Black Earth BBQ and Oregon Summerfest

Saturday: The Lord's Black Earth Backyard BBQ

Amy and Eric Lord hosted a Backyard BBQ at their home in Black Earth on Saturday. It has been a long time since we have seen everyone. Thank you to the Lords for having us over.

Kids, kids, kids...Amy and Eric with their nieces and nephews getting an assist from Missy and her son Quinn on keeping and eye on the gang. Do you see Grady in the background? He saw a tractor past the trees and was on his way to check it out.
In case you don't have any of your own...
Chris and his son James play the airplane game.
James and daddy Chris post airplane game.
Jacey Lu and daddy Tyler checking out the pepper garden.
Olivia and daddy Dave with a very noisy party horn.
James and mommy Tammy
Josie and mommy Brandy
Scott, Hardy and Eric play paper, rock, scissors over who has to change the next diaper.
Kelly, Jenny and Patty...congrats Jenny on your new job.
Tyler shows us what he is famous for.

Sunday: Oregon Summerfest Parade and Carnival

Luke and Grady helping Audra at her first parade.
Grady watches the start of the parade while Mommy has a firm grip on his collar.
Luke made sure to salute the flag when it passed.
Me and the boys checking out the fire trucks.
Luke, Rick, Michelle, Grady, Hillary all enjoying parade loot while Audra sleeps.
Audra snoozes away the entire parade while using her Godfather's jacket for a sun and hose shade.
Grady and Luke check out the playground before heading over to the carnival.
Ride #1 a Firetruck.
Ride #2 a Zoo train.
Ride #3 The Ferris Wheel (waiting in line)
They are in the Orange Car at the top.
Hillary and Audra come check out the action.
Ride #4 Baby Dragons
Hillary keeps a close eye on her growing babies.

Farms, Baptisms, and Father's Day

Busy Weekend Day 2

Saturday began with a trip to Watertown to meet Hillary's parents before heading to the Jefferson County Dairy Breakfast.
Audra, Grandma Barb, Grady, Grandpa Randy and Hillary on a tractor pulled wagon ride.
Grandpa was a great guide. Or was Grady guiding Grandpa?
Grandpa gives Grady a lift to see the toy trains.
Toy trains with tractors on them. Oh wow!
Before heading over to the barn for breakfast, we ran into Pastor Lee and his family.
MMMM pancakes, sausage, eggs, cheese, milk and even ice cream.
When Grady finished, he headed off to climb the silo.
Grady test drives one of the tractors on display.
Hey, what's over there?
Hello, moo moo.
Grady and I want to thank Grandpa and Grandma Phelps for coming along with us. We had a lot of fun!
Back at home, we had some visitors.
My cousin Ashley Knuth stopped by to say hello. Ashley and her husband, Jason, are expecting in November. Congrats to them.
Sister Audra isn't the only one getting cool presents. This shirt was from Ashley and Jason.
Hillary's colleague, Dave Kostka, and his wife, Janet, stopped over too. They brought us the Elmo sprinkler.
(Keep reading for more Elmo)
After the visitors left, we headed to basement to play with cars. Grady is a big fan of lining them up.
He has quite the collection.
And planes too.

Busy Weekend Day 3

On Sunday, we headed back to Watertown for Audra's baptism. It was a special day because of Audra's baptism. But it was also special because it was Pastor Lee's final service. He is retiring! We feel very blessed that Pastor Lee was able to officiate our wedding and baptize both Grady and Audra.
Congratulations to Pastor Lee!
Aunt Ashley (Godmother), Uncle Rick (Godfather), Hillary, Audra, Grady and I in front of the congregation for her big day. Grady made sure everyone knew he could talk, over and over.
After the baptism, it was time for the children to gather up front. It only took a few minutes, and Grady spotted a kid with trains on his shirt. Then, he did everything he could to point it out and get a closer look.
Audra and her Godparents
Luke, Michelle, Audra and Rick
Grandma Joan, Audra, Grandpa Randy, and Grandma Barb
(Grandpa Gary sent his love from the Northwoods.)
Michelle, Rick, Grandma Joan, Ashley, Keith, Trevor, Audra, Randy, Luke, Barb, Grady, Ryan, Hillary, and Nan.
Luke asked me to take his picture with flag to send to Grandpa Gary.
Smooches for Audra
Our happy family
Father's Day continued back at home. Audra and I were able to take a nap.
After nap time, it was time to go outside and play. I hooked up the gift from the Kostka family.
Elmo and Grady have a water fight.
Elmo wins!
One more picture to wrap up an wonderful weekend. Hi Audra!

Thank you to Hillary, the kids, and the Grandparents for making this weekend so enjoyable. We love all of you!