The Property

Earlier this week, right after the kids woke up from their naps one afternoon, Kevin got a call from my Dad who was working on Kevin's truck out at his property and wanted Kevin's help with it. Completely out of character, I impulsively asked if the kids and I could go along since I'd thought about the fact that my Dad's property (near the Rochester area) was a prime location for some great picture-taking opportunities. Kevin agreed, but only if we promised not to bug him and my Dad while they were working. I promised, but, boy, it was not easy! We did end up bugging them just a couple times, but basically kept our distance and allowed them to work.

I was in heaven with all the textures, colors, shapes, and new composition material (I've really been tiring of taking pictures of items around my house and immediate neighborhood where we go walking!). And I think I got a few pretty good pictures, especially when you consider that I was chasing a very inquisitive, fearless 1-year-old around and trying to pacify a whiny 2 1/2-year-old who didn't want to get dirty, was scared of the new surroundings and insisted on being carried from one area to another. Not to mention that I had to help Abby TWICE go to the bathroom in the great outdoors, scold Abby for trying to feed Ben some unknown grassy foliage, and run back and forth to round up the kids and keep them from getting into stuff they shouldn't in between every few shots. It was pretty crazy, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. So, here's a few pictures of the kiddos, since I couldn't resist snapping a few photos of them throughout the evening, and then enjoy the "real" pictures and tell me what you think.

This is how we started...


Then the kids switched places (yes, Ben, could actually push Abby a few feet if the ground was level enough :).


Miss Abby did not want to take a step anywhere...


On the other extreme, Ben was running everywhere...


....and getting into everything.


Finding his "first stick." :)


Abby finding a pink flower and thinking that maybe the property wasn't so bad after all. :)


The difference between the kids' reaction to the new situation couldn't have been pronounced. Ben was in his element, having the time of his life enjoying freedom he'd never experienced to that level and an unending amount of things to explore. Abby, on the other hand, rarely took a step without me holding her hand or picking her up, and constantly whined that she wanted to go be with her daddy. But to be fair, Abby wasn't completely girly-girl the whole time - I did find three very dirty rocks in her jacket pocket when we got home. :)

Now for a few of the "real" pictures: