Thursday, August 11, 2011

Logie is gone.....

So I whine when Leah is gone, so it is only right that you here my whine when Logan is gone. Well, really I miss him a TON. He went to Vineyard camp ALL BY HIMSELF. I am so proud of him and I am sure he is having a great time, but man, this is by far the longest he has ever been gone. Our home is certainly not the same without him here. Having him gone and knowing that in a week and a half he and Leah will be gone all day, well it is about more than this sappy mama can handle. I like being with my kids. I have gotten accustomed to being with them 24/7. I prefer it that way. But alas, life is every changing and life this year takes Leah and Logan to West Liberty. I recognize that this is something that a wide majority of people have dealt with since their kids were 5, but I haven't and it is a very difficult switch.

So last night Ryan and I ended up going to the beef steer show at our county fair. It was pretty cool. Leah watched the kiddos for us. I am starting to love when Leah sits for us. I come home to a clean house and pretty happy kids. Last night I came home to some amazing artwork. She even wrote on the sheet what each kids said the picture was about. Priceless.

Here are some close ups:






The whole thing, on our bedroom wall:



This picture makes me scratch my head. Anna obviously got a hold of my camera at some point. I think this is taken in the chicken "barn" at the fair. Gotta watch that girl.




Our fair booth won first place out of all the booths. We worked hard on this and our win was pretty impressive considering all the booths there. Here are some close ups of Leah and Logan's stuff:












The whole booth:




Until next time,


Julie














Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Just some recent pics and fair updates....

Well, we are back home after a long 4 days at the fair. It really was fun and a good learning experience, but it was also very hot and busy. Thank goodness my super cool neice and nephews helped us out with the younger kiddos.

Logan's beef feeder ended up being probably the most trying thing of the weekend. We are just so new to the whole "beef world" and the learning curve is quite large. Let's just say we ended up being a little fish in a big pond, but that is ok because Logan did great and we were soooo proud of him. His calf, Samson, still has a future as a nice looking steer next year, he just needs to "beef" up a bit. :)

Leah placed 3rd in her class and 3rd in her skillathon. The judge said she had the nicest silkies there. Leah has really enjoyed her silkies and is thinking she will breed her own next year. That would be lots of fun I think.

Right now my garden is dripping with beans and needs some attention, which it will hopefully get tomorrow. Also the storm that blew through yesterday (and forced Ryan and I to run for shelter in the fair grandstand with all 6 kids plus 1) knocked over some plants. They need staked. My tomatoes are super top heavy anyways.....



Lately I have been dehydrating everything I can get my hands on. Bananas and apples are my favorite. How pretty is this?



This is from a week or so ago. Gee opening presents for his birthday, with a little help of course. That's ok, it was Katelyn's birthday too!




At the West Liberty park with my Aunt Donna and the cousins. It was a lot of fun and a great way to celebrate Gee's birthday.




How cute is this picture!




Mommy and Gee on his birthday at the David Crowder Concert.




Leah doing her interview at the Ohio State Fair.





Later!


Julie



Tuesday, August 2, 2011

An Ode to Gee

Yesterday our sweet Gideon turned 5. We celebrated by eating lunch at the park with my aunt cousins. This was celebration number 3 for him, so it was pretty laid back. Yesterday evening Gideon went to his first concert, the David Crowder Band. He was only mildly impressed.

I love my Gideon more than words say. He is quiet to most people but around this house he can be the life of the party. Just yesterday he was teaching Asher how to pull his eyes down and make a funny face. Gideon can be ornery and is going through an "I'm going to annoy my siblings" phase, but he is really a lover at heart. I wouldn't ever want to imagine our lives without Gee in it. He is such a beautiful kid and we all just adore him!

Speaking of Gideon, the poor guy, he has pretty bad teeth. They are beautifully straight, but they just rot so easily. He has had trouble with his teeth since we brought him home at 14 months. Sunday evening Gideon came to the kitchen counter and he looked like he was chewing something. Nope, it was his lower jaw swollen. I looked inside and his back tooth had a huge pus blister on it and was obviously draining into his jaw. This is the same tooth that we have done mini root canals on twice. We desperately tried to save it because the permament tooth under is tiny and needs his baby tooth to stay put to keep it on the straight and narrow. Well, enough is enough and Gee had his tooth pulled today. He has been on antibiotics since yesterday. He was a great trooper, as always! Right now the said tooth is in the tooth pillow that DeeDee made him for his birthday, waiting for the tooth fairy. I didn't think we'd be using that thing so soon.

On an entirely different note, Leah had her nutrition judging today at the Ohio State Fair. We decided not to stay all day and wait for the results, but we should be able to get them online tomorrow. Good luck Leah!!!

Julie

Psalms 10:14, 17-18

"You are the helper of the fatherless.  LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more."