Kentucky State Fair 2014

On Friday afternoon, we packed the van, picked Dallas up from school, and made the trip to Louisville for the Kentucky State Fair!  The older kiddos were *almost* more excited about staying in a hotel with a swimming pool, than going to show the sheep; therefore, I dropped them and Daddy off at the hotel and took Julianne to the fair to help Aunt Lisa finish trimming the sheep.

Julianne occupied herself while Aunt Lisa, Pa-paw and I worked

The Dorset show started Saturday morning at 8 a.m.  The great thing about a state level show is there are more classes (fall lambs, winter lambs, spring lambs, etc); therefore, we didn't have to show in the same class with Pa-paw and Aunt Lisa - except for the pairs class.

Little Miss dressed and ready!

How many orange shirts does it take to show a ram?

Dallas pocketing the red ribbon (they are his favorite)

With Buster placing second in his class, he had to go back for the Senior Champion drive...we almost forget two sets of hands!

Our yearling ewes

It was a large class and someone got tired...

Dallas decided he wanted to be on the head while showing Sparkler

Little Miss was winking at the judge!

Sparkler was being a little onery, so Dallas knocked her on the head...wonder where he has seen that?

Our pair of ewe lambs - Sparkler and Rachael

Mountain Man Farms - flock class

After the show, someone crashed

While another one played

Sunday was a very relaxed day at the fair, so the kiddos were able to have some fun playing with the trim stand

Until next time...

Beach Time, Garden Tractors, and Crafts

Towards the end of July, the kiddos were able to spend a long weekend with Pa and Gram.  One of the kiddos had asked prior to going about riding the boat again.  So...Gram scheduled a visit with Jim and Linda!  Unfortunately, their boat isn't up and running, but the kiddos still had a fun visit.

They might not have been able to ride the big boat, but they were still able to go on the water in the paddle boat!

Jim and his son like to participate in garden tractor pulls...I'm sure Dallas was beyond trilled to sit on one of their pullers!

Gram usually has a craft project to do with the kiddos, and this time they made stepping stones

with the kiddos' hand prints and names

Don't they look just lovely in one of my flower beds?

Until next time...

Snow Much Fun

As I mentioned "last week", Dallas and Reba were able to spend a few nights with Pa and Gram while Daddy and I worked on Dallas' bedroom.

Dallas was very excited to help Pa move snow in his driveway

I'm not sure if Reba is really excited or really mad

Gram found a Cincinnati Red's blanket for Dallas' bed at her house

Looks like Dallas made pancakes for everyone one morning

Until next time...

Overnight Stay at Pa-paw and Ma-maw's

Between the Jackson County Fair and the Morgan County Fair, the kiddos got to stay at Pa-paw and Ma-maw's house!  I apologize for just now realizing I had not posted these pictures!

This was the day after the Jackson Co Fair - the kiddos helped take some lambs to their "new home" (i.e. - the butcher shop)  Think they were a little tired from the show the night before?

Ma-maw got out a sprinkler for the kiddos to run through

You drop balls down into and then the water shoots the ball into the air!

I don't think Little Miss would get too close to the water

Of course, they still love the tree swing!

They were wanting to play guitars, so Pa-paw found the real thing!

All ready to go help do the barn chores - I think Dallas was pretending to be a chicken :)

Until next time...

Summer Stay-cation

After the kiddos re-couped from the vacation to the Dells, they headed off for another vacation at Gram and Pa's house!  We met up with Gram and Pa on a Thursday after swim class.  They were originally going to stay until the following Monday so they would be back for swim class on Tuesday, but low and behold - there was no swim class that week because of the 4th of July holiday.  Long story short...they stayed through the week and came home the next Saturday!  Gram was kind enough to share some pictures...enjoy!

Dallas loves Pa's JD 70 pedal - especially when Teddy can ride along!

...or his sister

One day, they visited some of Pa and Gram's friends (who live on a lake and have a boat).  Thanks Jim and Linda for taking the kiddos for a ride; they loved it!

Linda was even able to cuddle with Reba

Gram and her grandbabies

Aunt Josie, Reba, Pa and Dallas

Dallas loves to talk about this bike Pa looked at a few times

Aunt Josie and the kiddos

While the kiddos were visiting, Indiana (as well as other parts of the country) experienced a HEAT wave.  Down here, we had 10 straight days of 100+ temps.  Good thing Gram and Pa still had the swimming pool to keep the kiddos cool!

Some old cups Gram found for the kiddos to use

Pa also redid this old toy box so the kiddos could have a better place to be contained store their toys

Gram also found this old game (that Daddy and Aunt Josie played as kids) called Loopin' Louie to help entertain everyone since it was so hot outside.

Thanks again for letting the kiddos come stay and play!  I do believe they had tons of fun...so much so that Reba crashed in the chair as soon as we got home from church that next morning!

Until next time...