New piano student...

I started a new piano student at the end of June.  It's H!  She was so excited for her first lesson.  She's had a month of lessons now and is doing GREAT.  I wasn't sure how it would work out to teach my granddaughter but, so far, everyone is happy.  It's largely because her mom is working so faithfully with her at home helping her practice correctly. 

Remember Little House on the Prairie?

And finally, we visited the one room school house. 

Gardens...

We enjoyed a little walk in their gardens.

Animals put the farm in farmstead...

It was fun to see the livestock they have there....sheep, pigs, chickens, longhorns...

 

And H even got to try gathering eggs like a farm girl.  (Fake eggs...but it was cute that they had this interactive display.) They was a kids camp there that day and they were washing clothes in a bucket, wringing them out, and hanging up to dry.  They were also trying to plow with antique plows.  It would have been fun to try some of those things, but our kids were not signed up for camp.  lol

 

Heritage Farmstead Museum...

We had fun last month visiting the Heritage Farmstead Museum when my niece came to visit.  It was perhaps the HOTTEST day of the year....SO humid and sticky, but still fun.  It definitely made me grateful for air conditioning! 

Close ups...

Did I say the last shot was my favorite?  Hmm....I also really like the close ups.  Love focusing in on the little details.  And the bokeh flowers are awfully pretty too. 

When your audience doesn't know the words...

 I was hoping to capture her singing and playing, but she didn't seem to want to sing anything.  So her daddy sang a song...with made up lyrics....and it made her laugh!

She was really tickled.  I think this might be my favorite shot.

Miniature Joan Baez...

H has been wanting to pull out my little guitar photo prop for quite a while.  I find it humorous that the day we brought it out, she was dressed a lot like a hippy folk singer.  This one takes me back a few decades!

You know it's easier to play if you stick your tongue out!  lol

Neighborhood fun...

The day was so beautiful, everyone was out enjoying it including the neighborhood children.  These three cuties belong to a former student of mine.  She used to live across the street and after she got married she moved just two doors down from her original home. It's FUN to watch her kids grow up.  (There are two younger siblings not pictured.  Yes, she has FIVE!)

He just called to say he loves them...

Daddy called while we were outside enjoying the nice day.  Thankful for a portable phone so they didn't miss his call.

And this face says it all.  "I miss you, Daddy".  Happy to say he was able to return home shortly after this to STAY.  Halleluyer!

Sweet sisters....

I think these are precious!  Such sweet girls.  LOVE their darling outfits I bought from Zulily too.  Cutie pies!

Memorial Day....

We had a lovely day together for Memorial Day, tho we were sad Nathan couldn't be with us.  We had a barbecue, drew with chalk, blew dandelions, walked to the school, played out front, etc. etc. etc.   Fun fun day!

Kindergarten...That's a rap!

I'm WAY behind on posting these.  They were actually taken at the end of the school year.  Above and below is a comparison shot of H on first and last day of school.  I can't believe how much she changed in 9 short months! She's lost all her "baby fat" and gained a whole lot of confidence. 

Granted my perspective is slightly different in the two above pictures...Camera was slightly above her in the first and level with her in the second.  But that said, she still looks a WHOLE lot taller in the second!  Wow!  One other anecdote about the above picture on the right.  She was starting to get a little "cheesy" with her smiles, so we asked her what she thought her face light look like if Daddy got to come home to STAY. (He was working in PA for 55 days).  Her face says it all, don't you think?

Love her!  And she's becoming quite the cooperative model.  I get that camera out, ask her to look and BOOM...we're done. 

Headed home...