Reading Reba

This week was the second week for Reba to bring home her "Book in a Bag" homework.  The bag contains beginning reader level books for the kiddos to practice their reading at home.  Last week, the book was super simple for her (The only words were: The mouse can.  The monkey can. {Repeat}).  This week was a bit more of a challenge, but still pretty easy for her.  Make sure your volume is turned up high, because she reads pretty softly.

Until next time...

St. Wendel Summer Social 2015

This weekend was our church's annual summer social, which the kiddos have been talking about nonstop for the last 2 weeks!  I had volunteered to work in the bounce house area on Saturday evening.  Before we left the house, I was doing chores when I watch storm clouds "roll" pass us.  There were maybe 10 drops of rain that fell here at the house, but in St. Wendel, it was a down pour with hail!  Luckily, the social hadn't started, mass was still going on, and the rain was over by the time mass finished.

When the kiddos and I arrived, the air had definitely cooled down.  So much so, that I loaded them back into the van to go home and get the kiddos in long pants and grab sweatshirts for everyone!  We then headed back and let the fun begin.  Julianne and Momma got something to eat, and Dallas and Reba headed straight for the bounce houses.  Once Julianne finished her hot dog, she was ready to get in the bounce house with the others.

Sugar did very well until she got plowed over by someone, then she was done and wouldn't entertain the idea of getting back in - even when Reba was the only one in that bounce house!

Dallas spent the evening floating back and forth between the bounce houses and the dunk tank.  Thankfully, they were right next to each other, and I could keep an eye on him while I was working the bounce house area.

Sunday morning, after church, we came home to change clothes and get Julianne a nap before returning to the activities.  We were all thrilled to learn Daddy had the day off and got to join us in the fun!  We first enjoyed the fabulous fried chicken dinner they serve, and then we made our way to the bounce houses (again)!

There was not too many kiddos in the area, so I thought I would let Julianne try the slide.  Guess what!?!?  She loved it!!!

She couldn't quite climb up the "steps" by herself, but Daddy gave her a helping hand.  Reba desperately wanted to go down with her (either side by side or one in front of the other), but Sugar would have no part in that!  Julianne would even "push" Reba down the slide so she would be out of the way.

Dallas was somehow able to get Julianne to go down with him (one time), but I don't think Julianne was very happy about it.

The church sells tickets which are needed in order to play the games (dunk tank, plinko, coin toss, and pick a duck).  This year, I bought Dallas and Reba each a pack of 25 tickets.  Dallas spent all of his on the dunk tank, and Reba spent all of her at the plinko and pick a duck.  She did let Julianne pick a couple of the ducks, but Reba kept the tokens that were won.

Julianne finally crashed for a nap about 5 this afternoon.  She only slept about 45 minutes, but something is better than nothing!

Then she was back in the bounce house!

Dallas also participated in the pedal pull.  This was his first year pedaling the Allis, called Hook and Book.  He did fairly well, but he didn't go far enough to place.

Until next time...

Climb like a...

Girl!

Yep, Reba has mastered climbing the rope!  In this video, it was actually her second time doing it so she didn't quite make it to the top, but you get the "picture"

Until next time...

Playing

Something new I'm doing this year is babysitting!  I am watching two kiddos, a brother and sister, a little each day.  Calvin is in Reba's class (and her best bud), and I will have him everyday after school for an hour or so.  I have his little sister, Maddie Jo, all day on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  She is in preschool on Tuesday and Thursday, so she is only here for the hour or so after I pick them all up from school.

Maddie Jo's preschool class was split, and her first day isn't until Tuesday, so she is getting some extra play time around here until then!  Julianne is loving having someone here to play with as well.  We spent a majority of today playing outside, and the kittens decided to make their way up to the house to play on the clem trellis. 

After school, Dallas was trying his best to help his baby sister maneuver her pedal tractor.  It didn't work out too well beings that Sugar has no clue when or how to turn the steering wheel...

I think she'll keep to pushing the pedals in circles...

Until next time...

Rushville Antique Show - Day 1

Earlier in the week, Doug and I were trying to decide if we wanted to attend the Rushville Steam Show or the Greensburg Power of the Past Show this summer.  We have been so busy lately, that we weren't sure if we wanted to be on the road this weekend again, but the weather was to be awesome to be out at the tractor show.  Plus, we could enjoy an extra day at Rushville since the kiddos aren't in school yet.  With Greensburg still 2 weeks away, we don't know what the weather will be like, plus it would be somewhat the same situation with traveling multiple weekends in a row - the Kentucky State Fair will be the following week.  In the end, we decided to head up north and attend the Rushville Show.  We got up early this morning, and made our way to there.

Doug and I convinced the kiddos to partake in the pedal pull today (as there wouldn't be as many kiddos today compared to tomorrow).  They break the classes by age - boys and girls together.

Reba ended up placing 3rd in the 5 year old group

And Dallas placed 2nd in the 7 year old group!

This year, instead of medals, the winners were able to chose a prize in the gift shop.  First place got a hat and a t-shirt, second place had a choice of a hat or a t-shirt (Dallas picked a t-shirt), and third received a show souvenir button.

After the pedal pull, we visited Uncle Junior at his tent.  While the adults chatted, the kiddos climbed on the tractor (which Junior recently finished restoring; it had been his dad's/Doug's grandpa's)

We stayed busy all day between riding lawn mowers, walking the flea market, eating ice cream, and watching the tractors drive by.  We stayed late and enjoyed watching the spark show.

Until next time...

Farmers Pull

After the sheep show, we headed to the grandstands to watch the truck and tractor pulls.  They run 3 tracks at this pull!  By the time the night is over they have ran various classes of garden tractors, Hot Farm, Pick-up Trucks, and Semis!

If you know Dallas, you will know that this was his favorite tractor of the night!  He is in love with the 1206...

Somehow, Sugar was even able to catch a catnap at one point!

Until next time...

Holiday World 2015

It finally happened...We went to Holiday World!

Aunt Lisa has been asking us for the past 3 summers to join her when she takes the Jr. Leaders on their achievement trip to Holiday World.  It hasn't worked well in our schedule before, but this year it did.  Of course, it had to be one of the hottest days of the summer, but we still had a wonderful time.  Unfortunately, Daddy wasn't able to join us, but I'm sure we will be visiting again because the kiddos loved it!

Julianne wasn't so sure about this ride - it was the first one she was on.

Reba thought it was awesome to be riding on her own

Finally, Julianne relaxed when she noticed Reba was having fun behind her

We then went to the carousel.  Julianne loved riding on the horse (which is one of her newest words)

They all enjoyed this rocket ride, but the seats were very hot on the girls' legs, so they didn't want to ride again

This free fall drop was a group favorite

Dallas and Reba then made their way to this Santa Sleigh, while Julianne went back to the carousel.

Then, Dallas wanted back on the drop ride.  He rode 3 times in a row before I made him take a break!

It was really warming up at that point, so Aunt Lisa thought they needed to ride something that included water.  Julianne was too small, so we found a place to rest and get a drink while waiting on the others to pass on the raft.

They rode twice because Dallas didn't get wet the first time, but he got soaked the second time!  We then changed into swimsuits, grabbed a pizza for lunch, and made our way to the waterpark.  Julianne and I stayed in the splash pad area while Aunt Lisa and another chaperone, Jeff, took the older two on some water-coasters.  It wasn't too long before Sugar crashed from the fun and sun.

About an hour later, Dallas, Reba, Aunt Lisa, and Jeff returned to play in the splash pad area.

The Big D and Little Miss enjoyed "racing" Jeff down the slides!

It was getting close to time for the Jr. Leaders to meet up to head home, so we made our way to the front of the park.  Then, the rain cut loose!  So, it seemed like a good time to take my group home too.

Until next time...

Carpet Farming

The kiddos decided to do a little farm work before church this morning...

Until next time...

Tourney Day 2

Today was second day of Dallas' baseball tourney.  We played at 2 against the number 3 seed, West Terrace Black.  We faced them earlier in the season, where we lost.  This time around our boys were hitting much better, and kept the score close the entire game.  Dallas started out in right field, but after not paying attention in the 2nd (or 3rd) inning (and missing a hit that came his way), the coach moved him to the catcher position for the next inning.

What might have been done as a "punishment move," turned out to be a great fit for Dallas!  He loved it, and he was great at it.  The coach has rotated 2-3 other boys through the catcher position all season, and I am proud to say, Dallas caught more pitches during the first batter than those other boys did combined.

Dallas caught the rest of the game.  He even got up and in position for plays at the plate a few times.

In the end, our boys played hard and smart and WON!

The boys play again next Sunday against the winner of the Loser's Bracket.

Unfortunately, we won't be there.  We will still be in Iowa (or making our way home from Iowa) celebrating Aunt Katie's marriage.

We did decide to make a stop by Dairy Queen for some celebratory ice cream!

Until next time...