Harvest

Harvest officially started a few weeks ago.  Ainsley's constantly asking to go to see Papa Jim and the combine.  I've been able to get the girls out to the fields to see Daddy and Papa a few times, but it can be hard to find time to do it!  Since I have the girls by myself every evening, supper, baths, evening bottles, and bedtime pretty much consume my time. 

Ainsley loves to watch out the car window for combines and tractors, so I knew she'd have no problem riding in the fields this fall.  My only problem was getting her in the car when it was time to go home!  She wanted to stay in the fields.  When I asked her last night what she wanted for Christmas, she replied:  "a combine, tractor, cows, and a Mickey Mouse bike".  Yep, she's a farm girl.  I asked about new clothes, shoes, or bows and her reply was:  "No".  Dang!

We all piled in the combine one afternoon.  Joel just loved having all of us in there while he was trying to steer!  Ainsley just wanted to turn the steering wheel, I don't know what's so wrong with that!

 Lily wanted a little bit of a bottle and then fell right asleep until her sister woke her up singing "Chew tobacco, chew tobacco, chew tobacco, spit".  Ainsley learned that song at Lisa's from Will, and it's now one of her favorites to sing.  (It's the Blake Shelton song, "Boys 'Round Here")  Here she is singing it.  Of course, she was being louder than usual since it was so loud in the combine.

Jim was in the combine last week, and Ainsley was able to ride in it with Papa by herself.  Lily and I rode in the tractor with Joel.  It was much easier just having one kid in the tractor cab, but I don't know how easy Jim had it with Ainsley in the combine! 

Our big girl riding with Papa Jim

I'm sure we'll have more visits to the field over the next few months.  If that's how my girls have to see their Daddy, then that's where we'll go!  Lily usually gets a great big smile on her face when Joel walks in the door (when she's suppose to be falling asleep) and Ainsley's always asking when Daddy is going to be home.  I know Joel misses them, but I'm pretty sure I know of two little girls that miss their Daddy more!


Surprise package

The girls got a package in the mail one day from Aunt Do.  Ainsley loves getting mail and couldn't wait to open it.  It was a baby doll for Lily and another baby doll wearing pajamas with matching pajamas for Ainsley.

As soon as she saw the doll and matching pajamas, she couldn't wait to put her pajamas on.  She immediately exclaimed:  "Pink!  Polka Dots!" 

She refused to take the pajamas off, even though I promised her she could wear them to bed that night, but since it was only 10 a.m. she needed to put her clothes back on.  I don't remember how I finally got her out of them, but it took some bribing!

Playing with the doll's hair...

I couldn't believe how good Ainsley was with Lily's new baby doll.  She made sure Lily had her baby doll the entire day.  If Lily was spotted without the baby doll close by, Ainsley would find it and stick it right next to Lily saying:  "Yiyi's doll". 

Soaking it up

We've had incredibly nice weather the last month, so we've been outside.  Both girls enjoy being outside and it's hard to convince Ainsley to go in. 

Enjoying one of the last ice cream cones of the year on the front porch

The moon!!!!

Ainsley loves to play catch, go for walks, find water puddles, color with chalk, and get dirty! 

Jim and Rita came up one evening to watch the girls for a little bit.  Jim asked Ainsley if she wanted to go for a walk, and she ran back to her room and told him she needed to get her hat.  She walked about with the hat below.  Papa Jim let her wear it on their walk!

Lily usually sits under the shade tree while Ainsley runs around.  She's pretty content just sitting in her bumbo seat watching Ainsley and the cars go by.

She found an ant hill one evening...

I showed her how to play hopscotch one day and now it's one of her favorite things to do!

She's been too scared to drive the car Dad got her for Christmas until last week.  She actually got in it and drove it around!!!  Here's a video of her driving it.  Here's another video of her driving it and then taking her foot off the pedal, jumping out, and asking "What happened?!".  She's so funny!