Food For America

Every October our dairy, Spring Grove, hosts Food For America, an event in which 200 5th graders from around the area come to see where their milk comes from and many other aspects of agricultural life. It is a great event for these kids and we are so glad to be a part of it!

Jim giving his nutrition lesson.

Biodiesel Demonstration

Paul did such a great job with the kids and his parlor tour.

This was my station! I was in charge of taking a picture of every kid with the calf...they absolutely loved and the calf couldn't have behaved any better.

New car!!!

It has taken me a LONG time to decide on a car, but I finally did it (and I don't think I want to go through the car buying process ever again!). We got a new Jeep Grand Cherokee and I love it! Here she is....

World Dairy Expo & My Parent's Visit

Now this is a month late, but at the end of September/beginning of October my parents flew out for a visit and the World Dairy Expo. It was the first time Paul and I have been to it and it was a lot of fun! One great surprise was seeing so many people from California there...I love that we will have this to look forward to every year!

The show ring.

My cousin, Carson, won Grand Champion with his Red & White Holstein in the Junior Division! Here is a picture of him and my cousin, Grant, with their prize.

Kennedy getting her first bottle of cow's milk from a real dairyman, her Opa. I know there are lots of dairymen in our family, but I thought it was a sweet moment :-).

Here's is what my mom and I (well, mostly my mom) were working on while the guys were at the show one day. We recovered my grandma's old dining room chairs with burlap...here is the before.

And the after...I love them!

Too funny!

I almost forgot to post this video! While we were shopping at Costco for the birthday party...Kennedy must of been hungry because she couldn't resist leaning over and eating the peaches while they were still in the box :-).

Kennedy's 1st Birthday Party

It worked out just perfectly for us to have Kennedy's 1st birthday party in California! We were headed out there for a wedding just days after her actual birthday, and decided it would be much easier for us to travel to our family and friends than the other way around :-). Paul's parents were nice enough to open their home and let us throw a party there. The day was absolutely beautiful, probably one of the warmest days of the year in Marshall and everyone had a wonderful time!

The invitations....the inspiration for our Dr. Seuss themed party.

Bill & Sharon built this party room about 8 years ago and it has come in handy quite a few times!

The birthday girl enjoying her new walker.

Hmm...what is that??

Oh yeah, I like it!

Ome Case trying to teach me how to take bigger bites.

Yeah! I don't understand...just feed it to me!

Mom & Dad

Oma & Opa

Grandpa & Grandma

Ome Case & TT (Tia & Tante)

Auntie Jenny & Uncle Markie

Tante Jillian & Boomer

Thank you all for coming and celebrating with us!!!

Looking Back One Year

2 Days Old

4 Days Old

9 Days Old

While uploading Kennedy's birthday party pictures, I came across her newborn pictures..and wow, I can't believe it's already been a year. We have a one-year old!!! It's crazy how fast time flies...it feels like just yesterday we brought home an infant who we could lay on the couch and knew wouldn't move, who couldn't really communicate with us, and who slept 20 hours a day! That certainly isn't the case anymore :-). Kennedy has grown so much this year, and has made our lives so much fuller. We absolutely love watching her learn and grow each and every day. Happy birthday Kennedy!

Our Trip to California

It has been almost a month since our last post and we have much to blog about!! Kennedy and I headed out to California September 15th for an almost 2 week stay...while we were there we......

Watched Tante Caitlin show at her very last fair :-(. She did very well...3rd in Showmanship and Reserve Grand Champion!

Fell in love with goats!

Went to the park to play and visit with Avery and Lauren (my friend Julie's adorable daughters!).

Went to my friend Brooke's house to play and visit with Claire and Livi..they had so many fun toys to play to with!

Spent Kennedy's actual 1st birthday at Vejar's and she got her first rice and beans...yummy! (We also had her party out there too, stay tuned for pictures).

Went to meet my friend Michelle's new baby girl, Quincy Pearl! We couldn't get a clear picture of the both of them :-).

Went shopping in downtown LA for furniture fabric.

Found this for the formal dining room chairs, and some burlap for the informal dining room chairs.

Paul came and met us about a week later and we went to Gino and Erica's wedding in Rohnert Park!

We had such a great time in California being surrounded by family and friends; it was very, very tough to leave (I am actually tearing up right now as I type this). Thank you all for a wonderful visit...we miss you so much, see you at Christmas time!