We love going to the fair.  

Last year Andy learned how to "bAaAaAaAa" like a real professional sheep impersonator.

This year he giggled the whole time the little goats nibbled on his chubby fingers.

 Some day we will have little goats, and sheep, and bunnies for ourselves.

 Waiting to be groomed:

 His favorite spectacle of the afternoon, however, was this golf cart.

Apparently he's learned that cows are a dime a dozen around here.

Kev and my 6 year anniversary found Andy and I at a romantic getaway in Meridian, ID for Aunt Lisa's baby shower.  We're so excited to add Baby Hercules to the family!  He comes this Wednesday.  The Smith family is going to have to push the princesses over to make room for the super heroes!  It's about time those princesses got themselves some boyfriends!

 Andy loved playing with his cousins...he was so kind to let them share their milk.

Only regrets, that I didn't take more pictures.

Kev and I will get around to celebrating :)

Good luck Leesy Dees!

XO

Before having Andy I had no idea what people meant by sleepless nights and extreme fatigue.  Then came the first four months of his life and I got it.  Loud and clear.  I wondered if things would always be so terribly exhausting.  And then it happened.  We turned a corner and I find myself wanting-all over again-to have a whole bunch of little chickies running around my feet in the future.  This time around, I know what to expect and I know that it doesn't last forever.  Because of this, I am excited to embark on it all again and enjoy the newborn stage for all it's beauties and simple pleasures. With each child I hope to find a more unselfish me.  There's a talk I ran into recently from a favorite apostle of mine that so poignantly describes the feelings I am now familiar with at times as a new mom.  He also offers the most hopeful encouragement for this role I know I am so blessed to have.  Here are my favorite snip its from his talk:

"In speaking of mothers generally, I especially wish to praise and encourage young mothers.  The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work. The young years are often those when either husband or wife—or both—may still be in school or in those earliest and leanest stages of developing the husband’s breadwinning capacities. Finances fluctuate daily between low and nonexistent. The apartment is usually decorated in one of two smart designs—Deseret Industries provincial or early Mother Hubbard. The car, if there is one, runs on smooth tires and an empty tank. But with night feedings and night teethings, often the greatest challenge of all for a young mother is simply fatigue. Through these years, mothers go longer on less sleep and give more to others with less personal renewal for themselves than any other group I know at any other time in life. It is not surprising when the shadows under their eyes sometimes vaguely resemble the state of Rhode Island...
Do the best you can through these years, but whatever else you do, cherish that role that is so uniquely yours and for which heaven itself sends angels to watch over you and your little ones.  Mothers, we acknowledge and esteem your faith in every footstep.  Please know that it is worth it then, now, and forever...
If you will show others, including your children, the same caring, compassionate, forgiving heart you want heaven to show you; if you try your best to be the best parent you can be, you will have done all you are and better than you have ever been as you try to make honest effort, however feeble you may sometimes feel that to be...
Remember, remember all the days of your motherhood...Rely on Him.  Rely on Him heavily.  Rely on Him forever.  You are doing God's work.   You are doing it wonderfully well.  He is blessing you and He will bless you, even--no, especially--when your days and your nights may be the most challenging.  Like the woman who anonymously, meekly, perhaps even with hesitation and some embarrassment, fought her way through the crowd just to touch the hem of the Master's garment, so Christ will say to the women who worry and wonder and sometimes weep over their responsibility as mothers, "Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole"- Matthew 9:22.  And it will make your children whole as well."

-Jeffrey R. Holland

I just put my finger on it!  Literally, seconds ago, and I want to document it so that I don't forget it.  I have little lightbulb moments occasionally when I break away from the superficial (albeit fun) social media as I'm browsing the internet and always wonder why I don't ponder the thick of things more often, it's a lot more fun and inspiring.  I googled the question, "how to be a farmer's wife", just on a whim, since it has always been Kevin's dream to get his family back to the family farm he was raised on.  We're not there yet, but I feel like it's getting closer.  I like to prepare for things, and sometimes google assists me in that.  I didn't get far enough to get any good lists of advice but I did read something that helped me put my finger on just what I love about Kevin that I've never been able to put into words.  Yes, he's good looking and muscly :).  Yes, he's sweet to everyone he meets.  Yes, he's got awesome devotion to his family and faith.  And on and on...One thing I admit I've been on the fence about with Kevin is that he is a dreamer.  I think I could be categorized as a realist and that has at times found conflict with the dreamer in Kevin.  As I embark on the possibility of becoming that farm wife, I realize that it is impossible to predict our success or failure as we make choices that could risk everything, but Kevin's dream sustains him. And how can that not be admired?  I'm learning that life's greatest riches come to the risk takers who are willing to make profound sacrifices to chase a dream.  And those who do so never give thought to the sacrifices they're making but keep the vision of the possibilities that lie ahead. Instead of hurdles, they see opportunities.  Today was Kevin's first day off- of no less than 10 hour work days, often 12 hour days- in 34 days and he's just barely getting around to thinking that he might be getting a little worn out.  He's not a daydreaming dreamer, he's a hardworking dreamer.  Dreams are healthy, and I have officially taken Kevin's love to chase a dream out of my  bucket of unsafe things and put it into the bucket of things I love about the guy.  

It's nice to ponder about and add to the list of what makes you love the one you do.

I love you farmer man!  

And I look forward to long tractor rides with you where we can be dreamers together.