Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2013

Josie and Roslyn had a glorious reunion with Grandma Gar and Papaw at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. The festival began with the Light the Night show: scores of hot air balloons fired up at sunset in a beautiful display. Unfortunately, both kids were a wee bit terrified of the fire. 

 

Annie and JP toured several distilleries and completed a bourbon trail scavenger hunt while Josie and Roz played with their grandparents, aunts, and cousins. 

Vrrroooom!

The best seat at the Barrel Rolling Competition

The family met up with Uncle John and Aunt Rebecca for a train ride from New Haven, KY to Boston, KY. On the return trip a young'un named Dynamite helped stage a train robbery for charity.

Chugga-chugga-choo-choo!

That's Dynamite in the red bandana

"I've got you by your beard!"

"We're gettin' robbed!"

Josie and Rozzie got to visit Aunt Jula's creek and search for crayfish, fossils, pottery shards, and arrow heads.

Back at the Johnson household, the highlights were riding bikes in the garage, hunting for treasure on the veranda, playing dress up, exploring all the books and vintage toys, and, of course, hanging cicada shells on the veranda screen.

Welcome Fall!

 With the entrance of Fall 2013 the Joh(a)ns(e/o)n girls and guy found themselves busied with many activities. Josie and Roslyn both started preschool and gymnastics. Roz started swimming lessons again, while Josie took up ballet.

Endless Summer

Kisses through the backdoor

tiny dancer

Who's ready to tumble?!

Roslyn got her first taste of Major League Baseball in September as the Padres took on the Colorado Rockies for the luchador mask giveaway night. The girls watched the game from the Park in the Park. Here baseball fans have a view of the field, jumbotron, and squealing spinning children coated with lemonade and kettle corn.

Candyland Champ

At the beginning of September Josie returned to preschool. She was beyond thrilled to start a new school year with new and old friends and new teachers. She even brought homework to her teachers on the first day.

Getting started on some playdoh-like substance

Wild Thing

Roslyn's class recently read The Very Hungry Caterpillar. During free time she narrated the story on her own in a very sweet way. Mama is so proud of her little storytellers (Josie does this, too) and glad that her teachers were able to document her story.

Cwaft!

"Can we do a cwaft?" the girls usually ask when they wake from their nap. It's irresistible.

Painting pottery in OB. "Look up, Roz!"

"Roz, look up!"

Josie at work

Josie's craft (below) is a human body complete with a brain, lungs, stomach with food, kidneys, and intestines.

So that's where all the eyes went.

Cornucopia of Fun at Grammy's

Roslyn, Josie, and Mama spent another August relaxing and reconnecting with friends and family at Grammy and Grandpa Bob's house in Pennsylvania. The girls passed the days coloring, playing with friends and cousins, dressing up, picking blackberries, and reading scores of Golden Books.

Best corn in the known universe

Sluuuuuuurp!

Coloring with cousins

Jamming out at Tuesdays with Lori

Shake it up!

Sweet Josie Pie

Roswell, tending to her rock farm

Happy days!

Roz struggles with her corn shuckin'

"You gotta use your muscle!" encourages Josie.

Cherry sundaes at the Dairy Supreme

Aunt Katie and Uncle Adam organized a fun reunion for a group of Mama's friends in McKean. Somehow the motley assortment of buds has managed to produce a group of offspring that are not only good looking but kind and pleasant. Imagine that.

Bubble Master, for the moment

Grammy, Roslyn, Josie, Avery, and Mama

So green

Photo by Roslyn

Another photo by Roz

Josie and her flock

Asher and Roz

Avery Mae came over for a princess tea party. Stop the madness!

The Anticipation

The Spread

The Party

After sugary tea and whoopie pies, the girls ran their wiggles out around the yard.

Mama left for Tinseltown to see a couple movies with a friend. Six hours later the girls were still in their dresses.

Enough is enough!

Hug (or headlock?) while Grammy retrieves blackberries from the woods

Yeah, more like a headlock

Berries!

Back off!

The girls love Grandpa Bob's ukulele playing. They finally were granted a chance to strum a few chords under supervision. Grandpa Bob was impressed with their ability to follow directions. Huh?!

Art time! Who left the pool gate open?

Driving the hot dog truck at the Millcreek Mall

Shouldn't all cars have two steering wheels?

Grammy purchased princess nail polish for Josie and Roz that does not stain or even show up on your nails! Perfect for toddler toe painting!

Very carefee!

Now you see it, soon you won't!

Five Granddaughters

Reading their hearts out this trip!

A roll at Rec Park .. until Josie spied a bee

Grammy and Grandpa Bob traveled to Chicago for a couple nights for a wedding. Josie, Annie, and Roslyn spent the nights at Aunt Katie's house. They had dinner, played a bit, decorated pillow cases, and watched Cinderella while eating popcorn. What a night!

Palpable excitement

Back in Grammy's arms

A farewell pet to one of millions of millipedes

Oh, yeah. We colored.

About 60% of Grammy's library. We read every one.