Let's go back to where we left off at our last post....the month of May. Our family got to do something fun and exciting this year at the end of May. We were able to go to the farm and experience wheat harvest up close and personal.
Growing up in Kansas, Chris and I both have been exposed to harvest time...but neither one of us are farm kids...so we have never been required to go out and help with the intense process of harvesting wheat! Typically harvest time occurs in the first couple weeks of June. However, this year, with all the dry and hot weather in Kansas, harvest came early...and the combines were in the fields just shortly after Memorial Day!
My friend Amber was kind enough to invite our family out one evening to ride in the combine and allow us to experience what harvest is really all about.
Everyone got their turn riding in the combine one by one with Amber's dad. However, Waco, Amber husband kept the girls busy in the "mule" while the others took their turn in the combine. I think Ashlyn liked the mule more than she did the combine...probably because Waco was kind enough to let her drive it. I know what your thinking...SCARY! He was a brave man.
Chris and I enjoyed this experience probably as much as the girls did.
Can you tell this boy wasn't raised on a farm?
After the girls each got their "ride" in the combine, it unfortunately had a part break and they had to shut down harvest that evening early. While Amber's dad, Waco and Chris worked on fixing the piece that was broken...I took the opportunity to get some fun pictures...
We even drove out into the wheat to get some pictures out there as well.
One of the funniest things that happened that evening was when we drove the mule out into the wheat field to get our pictures. Maddie was the one driving and as she puts her foot on the pedal and starts off....out of nowhere, she starts singing the Dierks Bentley country song...."5-1-5-0, somebody call the po po". It was hilarious considering she was was the one driving!
Wheat harvest is honestly a beautiful sight to see! We were so glad we got to be a part of it this year!
The month of June was crazy busy with ballgames! Maddie joined the Shocker's softball team this year and played with all her friends from school.
We were so proud of Maddie...our #03!
Unfortunately, the Shockers did not win any of their games...this was their first season with the girls actually pitching the ball. Needless to say...we had a lot of "walks". But that is okay...they had so much fun and learned a lot. Next year will be even better!
This year at our church's VBS... the kids were challenged to raise a specific amount of money for a family from our church that has just gone into missions overseas. The challenge was that if they were able to raise enough money, Deb, one of the VBS volunteers, would shave her hair. Well, the kids were able to meet the challenge and Ashlyn was one of the kids picked to help shave off her hair. She thought that was pretty cool!
June also consisted of church camp. Maddie and Ashlyn have gone for a few years now, but this was Brooke's first year to be able to go! Brooke had a blast a day camp and I was able to go along and enjoy it with her. Her favorite things were learning and singing about God...
...and playing with worms!
That was NOT mommy's favorite part!
One of the best parts of camp is making friends and spending the week with them. When I was a little girl, my friend Dulcinea and I would look forward to camp each year...because that was the only time we got to see each other. This is a picture of Dulcinea and I one year at church camp...
I think it is so neat that the girls get to go to the same church camp that I went to as a kid. It was really exciting for Maddie to share that experience with her best friend Madi this year, who was able to go with her to camp. We took this picture right before I left after dropping them off for the week. I love how it resembles the picture of me above.
The months of July and August were much less busy and we were able to do some of the fun things that you only are able to do in the summertime...like go to the lake and to the pool!
We had to pick and choose our days because this was one of the hottest summers in years and shockingly, some days were just too hot to be outdoors at all! But we were able to make it to the lake a couple times...
Our first trip out was just us five and Maddie got to drive the jet ski by herself for the first time!
The other trip we brought Maddie's bestie Madi and her sister Emma out with us.
The girls took turns riding the Jet Ski with Chris...
Chris had fun with an older rider that was not scared to go fast and make lots of waves...
In the meantime...I enjoyed watching from the sidelines. I even was able to get a picture with two of my favorite people...
This July was a milestone birthday for Chris' mom! She turned the big 6-0! We had a birthday party for her and I was in charge of making the cake. As if I don't need another hobby...but cake making has been something that I've been dabbling with off and on. This was the most challenging cake I have ever made...but I was pleased with how it turned out.
It was very appropriate for Pam...since she is an avid quilter. That is even a picture of her quilt that was transferred onto fondant. Everything was edible on the cake except the pins in the pin cushion.
Her party was a complete surprise, which was very difficult to pull off as Pam really is the one that "holds us all together" and the one that plans all the parties and events. She was even a good sport when all the kids wrapped her up in crate paper.
Plus...it was a good chance to get a picture of her with the grandkids, most of which were there.
That's all of them except for three!
Because of the extreme hot and dry summer, the sunflowers were blooming earlier than normal and Maddie and I found a beautiful sunflower field that we were able to go out and take some pictures in...
I absolutely adore sunflowers! But nothing can beat a huge beautiful field of them!
Brooke and I were able to spend an afternoon together with my friend Katie and her daughter Faith. We went to the Salina Community Theater and saw their production of Cinderella!
The girls even got to take their picture with Cinderella herself!
As I said before...we finally were able to spend some time in the pool as well late this summer.
I think this was the only moment of relaxation we got...before all the kids started jumping in.
And of course...Madi joined us at the pool too!
If you haven't noticed...Maddie and her best friend Madi are inseparable. They were hanging out with each other the entire summer. They are two goofy girls! Here they are dancing to the Cha Cha Slide...
They finally allowed Ashlyn to join in...
So goofy!
Brooke, on the other hand, didn't have a desire to dance along with them...she was doing her own thing...
This picture makes me laugh every time I see it...Brookie in her own world, doing her own thing!
When August rolled around, I was able to have one quick relaxing day away with my girlfriends. My friend Jill turned 30 this year and planned a fun spa day in Hays. When she planned it a year ago, she had no idea that it would also be sort of a going away party as well as celebrating her birthday. Jill ended up moving right before our trip to south-westish Kansas for her husband's new job. So, this was a great way for us to get to see her and hang out with her since we won't be able to do that as often. Our friend Dana moved earlier this year and it just isn't the same without her and Jill nearby!
This is the four of us getting ready to leave town and head to Hays...Jess, Katie, Julie and I.
The Rock Haven spa in Hays is awesome and so reasonably priced. We enjoyed a day of relaxation with soaking in the hot tub, massages and pedicures.
Hopefully we can make it a tradition to go there at least once a year...and maybe Dana will be able to join us next time and then it will be complete! Thanks Jill for the great idea...it was perfect before getting back into normal school year routine.
And, speaking of school year... that is where I will end my post today. School is back in session and this year was a momentous occasion for the Johnson's...as we sent our last kiddo off to Kindergarten. UGH! That is so hard for me to accept!
Maddie and Ashlyn started a day before Brooke. So, now we officially have a 5th grader and a 3rd grader...
and one in Kindergarten... sniff.. sniff...
She was so brave on her first day. She had her back pack on and was ready to go.
Hello Kitty...are you surprised?
And she was so excited to ride the bus.
So...now we begin the next chapter...with our three little ladies!
