Fairs

This past weekend was our County Fair. We were busy with every 4-H project that Emily entered, her working exhibit that she did, Clothing Revue, Al's volunteering and working, Grandstand events, General fair fun, ... you get the picture. Our lives revolved around the Fair this past week.

At the last minute, I decided to throw together a couple pictures to enter in Open Class. I had been feverishly working  to enter my 4 photos into the State Fair contest, so I already had some printed. I dug out some old mats and sent them in.

Anyway, from my throw together collection, I managed to snag Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion!!!! Wow!!! This flag picture that I took Memorial Day at our town's cemetery was the Grand Champion choice!!! This was a pic I took because we went to the parade and presentation for Carter since he marched for Boy Scouts. I only edited it for fun. And everyone I showed liked it so I printed it. At the last minute I chose something different for the State Fair so I said, What the Heck and entered it in our County Fair! Who would have guessed??!! The judges didn't really like my entries last year.. Hmmmm. just goes to show how subjective Photography can be!! And how fun it is to have someone like your photos!!

P.S. To let you know, Emily also received all blue ribbons for her projects and she is taking her working exhibit to the State Fair!!! Woo Hoo!! Congrats Ems on your first year of being able to go to State Fair!! You did awesome!! We are so proud!!

P.P.S. Carter now can't wait to join 4-H next year so he can get a ribbon, too!!! Maybe we'll have to take some vacation time next year to get it all done??!! *Smile!

baby kitties

We found new baby kitties at the farm...Need I say more?

A Play Date

Casey and I had a play date last Wednesday. Carter and Emily were taking some fun classes last week at a AEA 267 program a half hour away last week and I had one day that I could take off of work, so I decided to hang out in said town with Casey and go shopping and to a park and wherever else we felt like it until Emily and Carter were done for the day.

We started our day by shopping a Kohls for shorts and shirts and swim suits, etc. Casey ended up getting some new sunglasses too. Then we went to McDs and got a happy meal to take to a park and picnic. I did have my camera and snapped a couple, but since it was just Casey and me, we played together instead. There was a moment after lunch where mommy got really tired and wanted to shut her eyes, but at that point Casey said "Let's go!" So we headed to the library instead of a nap in the sunshine.

The library had this really cool space station  for their summer library program made out of cardboard that they were supplying craft supplies to create and decorate with. Casey and I sat there for over  2 hours creating a helicopter and the side of the space station, complete with steering wheel and 2 gas pedals!! There were all kinds of extra boxes, rope, string, glue, scissors, etc. there for you to use. It was great fun!!!

Casey and I had a nice time on our play date and hopefully we can schedule one again!! Emily and Carter learned some cool things in their classes and next week is Fair and then it's on to VACATION in Yellowstone!! Woo Hoo! We can't wait!!!

Recitals and Ball games

Last week Emily had her dance recital and Carter had the first of 2 ball games that were scheduled for the 1st and 2nd grade boys. Unfortunately they were on the same night so Al and I had to split up. Probably the first of many times to come in the future I suppose, but hard just the same. Al and Carter came to Emily's dress rehearsal the night before and Emily and I went to Carter's second ball game Wednesday this week.

I haven't figured blogger out completely yet so my pics are out of order again. I do like the bigger format but am unsure how to move them around now. Oh well. The first one is the finale and the other pics I took the night of the dress rehearsal because there was more lighting. The pics of Carter are before he and Al left for the game that night. Poor Casey and his brother's love!! Ha!

Now I can't figure out how to type in between pics! Ugh!!! I was just going to say that I have a funny thing about pictures of the back of Emily's dance outfits!!

Meet Max

Meet Max...
He's our new puppy!! And is he ever cute!! He's an inside outside dog so that he can live with us and be our dog, but take lots of visits to the farm and wherever we are!! The kids are smitten!! I am so proud, they haven't even complained about clean up!!

I'll keep you updated on the adventures of Max in the coming weeks....

Art?

I got a postcard in the mail the other day from the Iowa State Fair. They said they were currently accepting submissions. I love contests and the Iowa State Fair is near and dear to me since I got third place last year and was only hoping to get in.

But I haven't been very diligent at taking pictures every day like I should. Sure I take all the important events and a few others here and there. But I hadn't been seeking "art." I don't know if I was being lazy or tired or busy or or or...I am making excuses I know, but whatever, on Emily's birthday I noticed the sun shining through one of my few tulips and had to stop a moment and take a pic.

These are really big because blogger has new features and I wanted to try them out. Cool huh?

Do you like any of these? Are they artsy? Which one is your favorite or what suggestions might you have? Give me a comment and let me know what you think.

Thanks!!!

Em's 11th Birthday

Since I am behind....
Ems 11th birthday was May 1.....

We have 2 GPS units so we wrapped one and handed it to her. When she opened it she had to follow it and tell us where to go to find her "present" which turned out to be the 2nd GPS unit that when she unwrapped she had to read it and tell us where to go for her Present....





When she found it she was really excited to get an Ipod Nano and we had to hurry home and add Miley Cyrus to it!!
Carter got her a CD from one of his book orders at school, too.



She helped me decorate her birthday cake butterfly...
We "rolled" homemade ice cream at the party where we were camping for the night because she wanted to.
We played with sparklers and did fireworks...(shhhhhh don't tell)
But the highlight, what she really wanted to do was play in the creek with her friends! They jumped in clothes and all and played and got muddy and cold and had a great time. Soo great that they cleaned up and went back!! 2 more times!!!!

Happy 11th birthday my sweet girl!!!