Wednesday & Thursday

Okay, I promised you all lots of information and photos once this past weekend was over. Are you ready for it? Warning: There's a LOT going on...

First thing's first, Mikayla woke up with a bad case of bed-head and comb-over on Wed morning! It was too cute to not take a picture, LOL

My cousin Kelly stayed with us on Tuesday night, so the girls were very excited to have some time with her. We went to story-time like normal for Wednesday, then headed down to the fairgrounds to decorate the barn for this weekend's fair. But first, we had a picnic lunch and some playtime at the park.

Thursday morning Alayna had to have her projects to the fair. She was "judged", which means that as a Cloverbud - or early 4-H member - you just talk with a judge about what you did, how you did it, why, etc. It gives the kids some experience for the later years when they will actually be judged on their projects. Alayna brought an informational poster about Sloths and a scarf that she knit herself. She did so well with her projects and we are very proud of all the work she did on them both!

After the fair, the girls and I headed to the Minnesota Zoo for the afternoon. It was a beautiful day and they were very well behaved, which I was so thankful for since it was just me and them. We saw lots of great animals and got some neat pictures.

This is a Momma and baby Macaque, or Snow Monkey
This is a 2yo grizzly cub who was trying to fish but didn't know how. The girls thought it was great how close he was to the glass so they could get a nice, close look at him!

Mikayla making friends with a prairie dog

That evening, Andy's work had their summer picnic at the Saint Paul Saints' baseball game. The Saints are a triple-A or minor league team. Andy's company made pizzas and fresh cookies on the lawn in front of the stadium, then provided us all with tickets to the game. It was a lot of fun for everyone, as there are always games going on between innings. The stadium is also located next to the train tracks, so Lilly was in heaven seeing all the trains go by!

Friday-Sunday

Andy had to work Friday and Saturday, so he was only able to enjoy the fair during the evening on those nights. The girls and I did our thing, though, and walked the grounds, helped in the barns, watched Aunt Alicia show her horse, etc. And even though we have horses at home, the girls wanted to go for the pony rides. It was actually Mikayla's first ride, because we just haven't made it out with her yet this summer at home. She bawled when it was time to get down and kept screaming "Ride! Ride!"




And speaking of horses, Alicia had to bring along baby Diesel since she rode Dreamer, the momma, in the open horse show. The girls were more than happen to pet Diesel a bit between events.


Alayna brought a calf from Gramma and Grampa's again for Little Britches. She can't wait until she's a regular 4H member and can actually show cattle and horses. She's can't do all of that until the summer after 3rd grade, though, so she's got a few more years. Here she is laying on her calf Romeo and Mr Softie, another member's calf.


I'm not sleepy, I'm not sleepy...


Saturday night was the big Tractor pull and Andy likes to go every year. The little girls when to my parents' house for the night and Alayna stayed with Andy's aunt at the fair, so we had a mini date night. I thought we'd better document that fact, LOL.

Sunday morning was the Little Britches event. It's when the Cloverbuds can show a calf, llama, or goat to get showring experience. Like the Cloverbud projects, they aren't judged but asked questions about their animal. Here are the pics from the event, with video following.






Then of course, we had to do rides! We did them mid-afternoon on the last day (Sunday) so there weren't many people around or in the lines. The girls had a blast and Lilly was especially happy to be big enough for most of the rides this year!

Alayna's Little Britches Video

If this video doesn't work (and I don't know why it's not, but it isn't for some reason) you can click on this link to watch it

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=541558704229508909

A week?!

Has it really been that long?! I am such a slacker sometimes. Let's see, what have we been up to? There was a day at the zoo, a softball game, another softball game, a trip to the doctor for Andy's injured foot (in softball game #2) a big trip to Wal-Mart, a camera purchase (yeah!), 2 more softball games (which Andy didn't play in), a rained out parade, a street dance where I was sober-cab to 4 drunk adult males, a pot-luck at church, tractor pull, visit to see a new baby and a BBQ at our house. Of course there were other things, too, but those listed were just the highlights. So we've been busy, to say the least.

And this week is just the same. From now until Sunday we have story time, barn decorating, 2 softball games, the County Fair (which Alayna is involved in) a picnic and minor league baseball game for Andy's work, a truck pull, another tractor pull, Alayna's showing of her calf and all the other various things that 4H and the 4-day fair involve.

So if I'm not on much between now and a week from now, please forgive me. And I promise I'll be back next week with lots of pictures and stories to tell. Pinkie swear.

I've been Meme'd!

My friend Desiree tagged me a few weeks ago and I'm finally getting around to it. So, without further ado, here's my incredibly fascinating responses...

The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

What was I doing 10 years ago? I was waiting for the start of my senior year in High School

What are 5 things on my to-do list for today? laundry, dishes, clean up kitchen, read my book, make supper

3 Snacks I enjoy: fruit, crackers/chips and dip, anything chocolate

4 Things I would do if I were a billionaire: pay off any debt, give to charity, invest, help out family

5 Places I have lived: 5 different places in WI

6 Jobs I have had: Mom, wife, daycare provider, elementary school secretary, grocery store clerk, office assistant

People I want to know more about: I think almost everyone on my blog roll has done this or one very similar, so if you haven't and you want to...consider yourself tagged!

Awwwwww...

Since yesterday was Daddy's birthday, I thought I'd share another of my favorite pictures of him. This was taken when Mikayla was only a few months old (so a little over a year ago) There is nothing sweeter than your big, muscular, tough-guy hubby snuggled in with a sleeping baby on his chest.

Today is Friday's Photo Finish Fiesta over at Candid Carrie's blog--check it out!

Happy Birthday, Andy!

Today is Andy's birthday! For those of you keeping track, yup-I'm robbing the cradle. By 18 whole days. You wouldn't think 18 days would make much of a difference at all, and it never has...except once.


Let's all go back several years. Remember how Andy and I are High School sweethearts? Well, we're not like Senior year sweethearts. We're Sophomore year sweethearts and with 2 summer birthdays what does that mean? It means that we started dating when we were 15 1/2. You all see where this is going, right? I turned 16 on June 22 and got my license on the 24th (if I remember correctly, it was quick) So I had the privilege of driving Andy around for over a month and it KILLED him. Oh, did he hate that he had to ask his girlfriend for a ride not because he didn't have a car, but simply because he couldn't legally drive yet. Once he got his license, it all ended. I haven't driven him around since! Well, I have, but only when alcohol has been involved on his part. Seriously, I very seldom EVER drive when we go somewhere together. I wonder if it all stems back...

Our Sophomore year prom pic! Sorry, I just threw up a little in my mouth. HA!

Happy Birthday honey! We all love you and can't wait for many more birthdays together as a family! You are a fantastic husband, father and friend, something I must have noticed all those many years ago.

This is the latest pic I have of just Andy, but it's almost a year old!

I = TIRED!!!

Like usual, we went camping this past weekend. It was a lot of fun and the weather was perfect! Camping in northern WI over the Fourth is often hot, humid and accompanied by at least one good storm to send us running for cover. Not this weekend. The temps were in the low 80s and there was no humidity until yesterday, when we started packing up. Then it reached 88 and 70 degree dewpoints. But all weekend long the sun was shining, the breeze was light but just right, the nights were cool enough for a sweatshirt...it was about perfect camping weather.

So why am I so tired if I'm not exhausted from the heat? It's from those "relaxing" nights of staying up until 2 am or later. Seriously, I'm too old for this! HA! We just all have so much fun and lose complete track of time after the kids go to bed. Of course, when it doesn't get dark until 9:30, that messes with you, too. The adults stay up and we play badminton, horse-shoes, bean bag toss, rodeo golf (walla-walla balls) whatever. Then we get out the "mowers" and go for rides through the woods. It's just too much fun.

Then where are my pictures, right? They are in my mind and our friend Amy's camera. Why? Because when I took my camera out to take some pics, it wouldn't turn on. I tried 2 different sets of batteries and nothing worked, so I think it's done for. I hope not, but it has lasted us 5 years and about 3,000 pictures. We shall see.

Hope you all had a great and safe Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day to each and every one of you! I hope you are all enjoying a fun, happy, healthy, safe and FREE July 4th. And when you get a chance, please be sure to thank a current or former member of our armed forces, whether in person or just a voice raised up on their behalf. It's because of them that we remain free, after all that was done so many, many years ago to obtain that freedom.

I took this picture last year at my sister's. She rents on a lake in town and the fireworks are shot off just a few houses down from her. But this year, we won't be there. Nope, as you are reading this (thanks to options that allow me to set the post time) I'm camping and having the time of my life (hopefully!) Be safe and Happy Indepedence Day!

McKenna

See that big smile on my face? It's a three-fold smile...1) Who doesn't love to hold an itty, bitty, hours old baby?! 2) I'm so happy for my cousin that she had her little girl and everything went well for them both! 3) I felt NO baby fever whatsoever!!! I loved holding her, but then looked at my own three and had no inclination for more. Thank goodness for that vasectomy!

Seriously, though. Isn't she cute? My dear cousin Chrissa had little McKenna in the early morning hours on July 1. It was so surreal to look around the hospital room and see her holding her own little girl. I flashed back to the day I found out my aunt Carol was pregnant...we were rolling down the hill in front of Gramma's house and when we encouraged her to roll with us, she said "I can't, I have a baby in my belly!" Actually, she had two babies in her belly-Matthew and Chrissa. I loved being around them as babies and later I spent many days watching them while their parents worked. Their younger sister Brianna joined the family a few years later, and she was just as sweet. Then before I knew it, Matt was taller than me and Chrissa and Brianna were watching MY kids while I worked. And now here I was, congratulating Chrissa on the birth of her own little girl, while my 3 girls all oohed and ahhed over McKenna.

Welcome to the family and the world, little McKenna!