comb.

Pure honey...

My uncle Julius' kids (so my cousins...) so do you think Macey looks like a Shoaf?

I milked a goat!  It was the first time I've milked anything and it was harder than it looked!

Macey playing right by Elvis the llama.

Don't be fooled.  There are drawbacks to the country.  The day after we were here was Sunday, so I was sitting in church and found a tick on the back of my neck!  EEEWWWW!  He wasn't fat yet, so he hadn't bitten me, but where was he all night!  I can't even think about it.

Birthday Fun

Macey turned 3 while we were at home!  It was a fun day indeed.  It started off with a decorated birthday breakfast and then paddle boating and the park.

Doesn't uncle Adam look happy to be awake?

Mammoth Cave

To finish up Macey's Birthday we went to Mammoth Cave.  This cave was well, big.  We didn't go on a very expensive tour and let's just say, you get what you pay for!  Word of the wise - don't buy the $5 tickets.  LAME!  It was fun to hike around though and enjoy the cool 64 degree temps inside the massive cave.

Black locust tress with ginormous thorns.

We even saw some paw paws growing!  I was so excited to show Thomas them.  

$1000 prize to anyone who has tasted a paw paw before and another $1000 to anyone who even knows what they are!

Indiana!

This is the 3rd time I've tried to post these pictures!  Sorry they are crazy looking... I just have to get them up!  I love Indiana!  Grandpa Jenkins picked us up from the airport in Indy late Tuesday and we've been going nonstop since then!  After visiting my Grandma Shoaf (who has a playground in her front yard!) we went down to Kentucky to visit my parents and introduce Henry to his Grandma and Aunt Karina and Uncle Adam.  On the way there we stopped at a roadside produce stand where I bought the most delicious sweet watermelon and the biggest blackberries.  Thomas and I ate most of the quart on the way down to KY!

Saunder's Spring in KY right outside of Fort Knox.

The cave where the spring comes out of the ground!  So cool (literally) and pretty!

The wildflowers and flutterbys.

Karina got stuck in the backseat with Macey and a squirt gun!  She is such a fun and patient auntie!

All Ready

We are going to IN, KY, and IL for the next 9 days! Macey is packed and ready to see her Grandma Shoaf and Henry is excited to meet my dad, Adam, and Karina for the first time!

We are also excited to fly with the kids!

And then we get to see my grandparents!

And then Macey turns 3 on Firday!

And then we get to see Chace and Rivka and Tilly!

And then we get to take the train into Chicago!

Oh wow...

I can't wait to go! 5:15 take off is too far off!

Cheese Art

Macey decided to do a little art via cheese on my fridge.  After I left the room to hide and laugh... she had to clean it up.  We don't draw on things that aren't paper in our house...

Hiding after being told to help wipe it...

Poor Cinderella.

NieNie

I saw NieNie today at the snow shack across the street from the
Creamery while I was waiting at the light.  She was there with her
babies waiting in line.  She waits in lines!  Weird.  Her neck is sad
but her hair was pretty.  It took a lot of effort not to stop and say
hi like we are friends and Thomas was surprised I didn't wreck the car
when I told him of the sighting!  lol.

The Other Reception

We were able to go to the reception that Bryant's family did (Sammi's new hubby) last Saturday.  It was so much fun to sit back and enjoy this one!  It was such a pretty reception!  It was very Pottery Barn, and if you know me, you know how much I like that style.

Bryants Grandpa owns this old Cadillac... it was one of only 13 made!  It even matched the colors of the reception.

Table toppers

The food - soft serve ice cream machines with all the fixings.  I think Thomas ate 7 cones.  Soft ice cream is his favorite treat ever.

Golf wedding cake... too cute.

Don't mind the waterfall in the back ground.  Yowzers!

Receiving line...

Fresh floral arraignments like you'be never seen!

Well when the lights were dimmed, the real party started!  The dancing... who knew all of Thomas' family could dance!  I didn't get the good pictures of the adults dancing because I was one of them!  It was the most fun I've had at a reception yet.

Hoe Down Throw Downing

Dancing with his ladies of the night!

Bryant's family throws a mean party!  I hope I get invited to all of them now, we are family after all!