the aunt farm

The kids that were there that week (l-r): Carson holding Maddie, Ezra with Eliot, Asa holding Gemma, Marlow, Bailey holding Moriah and Marley on the back of the couch.


Marlow and Eliot with Grandma holding Gemma, sitting on her bench under the newly dubbed "snake tree." Earlier that day we watched helpless as a large black snake crawled into the bird house on the pear tree next to the front porch -- you can't see the tree in this picture but they are sitting in the shade of the tree. The little bird house had some newly hatched little birds that were eaten by the snake. A sad lesson in nature. The kids all wanted to kill the snake once it emerged, but we explained that snakes have to survive somehow, and that this wasn't a dangerous snake.


Marley playing ring-around-the-rosies with Marlow, Eliot and Moriah.


Aunt Marley playing with the little ones.


One morning mom and I ambitiously took the kids fishing -- eight kiddos all together on the dock and amazingly nobody got knocked in. The girls are getting so grown-up and were a huge help keeping an eye on Marlow and Eliot. After a while grandpa came down to give canoe rides.


Keith holding Eliot, Bailey and Asa. Asa was bit nervous to be in the front but he really wanted to row. Look at him...such a brave face.


We were so lucky that pops had a few days off work while we were there. In addition to canoeing, the kids got tractor rides too. Every time he came around to give someone a turn Eliot thought it was his turn again and would start to head over for another ride. He loved the tractor.


Although it is kind of hard to tell because he looks so serious here....and he has that pacifier in his mouth.


Marlow eating her typical breakfast of yogurt on the front porch.

We had a lovely week with beautiful weather. The kids played a lot and the adults got in some good visiting time. We got to see Marley in action at one of her softball tournaments. And it was super cool that Michelle and Jeremy stayed out there several nights and I got to hang with Michelle and her girls during the day. Jamie and Luke came over, Grant too and Lica was there for the weekend. We saw Papa and Nana on several occasions too....mostly because they came out to us, but we were in town one night and dined at there house. Good times. Check here for more pictures from our NC visit.