September is Back!

I Love September! I love the weather, the changing leaves, and I love school! I do enjoy the summer, but after the first 2 months of summer, it seems we are all ready to have the schedule and routine that the school year brings. Dallin started 4th grade, and Grant started 1st. Callie also began preschool, and loves every minute of it! Here are a few shots of the first day:)

With the fall, comes the fall activities as well. Dallin started scouts again, and at their last pack meeting he participated in the Rain Gutter Regatta. He was disappointed with his performance, and says he likes the Pinewood Derby better!

Callie has been patiently waiting to start "ballerina class" since last year! She is taking it through our local parks and rec, and she has the same teacher that I had as a little girl! She loves it! All of the parents got a good laugh at their little girls slipping all over the floor in their tap shoes. I'm just happy her first class didn't disappoint her!

The boys are deciding between wrestling and basketball at the moment, so we'll update on what they get involved in:)

Our sweet Ava has been teething for 3 weeks! I'm this close to giving her a nail file to chew on to get those little teeth to break the skin! She is now coming down with a cold:( Although their is lots to love about the fall, I'm not looking forward to all the colds and flu crud! Despite her discomfort, she is still sweet as ever!

Okay, is it really worth it?

Taking the kids to the fair that is. This year, I just don't know if it was. Chucks vote is that we leave them home next year, and make the fair a date night next year. We'll see... part of me feels like it's a tradition, and I'm sure that our parents had to hear all the same complaints our kids rattled off during our four hour adventure. Do any of these sound familiar...

I'm tired.

I'm hot.

My feet hurt.

Why can't I ride in the stroller? (Because you're 9!)

There's too many people.

I don't want to share the lemonade, I want my own!

The barn stinks!

What we can only do ONE ride!

Why does Callie get to ride in the stroller? (Because she's 3!)

Can we get more food?

I'm still hungry!

My stomach hurts.

When can we go?

Are we almost to the car?

I have to pee!

So you get the point! Don't get me wrong, I do think they did enjoy most to the fair, but the MN State Fair is HUGE! One of the largest in the USA in fact. I have a lot of great memories of going as a child, and I hope by taking pictures of the stuff they did enjoy that when they (& Chuck & I too) look back we will remember the fun stuff from the fair! Here is some of what we did enjoy...

Deep fried cheese curds! Pure yummyness! Oh & the ice cream was great!

Dallin, Grant, and Callie all really loved the animals.

This was the best shot taken as we rode down the GIANT SLIDE! This is definitely a highlight!

The butter sculptures! Strange, but soo Minnesotian!

Ava. Didn't complain once, the only ride she got was in the stroller, and her only "treat" was a bottle!

The kids chose the tilt-a-whirl, and to be honest I would have been mad too, their car barely whirled!

So the big question...will we do it again next year? I don't know. I guess I'll tell myself what I tell the kids...We'll see!

"Holy Crap, That Was Fun!!!"

My good friend Sonya invited myself and the kids to her family cabin last Friday for an afternoon of swimming (and adult conversation:). The kids had a party jumping off the dock, snorkeling, and catching sun fish with nets. They used all the snacks I intended for the kids to eat to bait the fish into their nets (Dora cracker, fish crackers, and cookies). Oh well, they were having fun!

Dallin spotted a small trampoline in the garage and asked Sonya if he could bring it down to the end of the dock to jump into the lake. I was surprised she let him, and I was just waiting for the injuries to start! But they actually remained unharmed (I'm shocked) and had a grand old time. Grant ran down the dock, jumped a few times on the tramp, and jumped into the lake! When he surfaced, he yelled at the top of his not so little lungs, "Holy crap, that was fun!" Sonya and I had a really good laugh! Ava was an angel, and allowed me to chat with Sonya, and all the kids got along well. That was a fun way to say good bye to summer! Thanks again Sonya!