Pigs and Goats and Horses, Oh My!

We don't just go to ONE fair, we go to them ALL! We went to the Ionia Free Fair last week with my mom and Guy. Here she is trying to sample some fresh-squeezed lemonade (she never did figure out how to suck it up!)


My mom and I went and looked at all the animals while Guy & Jon watched the Elvis Impersonators. Here Violet meets the huge draft horses. These two were super friendly and let her pet them.


This big Percheron mare was VERY interested in Letty! Letty, however, was trying to ignore her.


More goats! Grandma and Violet give this one a pet.


Letty had this look on her face throughout our tour of the pig barn. It's hard to say if it is because of all the piggy sounds, or piggy smells.


This sheep wanted a taste of Violet's carseat.


A few weeks ago we had to make the tough decision to put my horse Max up for sale. He is going to his new (perfect!) home up north in a few weeks, so we went out today so we could all spend some time with him and take some photos together.


Aww.


Up close and personal.


Then we went for a ride! Letty was MUCH more interested in looking at and playing with the saddle horn. I don't even think she knew she was riding!




Daddy tests out having Violet ride on his shoulders.


I love the look on both of their faces in this picture.

We'll miss you, Maxwell!

Here is a video of Violet and Jon skateboarding together:

It's FAIR TIME!!

First, Letty is six months old today!! We are just now getting used to the fact that we HAVE our own kid, let alone that she's been ours for half a year. So far we have not 1) accidentally left her at home while we went to work, 2) dropped her 3) spoiled her COMPLETELY rotten.

We took her to her first 4H Fair last week in Barry County. Our whole family LOVES the fair (we're working on Jon...) so we went with Leah, Joel and her kids. Here is the gang. Yes, we are all squinting into the sun. Notice my new 'do... I chopped off about 4 inches a week or so ago... It's much easier and harder for Letty to pull and get tangled in!


I love goats. I am hoping Letty begs for a GOAT instead of a PONY when she is older. They are smaller and cheaper. Although much harder to ride.


Petting Piggies




She tried out a tractor too.


Here is Letty feels about not being able to share our Elephant Ear with us. Poor thing!


She does give kisses, but watch out - they are rather slimy!




And a few pictures from home.


Little House on the Prarie. Here is our very own "half pint".

No big surprise...

Here are more pictures of Violet sitting up (surprise!). She is getting really good at it! I love the way she looks around when she's sitting - sort of like "Holy crap! I didn't know there was so much to SEE up here!"


Contemplating the meaning of sitting.


"I love the grass!"


Getting smooches from her Aunt Leah


Here is a new video of Violet showing off her latest speech accomplishment - she can now say "Mamamama" "Dadadada" and - featured quite a bit in this little clip, "Babababa". Mom. Dad. Sheep. We're doing pretty good.

Guess what Violet can do?

She can SIT UP!! All by her Big Self! She is quite happy about it. She can stay up for about 30 seconds or a minute if she's lucky before toppling over onto her nose. It's pretty cute!


This weekend we took Violet out to visit her Grandpa Josten who lives on Bostwick Lake.




After she got used to the water, she seemed to like kicking like a frog in the water.


She also had her first ride on the pontoon.


"I can steer, Grandpa! Let me at it!"


This is what happens to baby hair in the wind...


An aerial view


Her new bikini

Happy 4th of July!!

Letty had a fantastic first 4th of July!

First we introduced her to my personal favorite - FIREWORKS!! Tuesday night we took her along to a Vredevoogd Family tradition - we park up by Forest Hills Central and hang out with snacks and drinks to watch the show. Here she is with the crew: My mom, Jon, Joel, me and my sister. Guy took the picture, but he was there too!


Despite being up WAAAY past her bedtime, she really liked the fireworks! The noise didn't scare her at all and she was quite happy to jabber at them.




Wednesday morning we took her to the Hollyhock Lane Parade by Jon's moms house. She got to hang out with her Oma and see all the sights. She also apparently likes parades! Here she is with Jon and her Oma.




Next we saw ANOTHER parade! Here are Violet and I at the Cascade parade:


Violet and her Grandma


"I looove parades!!"


"No really, I do!"

Perhaps we better find more parades to take her too.


Here is the Cascade Parade Crew: Ethan, Claire, Joel, Guy, Leah, Kara, Brian & Eli VanDrie, Jon, Violet and my mom.


Letty is LOVING her "excersaucer" - she is getting really good at figuring out all the pieces, and thinks the little songs that sometimes play are hilarious!


I was making dinner the other night while Jon watched Letty, and two little heads went bobbing by my kitchen window. I had to take another backpack shot because of it :)