Playing at the Farm

While I was at a workshop this past week, Jon took advantage of the gorgeous weather and took the kids to his parents' farm. No surprise they had fun...horses, tractors, and grandparents were involved!

Skylar is in heaven on this tractor!


There are so many things to turn and tinker with...where to start!


Elaina, our girly tomboy, loves playing in the dirt..while wearing a dress!




Skylar LOVED the swing!

And the large logs...

And the woodchips (which he is throwing in this picture)...


But not really the horse...

Still holding onto Daddy while sitting on it...

Ok, time to get off!

Elaina waiting her turn with Grandma


Jon said she was cautious about it. Kind of surprising because she loves horses. We see them at Long View Park and she gets super excited. She has little toy ones she carries around and thrusts in your face while saying Neigh, Neigh, Neigh! And she can find a horse in any picture and will show you quickly. But she looks so cute on it doesn't she!?!

Pedersen Family Reunion

I am very behind in posting pictures...and we have had a lot going on the past few weeks! For Father's Day weekend, Jon's brother, Chris, and sister, Liz, and their families decided to come in from Colorado to surprise their dad. Liz and family stayed with us and we loved spending time with them and letting the cousins play together. The big cousins were AMAZING with the twins!! We spent time at the pool and just relaxing at home, in addition to the surprise party for Grandpa P and we also threw an impromptu BBQ for the whole family the night before everyone left. It was great having the whole family together!
PS Thanks to Liz for most of these pictures!!

The entire Pedersen clan!


Rebecca, Caroline, Elaina, Grandma P, and Owen


Elaina and Grandpa P

Skylar was loving the attention he got at the end of the party when he stood up and down. Such a ham!

The Father's Day gift to Grandpa (and Grandma) and a portrait of all the cousins. They all look happy in this one!


Then all the families got individual pics of the kids. Skylar and Elaina were done being photographed!

Caroline and Julie...she was just born when Jon and I started dating!

WALKING!!

Caroline and Elaina


We never had to hold our kids as you can tell. Here is Claire with Elaina.

Always finding something to tinker with it seems.

Hanging out at the pool, our favorite place to be in the summer!


Caroline and Skylar


Elaina and Claire

Skylar loves the area called Bucket Falls with all the water being dumped...no fear whatsoever!!


Waiting to get dumped on!


Elaina and Claire


Skylar and Caroline


Skylar and Andrew (yes, he is walking in the water!)

Liz, Evan, Gary, Jon, Sharon, and Chris at our house after the BBQ

The twins are One!!

We had a lot of fun this weekend at their first birthday party. So many of our friends and family were here to help celebrate. The babies did much better than expected considering all the people and fun going on around them. The theme was cowboy/cowgirl and it was so much fun to plan! The pictures below show some of the fun we had over the weekend! Also thanks to our friend Scott who filmed and posted the eating of the cake.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9plOzVAcK4

We asked our guests to bring a donation to the Ronald McDonald House and we are happy to say we have many boxes to deliver next week. If you are thinking of a charity to donate to, we encourage you to think about your local Ronald McDonald House. Here is the message we included in the invitations:

Dear friends and family, As most of you know, we spent almost a month in Dallas when the twins were born. While they were in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, we were fortunate to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. Meals and lodging were provided to guests and helped us avoid significant costs associated with such a long stay from home. Because it was within walking distance of the hospital we could go back and forth to the hospital several times a day. We also met so many wonderful people staying at, working at, and volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House. We are thankful this was available to families like us who were so far from home and loved ones. The support we had there was incredible! To pay it forward and in honor of the twins birthday, we would like to collect some of the things needed most to help the St. Louis Ronald McDonald House. Household items such as toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, dish soap, and travel size toiletries are just some of the things that are needed on a regular basis and are often overlooked when donations might be made. We hope you can help us by bringing to the birthday party one of these items you might have around the house. Thank you for helping with donating supplies that are necessary to run our local Ronald McDonald House which serves families who are away from home and often not staying for as joyful a reason as we were. With thanks, Jon, Julie, Skylar, and Elaina

Elaina relaxing with Aunt Amy and some good books


Elaina


Our little cowboy and cowgirl


Grandpa and Elaina


Uncle Tim, Aunt Erika, and Cousin Olivia (6 weeks)


Skylar with Aunt Barb, MoMo, and Uncle Pat


Aunt Barb and Olivia


Elaina and Grandma P


With Grandma and Grandpa P (Skylar loved the harmonica)


With cousin Arielle


The birthday boy and Daddy


We couldn't get a picture with all four of us that was good!


The attempt


Yummy!


She loved the cupcake!




He was all hands!


Elaina with Melissa and Bob


Julie and Cari


Two sets of twins


Wendy, Skylar and Joe


Erin and Ryanne


Aunt Amy, Liz, and Uncle David