Back in the saddle

Since we've returned from vacation, we have gotten back into our normal routine: playing in the back yard and going to the park.  But only when it's not raining.  We also made a trip to a berry farm to pick raspberries.  Benji has been looking forward to taking his offspring berry-picking ever since we found out we were pregnant with McKinley! 

 I still can't get over how long and lean her tiny fingers are.

Finally a tiny glimpse of her two bottom teeth.  

Dadda starts filling up our milk container, while McKinley scopes out the rest of the row. 

Good thing there's no charge for all-you-can-eat.

 McKinley was a raspberry-picking machine.

 She insisted on wearing her cowboy boots and sunglasses to the park.

 Piper contemplates the meaning of life while watching her sissy play at the park.

Back at home, chillin' on the patio.

Vacation wrap-up

We had a wonderful time visiting my parents in Kentucky. We spent the majority of our time at home, and that's just how we wanted it.  Their house is beautiful!  It's nestled on twenty acres of lush grass and trees with a two-acre pond.  The patio is perfectly positioned to watch the sun set every day and gives front-row seating to the firefly show at night.  We were fortunate that it wasn't as hot and humid as we expected.  But there sure were a lot of bugs.  We made some unforgettable memories and look forward to when we will return.

These pictures were taken on my parent's property before leaving for church on Father's Day.

McKinley is such a ham, while Piper is gently resting her hand on Grampa's shoulder.  By the way, doesn't Piper look a lot like my mother? 

Things that make you go hmmm.

Great Grandpa and Grandma with the girls. McKinley and Piper are wearing their new, big/little sis t-shirts from Great Grandpa and Grandma. 

Grampa and Gramma with the girls. Way to go Mom....color-coordinating your robe with the couch! 

Sister for life!

Blue Grass State Blues

Here's a deeper look into how we spent our time while we were in Kentucky....

We had pool parties to stay cool.

 We took baths in Gramma & Grampa's big tub....

....and posed for pictures afterwards.

 We lounged on the patio.

 We wore head protection to beat the heat.

 We watched the sun rise.

 We took walks down country roads.

 We saw the most amazing sunsets.

We lounged on the patio some more, while watching the sun set.

 We played dress-up in Momma's old, baby outfits that were given by Great Grandma C.

 We feasted on the all-you-can-eat Sunday buffet at the Green Bamboo.

We played with beagle puppies.

 We held beagle puppies.

 We went on another walk with Gramma & Grampa....

.....and took naps when we got tuckered out. 

Country Love farm

We spent one morning at my Grandparents' farm and started the tour meeting Trojan, who is an eleven week old German Shepard puppy.  McKinley had a blast chasing Trojan around the yard, and we had a blast watching Trojan chase McKinley.  Next we headed to the barn to see the sheep, which Great Grandpa had rounded up in a pen.  He also enclosed a lamb and her mother in one of his horse stalls so that McKinley could get up close and personal.  The joy on her face to pet a real, live sheepy melted my heart.  Great Grandpa then took us for a short ride in the tractor to see the cows who were hiding in the shade. Afterwards we had a little lunch on the patio while McKinley played with her new, fishy bubble gun.
Bringing my family to Kentucky, especially to the Country Love farm, was very sentimental for me.  My Grandpa had dreamed of owning and working his own farm since he was a little boy.  Few people turn childish dreams into reality, but he is one of them.  And after retiring from the Air Force and 20+ years working on the North Slope, my Grandma and him moved to Bloomfield, KY where they made 15 acres a home for many different breeds of animals.  All of their animals, which have one time or another included pigs, cows, horses, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, guinea hens, peacocks, geese, barn cats, and a donkey, have names and are treated as pets. My parents have taken my brother and I to Kentucky for family vacations since I was 10 years old. I have so many wonderful memories tied up in this farm. So, coming back with my own daughters and husband meant so much.
Side note: The name of my Grandparent's farm comes from my maiden name: Campoamor.  Campo means country and amor is love in spanish.

McKinley looks like a southern belle in her new sunflower outfit.  Thank you Great Grandma and Grandpa for my new duds!

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So sweet!  This.is.love.

Piper is not too sure of Casey May, but she petted her ear anyways.

Great Grandma poses in front of the cows.

Family shot overlooking the farm.

Lunch break in the shade.