State Fair 2011

2nd place peanut clusters.

1st place corn on the cob cake.

1st place gumball machine cake.

They had LOTS of 1st place ribbons so they think they're #1.

Another 1st place......

And the recycled art wreath is another......

In the butterfly pavilion.

We went to the state fair last week and had the usual fun. We checked out art,food, animals,and rode a few rides before leaving for a late lunch. The kids entered a lot of artwork and got so many 1st place ribbons I lost track. I'll take a picture of them all when we pick up artwork in a couple weeks. Their cakes got 1st lace and Hannah's candies took 1st & 2nd. They were super excited and now have to try to live up to this next year.

Hannah's New Room!

I'd say she likes it!

Hannah's rock collection with some sea grass in the corner.

Welcome to Hannah's beach/ocean room for her 12th birthday present. Of course the pictures are not in the order I had hoped but you get the idea that it's a very cool room. That last picture is of the sign hanging on her door. So many of the cute items you see were her birthday presents from us and both sets of grandparents. Pretty cool, huh? I love it myself. I can't figure out why my typing is underlined, sorry about that.

Visit from Grandma & Grandpa & some bowling

So bowling pictures during the times when they have funky lighting aren't so great. Oh well. We had a nice time with Todd's parents this past weekend.
Grandma painted & decorated Hannah's room for her birthday. Between both sets of grandparents & a few items from us, she got plenty of ocean and beach themed decorations to transform her old princess room into a relaxing retreat. Those pictures are next.

Steelers Flag Football

Like his "mouthguard" smile?

Joshua the quarterback!

Joshua started flag football this month. His team is the Steelers. They have not won a game as of yet but he is having fun anyway. This is an NFL sponsored league so it's not with or homeschool group this time. The bottom picture at Applebee's was after his double header this weekend that Grandma & Grandpa got to see during their visit.

Sneak peek at State Fair entries

Hannah's Molded Candy Entry set on brown sugar to look like sand.

Joshua's corn on the cob cupcake cake made with jelly bean kernals, Starburst butter, and sugar crystal salt.

Hannah's gumball machine cake.

Here is a sneak peek at the kids' culinary entries to the State Fair. Hannah also made peanut clusters. I figured I better take a picture the day we made them because they'd look better than when we see them 2 weeks later. We go to the fair next week so we'll find out if any of these and their art items placed.

Def Leppard

Us with Vivian Campbell (left) & Rick Allen (right) from one of our favorite '80's (& today) bands:DEF LEPPARD!

Todd with his autographed guitar.

The picture that will have to pass for Joshua's 8 year picture. Yes, I obviously took it myself but it will have to do:)

Hannah's shortest haircut yet. These were about 1 month ago. I forgot exactly.....

So here's the exciting news that the few of you who actually read this already know: We got to meet two members of Def Leppard before their concert a couple weeks ago. Todd won tickets to see them off a radio station a few months ago but since we really needed the cash, we sold them. Then he won another pair from a different radio station and the chance to win a grand prize. I wanted to sell the 2nd pair too (even though I still love Def Leppard) but it was too close to the day and we couldn't pick up the tickets. They were going to hold them at the box office on will call for us. Then Todd found out he won the grand prize to meet the band & an autographed guitar. Of course we went to the concert!

So we were pretty excited. Sadly, we only met 2 members and it wasn't the 2 I would have preferred but still cool. It's not every day you meet a drummer who can play drums better with one arm than some 2 armed drummers, right? They signed a couple CD covers, the concert promoter took 1 picture, and we were off to see the show. We got the guitar the next week. I can't believe we've been listening to them for over 20 years. Fun!

Also pictured is Hannah's shorter haircut and Joshua's 8 year picture that I finally just took with my camera. There is a studio that does a really cheap package but since he hates it so much I didn't want to deal with it. I have enlargements for those of you who usually get one.

Hannah has been enjoying theater again as well as being on a Junior Bible Quiz team with 4 other girls. Their team name is God's Girlz. It's Bible trivia similar to the National Spelling Or Geography Bees. If they make it to State then they move on to Regionals which will be held in AZ this year. The girls are beyond determined to make it to Nationals in Florida so there will be much fundraising going on! Their first meet is in November. Hannah's play this fall is "Fools" and she's pretty happy with her part. It's a comedy about a town in Russia who is cursed with stupidity.

Joshua will begin flag football in October and he's very excited for it to start. This is a different league than we've done flag football with before. The homeschool football usually starts around the end of November or beginning of December. I'm not sure if we're doing that one this year. This league is sponsored by the NFL so the jerseys will be team names from the NFL. Based on the favorite of some of the players his team name will be the Steelers. Perfect! I guess there were 2 other Steelers fans and some parents didn't care to vote so that was the majority.

We have been busy getting the kids' art ready for the state fair in October. We have to drop off next weekend. They are hoping for some blue ribbons.

That's the update for now.

Deer Farm

Monday, we went to the Deer Farm that we went to a few years ago. We needed to kill some time before lunch and practice. There were many hungry deer. They can be as pushy as goats and willing to munch on clothing too! They're cuter though. There were other animals there too but I'm not posting all the pictures. I'll let you imagine a talking cockatiel,bison,peacocks,mini horses,camel,llamas,reindeer, and plenty of squirells.