An Afternoon in the Country

The country was just gorgeous this summer. I know I've mentioned it before, but the corn and the beans were lovely and green, and I was just captivated by all the farmland. On a Sunday afternoon Katherine and Eric drove us out to a friend's place, so that the girls (well, mostly Kathleen) could spend a little time on the farm.

We all trooped into the barn to check out the tractor and combine.

Ethan helped Kathleen take a peek inside the tractor, while Melissa climbed way up on the combine.

And then, before I really knew what was happening, the guys were loading my babies into the tractor (Eric and Kathleen) and the combine (Daddy, Madeline, and our friend the farmer) and cruising around the countryside. And then, just then? My camera's battery died. So, no photos of my two-year old "steering" down country lanes or of my toddler looking oh-so-tiny in a combine. But perhaps that's just as well!

A bit later we ran back into town quickly. Sarah drove me (yes, Sarah drove me!) so that we could pick up another camera and some swimsuits and towels. That meant the children also got to do a bit of swimming, while the guys had some shooting practice.

We managed a quick pose in a wheel, once everyone had had enough of the water.

And while the guys finished playing with their clay pigeons and targets pinned to tree stumps (and felling a few stalks of corn in the process), the girls played with the dog and romped in the grass and even enjoyed some ice pops.

Hooray for a fun afternoon in the country!