, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Walker was playing baseball with my Dad and cousin Chris. He was giggling too hard to hit the ball. Chris has an unsatiable need to play baseball. He is OBSESSED! I seriously do not know how my sister Katie keeps up with his obsession and I give her so much credit for not disposing the house of all evidence the game exists. In fact, they signed Chris up for T-ball. So, today, Walker tells his dad he has learned to catch better because he was playing ball with Chris during our recent trip to my moms house and then he looks pointedly at me and says, "Well, I can't play T-ball because my mom won't sign me up for it." HE NEVER EVEN ASKED TO!!! Can you believe it - I am already being labeled as a bad mother!

One Crazy Day

, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

I took this picture a few days ago at my Papa's pool in my hometown. On that particular day - all, except one, of my Papa's grandchildren and great grandchildren had been swimming at his house for all or part of the day. Wow!

, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

My nephew.

, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Will watches and bides his time until he can jump in the water!

, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

When jumping in, Maggie insisted on having something in her hand.

, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Maggie is swimming all by herself and doing so well. I am so proud of my little fishes!

, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Maggie after jumping in the pool. She even went off the diving board and went under water. Such brave little folks I have.

, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Walker learned to dive. He did it right 1/2 of the time - the other half he did major belly floppers!

A Day at Papa's Pool

, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Walker was so brave and went off the diving board many many times - even after Nana's dog, Maisey, jumped in front of him and caused him to bounce off of the diving board before falling in. He took the dog in with him, so he did feel somewhat vindicated for being pushed in by a dog. My babies are growing fins!

Pure Joy

Walker loves helping his Uncle Travis and Mimi at the Deli. He's always helping with the dishes, making food, cleaning, etc. He's such a good helper that several customers have asked him where his Deli shirt is - all employees wear a green shirt w/ the deli logo on it. Well, Shelly finally got Walker a T-shirt with his name embroidered on it with the deli logo. So we surprised him today and went into the deli for lunch and Uncle Travis presented him with the t-shirt.

Walker absolutely has the best "joy" face ever. The most simple things give him the greatest joy and the joy is so pure and innocent and sweet that it truly almost makes you cry watching him. His smile gets so big and he giggles - he just can't contain it. I knew he would react this way today so I was sure to bring my camera to capture it. He could barely speak he was so thrilled - his thank you's to his Mimi & to Uncle Travis were whispers of awe - that they would do something so nice for him. You would have thought the shirt was made of gold!

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Walker is hard at work doing dishes!

Barber shop.

Walker was in need of a haircut so we played barber shop today. Maggie wanted to do barber shop too, so she got a little hair cut. It ended up being a little more than I anticipated, but that's what happens when you attempt to cut a squirmy 2 year olds hair. I think it looks really cute - it already looks cuter down than it did before. She is so pleased with it - she keeps running to the mirror to see her "barber shop." In September I will take her to have it professionally done in a more traditional bob - but, so far, looks good to me. The final picture is of Walker feeding Will his yogurt - It's so great to have help!

Where does time go?

I really don't know where time goes. We haven't really been busy, but here it is Sunday again and I don't know where the time went!

Friday we took Walker & the kids to a seminar to learn how to show goats. There is an open pee-wee class at the Butler Farm Show in August, so we learned that there was this little seminar happening and decided to "start 'em early" and take them. We learned a little bit but realized that we will probably have to start our own club to compete with our meat goats. The Farm show only recognizes dairy breeds at this time, but hopefully by the time Walker is 8, we'll have made some headway in the right direction. Walker did really well listening to the girl instructing them and learning how to show. Starting tomorrow, we are going to take goats out each night to practice. Maggie even got in on the lesson, so we are going to allow her to try to show also. She was so cute strutting this little wether around.

Saturday I went to an Amish benefit auction and got 13 perennial plants to put in our new and expanded playground bed. We need to get some weed barrier and mulch before it is finished, but I will put the plants in tomorrow probably. I got some really pretty pink hydrangeas for next to the playhouse, day lillies, and more. I'm excited to see how it will all look.

Today, Erik wanted to surprise us with a trip to Erie to the beach, but the weather forecast was for thunderstorms in Erie, so we skipped it. Hopefully we'll get another chance this summer.

We've been exposing Will to new foods since he loves "table" food so much. I allowed him to have one of those breakfast bars the other day and this is the result. I then had to give him a bath because he had the gooey fruit center all over him!

Oh, a funny story before I finish for today. Last Sunday, I had to give the children this big lecture on how they needed to ask permission to do things or to get or play with things in the house. We were having problems with the children getting food out and not closing cabinets, the freezer, etc., and putting away toys. Anyway, in my lecture, I told them, "Everything in this house or on this 40 acres belongs to Daddy & me! Even if it was given to you as a gift, as long as you keep it in our house or on our 40 acres, you have to ask permission to use it, play with it, eat it, walk on it." So fast forward to a few days ago and Erik comes in the house and says Walker wanted a popsicle, but "Momma is so mean, she says I have to ask permission for one because I have to ask her if I want anything on this 30 acres!" So Erik told him he'd see what he could do about getting them a popsicle from me. My words got through but will they last?

I am such a mean Momma!

My brood

My brood, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Sweet smile

Sweet smile, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

I love this corn cob kernel toothy grin of my baby boy! I was looking through Walker's pictures today and they are SPITTING IMAGES of each other. Seriously - I know people say that, but it is so true! I'm so glad I try to keep up to date with labeling my photos! I'd never be able to tell them apart!

Look at my tricks

Look at my tricks, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Walker wanted me to take pictures of him doing these tricks - I usually wouldn't post such a blurry shot, but I thought it was funny that he thought jumping on one foot was such a "trick."

1993

1993, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

I tried to get Maggie to pose in the day lillies - she is too short to be able to see the blossoms in the picture!

Hulk Hands

Hulk Hands, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

I had to take this picture of Walker's hands tonight. Not only had he spent the day making mud "chocolate" with friends, he had to scoop up the grass that Erik was mowing. The result - Hulk Hands!

Snack?

Snack?, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

This big white monstrosity is our livestock guard dog, Rocco. He is so gentle and calm with the children - even though he weighs more than all three of them combined. His head is about as big as Will. He was just checking out Will to see if he was OK.

Center of attention 1

Center of attention 1, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

This is how Maggie started - and as I kept shooting she moved closer and closer to me. What did she want?? "See Maggie, Momma." Immediately after having her picture taken, she wants to see herself in the screen on the camera. So funny.

The doggie in the picture is our "CGD" Child Guard Dog - Maverick has been with us for 7 years and guards these children as if it were his job. He is so gentle with them and so protective. Earlier tonight, Walker was running through the yard, somewhat out of control, and Maverick ran in front of him to try to turn him away from the woods. He ALWAYS lays right by the stroller and his absolute best feature ever - he NEVER EVER licks! You can put your nose right on his and he will sit there and never ever lick your face. He doesn't even lick your hand! I don't think there is anything I could ever say bad about our Maverick. Oh, and if you're interested, he's an Australian Shepherd.

Sweet snooze

Sweet snooze, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Little Willie J fell asleep on Daddy's shoulder today.

Look at me, I'm standing!

Look at me, I'm standing!, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Messy Maggie May

Messy Maggie May, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Here's my sweetie pie in her traditional after nap hairdo. I fear she may never be able to tame the beast that is her hair. Note, she has worn a bikini and espadrille sandals all day. I fear her fashion sense will go down in history. She is holding baby doll "Josephine" a name I suggested because she decided all her babies names were "Maggie too." As I write this, she is saying, "Jo-je-jean, wook at Me!" I guess baby Josephine is in trouble. Why do the weirdest names pop into my head to suggest to her for her babies names? Guess in the weirdness category, the apple doesn't fall from the tree.

My littlest swimmer

My littlest swimmer, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

Willie loves the water so much. He looks so cute in this picture!

Swimming choo-choo

Swimming choo-choo, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

We went swimming today at the home of a family friend and had a wonderful time. You won't see any pictures of Walker because he was never still enough for me to take his picture! Maggie learned how to swim without holding on to us today and Walker managed to swim half the length of the pool with his face in the water. I am so proud of my little fishes! Even Will loves the water. It was a fabulous day. I had to teach Walker the Lezzer family phrase of "Everybody out of the pool!" because he wouldn't get out. Needless to say, he and Maggie fell asleep in the car before we even got a mile down the road. We couldn't ask for a more perfect summer day.

Swimming

, originally uploaded by Jenniferschwalm.

My niece enjoyed a day at the pool today.