First day of school!

Monday meant the first day of school for Charlie, Sam and myself!!!  This year, Charlie is starting at the International School, part time in their preschool program (Monday, Wednesday, half day Fridays).  He is in a French immersion class, and his teachers are native French speakers.  We are very excited for the opportunity and looking forward to the school year.  Charlie was thrilled to wear his orange shirt ("Dad's favorite color!") and head off to his new school.  We attempted (hurried) pictures by the front tree like we always did at home, but the lighting was weird and I didn't have time to adjust it.

Waiting outside the school for the bell ringing ceremony

  Each child brings a flower for each of their teachers...Charlie picked out dark pink and was so excited to give it to his teacher, he ran right up when he saw her (he was supposed to give it to her back in the classroom!)

 Each child rings the bell on their way into school...Charlie with the school Headmaster

 Once we got to his classroom, he took off...Scott had to call him back for a hug, and I didn't even get one :)  He had a fantastic first day.

After dropping Charlie, Sam and I headed over to Children's Day In (CDI).  He insisted on wearing his backpack (just like "big bro") which means I couldn't actually put anything in it, for fear he would fall over.  He walked right into his "Ducklings" classroom without so much as a glance back at me (heading straight for the bin with balls in it) and I walked next door to the "Teddy Bears" (I teach the 2/3 year olds).

After school, Sam and I went back to pick up Charlie.  Sam squeezed past the line of parents and into the room...and received a tackle hug from Charlie!!!  They were so excited to see each other, I think they hugged for 5 minutes.  Then I had to drag both of them out of the classroom (they really wanted to stay and play with all the fun toys).  Successful, but exhausting, day for all!

Time to Celebrate!

This past weekend,  my grandma celebrated her 80th birthday!  I framed the above 3 pictures of my cheesy boys (notice they start out great and get progressively...unruly) and "Gigi" came to Indy for the weekend.  Saturday night we had a birthday dinner at my parent's house, complete with red velvet cake.  My grandma really hates pictures but I had to include one (Gigi, you're lucky I didn't include some of the others!!!)

 You would have thought it was Charlie's birthday...he stayed near the cake.

Sam with my "little" brother Jordan

I didn't take a complete round of pictures...my parents, Scott, myself, and my uncle Steve didn't make it into a photo shoot this go around.  Next time!

Indiana State Fair

Another tradition--the Indiana State Fair.  This time Scott managed to take off work, so we could go as a family on "free day" (with a coupon from the Star, supplied by my mom and her neighbor!)  this past Wednesday.  The boys loved "Little Hands on the Farm" again this year.

Putting on aprons and getting baskets

 Heading into the chicken coop to collect eggs

 Planting a coin "seed" with a picture of a veggie on it

 Me to Sam "Put your seed right here to plant it!"

 Sam thinking...you want me to do what?

 I said, "Either plant it or give it back to the nice lady" and he turns around and gives it back...ha.

 Sam picking a potato...then another...then another...we had to stop him :)

 Charlie was puzzled looking for a "red onion"

 Here it is, mom, but it's dark purple!

 Legs are still just a bit too short for the tractor!

 

 Sam feeding the soybeans to the pig :)

We got to the fair early and checked out the fish at the DNR since most things weren't open yet.  Fox59 was doing a news clip on fishing and they asked us to be in the background (and Scott recorded it on uverse so we were able to watch it later!).  After fishing we headed to Little Hands on the Farm, the only place we actually took pictures.  We stopped by to see them milking a real cow but didn't stay for the presentation...fed the goats/etc at the FFA building and did a little putt-putting.  Charlie got a hole in one!  Golfer from birth.  We walked through all the construction trucks and tractors (of course) before heading to the other side of the fair...dairy bar for a milkshake, grilled cheese and fried cheese sticks (pregnancy cravings ha) and checked out all the barns with the animals.  Charlie really loved the donkeys, oddly enough.

All in all, a fun morning--started cool but heated up fast and I was glad to go home at noon!  Maybe we'll make it back one evening...

Baker Family Hogroast 2012

First Saturday in August, it's time again for the Baker Family Hogroast!  For me (and the boys!) an annual tradition since birth...last year we didn't get any pictures of myself or Sam, 2010 was posted a month late, and 2009 was memorable with my cousin's wedding and beautiful weather.  This year we managed to get plenty of pictures of all 4 of us (but alas, no family picture)

Sam is really into his "surprise face" as seen here on the right...cracks us up.  The boys played for hours on the antique tractors.

 

 "Hi!!!"

  A kiss for daddy, classic open mouth.

 Really weird crazy storms came through and it rained for 15 minutes or so...the result, beautiful, COOL, 72 degree weather.  But I have to admit, these clouds gave us a bit of a scare (and the drum and fife corps had to take a playing break :))

  Throwing rocks.  Stomping in puddles.  Rubbing mud on shirts.  The joy of boys, sigh.

 Heading out to the field to pick corn!  My uncles had done the favor of picking some ahead of time, but Charlie wanted to pick his own.  After we made it through some mud into the field, the rain started, which of course triggered Charlie's panic and I had to run back in with the boys...daddy finished the dirty work.

 Smiles! (pre-rain)

 My uncles have a backhoe...and a gator...and several combines...in addition to all the antique tractors.  HEAVEN for Charlie!

  Sam's trying to figure out why he's in the backhoe bucket (one of his first words, ironically, was backhoe)

 Driving the combine...the pictures don't do it justice to how HUGE they are!  Can't wait to come back in the fall for the harvest.

  Driving the backhoe.

 Tractor/wagon hay ride, yay!

 Sam believed it was his job to throw all the hay out of the wagon...one piece at a time.

Since I was a child, the farm equipment has doubled in quantity.  I have found memories of running around the barns, playing hide-and-seek in the tractors and combines and finding the occasional dead mouse (gross) in all the dust of the dirt/pea gravel.  Sneaking into the corn just for fun (but never going far!) and going on hayrides.  In recent years, they've added a bounce house to the mix, so most of the children are occupied there the whole time.  I was pleased to see that Charlie and Sam wanted nothing to do with it, but LOVED the tractors, food (who doesn't!), corn field, rocks, listening to the music and dancing...although I could do without all the filth :)  Props to Scott who gave the boys a bath with baby wipes before we changed into clean clothes for the drive home.  The boys were up until 9:30 without so much as a fuss...and crashed asap on the drive back home.  Another year of fun memories!