Flashback - August 2010

I am determined to catch up - but there's been so much going on lately it's hard to keep up let alone catch up.

Last August was a chill out/gear up month for us.

Summer school ended early in the month, it was finally actually warm enough to spend time outside, and I was still on maternity leave which left lots of extra time for playing - wow that seems like a lifetime ago!

Kassie, who was already climbing out of her crib was moved to a big girl bed. Her own little butterfly garden (thanks to birthday gifts from Grandma & Grandpa Radeke & Aunt Lorraine & Uncle
Michael)

 

 

The big event for us last August was the fair. We live about 3 minutes by car from the county fair grounds. Maybe not that far - I'm sure it takes longer for us to get in the car than drive there. We usually spend the better part of one whole day at the fair, and last year was no exception. We went on Friday, when if you go before noon it's only 25 cents to get in. We go early, get in cheap then spend the morning checking out all the animals & exhibits.

 

 

Maddie spent most of her time like this

Or this

We get our hands "stamped" so we can come back, we head home for lunch & naps/quiet time. After naps we head back for FUN. We see any shows we want to see, anything we wanted to see in the morning & missed.

This year we tried something new - we let the kids choose 1 activity (carnival game or extra fun thing) they both chose this walk on water thing. They had a blast & wanted to do it again - time will tell I suppose.

Here's how they loaded them in - Abbie was jumping out of her skin to get her turn!
Nate was all over the place

The best video I have with both of them in it


Fair food for dinner is a must.

But the highlight each year for my kids is the carnival rides.

 Dan went the first time with Kassie on the pirate themed obstacle course so she would know what to do, but after that the only time he went with her is when the Carnie worker told us he had to - she was very adept at going on her own & she loved it!

Another big hit was the BIG SLIDE.
Nate & Abbie
Kassie's 1st trip down

 The little roller coaster.

 

 

 

 The "Big" roller coaster. Someday we'll have to show them what a real roller coaster is.

 

 

 

 

 Before the Hang Glider Ride

 After the Hang Glider Ride

We buy the bracelets so they can go & go & go & go until their little energizer bunny selves run out of steam, it's usually way past bed time, we home come, quick bath & they crash. Wait a year & then repeat. Hey! No need to mess with what works. Last year was no exception & a good time was had by all.

After the fair it's time to get ready to go back to school & gear up for another soccer season - it all gets rolling so much faster than I anticipate - it seems to come sooner every year, whether I'm ready or not.

Today, looking back almost a whole year, I am grateful for fun times as a family. I remember growing up going to the fair with my family. Doing 4-H projects, seeing if mom/grandma's/great grandma's/Aunt (Janna or Leslie)'s (insert fair entry here) won a prize. Spending time with my Grandpa's cows (oh how I wanted to be a part of that then - perhaps a story for another day), lots of running & playing, the rodeo (which we rarely did as kids and so far I have yet to do with my own family, not really a big deal for me - but if any of you are into rodeo...for the last couple of years the rodeo at our county fair has been on the National Pro Rodeo Extreme Bulls circuit, so if that will get you to come visit.....). Can't forget the homemade waffle cone ice cream cones & the scones (nothing like what they call scones here), I can almost smell those memories. I hope that doing things, like the fair, as a family will give my children the same warm, fuzzy memories of being in our family as a kid as I have of my own childhood.