It's Apa's birthday

This is the oldest daughter in our family (in the teal dress; which is a color only worn in mourning). Though she doesn’t live in our yard we do see her often. Her birthday is one day before Austin’s. So we were invited to celebrate with her. I went over with the kids at around 6 p.m. Austin joined us shortly there after. We celebrated her turning 40 with a “full Ash”; a three course meal and didn’t leave for home until after 10 p.m.

This is Grandpa (the birthday girl’s father in law) proudly standing with his cow. What the picture doesn’t capture is that he was dressed in only long johns for pants.

But Elli took a liking to Grandpa and of her own initiative sat in his lap for the first course of the meal.

Ethan’s highlight of the evening was getting to sit atop Grandpa’s donkey. First it was to pet him, but Ethan warmed up to the idea of sitting a top of him. What this picture fails to capture is the raging dog that is tied up right behind the donkey. Austin stayed close by for fear that maybe the donkey and dog weren’t having a good day. But Ethan got off the donkey without incident.