whobody would love to own these animals?

So...more from the fair.  The kids really enjoy going through the barns...we always joke that although we are "farmers" and live on a "farm" we have to go to the fair to let our kids see animals!

All in all the kids enjoy the goats the most...they are able to really touch them and feed them...and they have a blast!

It is funny how much Keaton has grown up. He used to be deathly afraid of animals...but now is more than willing to be around them and play with them (except dogs....still afraid of dogs :). Lola and Nash are not afraid at all...does that surprise you?

Enjoy the pictures...there are a lot of them.

We don't just touch random cattle....the owner was standing right there and said that Hershey is the tamest animal ever!

 So  many of my pictures turned out blurry :( I thought that this one was so cute I had to put it on here anyway! Nash LOVED the goats!

 Lola laying on Hershey....

 Lola's favorite was the peacock....

 The kids loved to watch the cows being milked.

As usual, Cruz was an EXCELLENT sport at the fair. He loved the barns too...we would just face him toward the animals and he just giggled and giggled!

whobody loved the rides at the fair?

This past weekend was the Clayton County Fair.

I do believe that THIS is my kids' FAVORITE thing to do all summer. 

THEY. LOVE. IT.

Truly, they do. I know some people think the fair is lame...but, not us! Seriously.

We all love the fair.

It is so much fun to take the kids and see them enjoy everything.

They love to see and touch the animals

watch the animal shows (for about 5 minutes)

eat junk for supper

and then have junk for dessert

and then a little more junk for a snack

watch the live music

watch dirt bike races

watch bull riding

watch the tractor pull (for 5 minutes)

sit on and pretend drive the tractors and lawn mowers on display

....and, most importantly, RIDE THE RIDES!!!

Let me be clear here. Jason and I are all about 'setting the bar low'

for our kids' expectations for a 'good time'!

I think that one of the best parts of living in and raising a family in a small town/ rural area like this is that they will hopefully be able to appreciate the more simple joys of life.  Don't get me wrong...we take them on vacation....and visit big things like zoos...and Disney World....but I want them to be able to still get excited about the little things too....like visiting our neighbor's farm, or throwing rocks in a stream, or even traveling to a nearby town to simply play at a park.  They even get super excited about the 'circus' that comes to Guttenberg (which pretty much includes people and a few dogs....).  I am SO happy that they are excited to see that 'one ring circus'....I would also love for them to see a GREAT circus someday too...but, for now....we are going to try to keep the little things in life exciting, because real life is much more fun when you can get joy out of your everyday experiences.  So far, our kids do not have to be wowed to have a great time!  WHICH is why we love the fair. (Really, it is a lot of fun for them....and because it is fun for them, it is fun for us...but, lets be honest...it really isn't about us!)

Back to the RIDES....whobody loved the rides at the fair??? Keaton, Lola and Nash did....Granted, there were really only TWO rides that they could go on...and a few bouncy houses and a 'fun house'.  They still loved them.  (as I said, we are all about setting the bar low. :)  Friday night, we got together with their besties....(Lily, Colton, and Tate) and we bought wristbands so they could ride the rides as many times as they wanted....and we could handle.

Nash insisted that I take a picture of his wristband.

They had a blast!!!  They ran from the swings to the bouncy house to the fun house to the slide to the bouncy house obstacle course to the 'spinney thing'...and then around again. It was so much fun to watch them enjoy each other...and their besties. I am so glad that they were able to do the rides with friends...so much more fun than doing them alone!!! There are no pictures of Cruz....he did NOT ride any rides :) except his stroller... Enjoy the pictures of the kids!

Can you tell it was HOT????

This last picture had a little back story to it... the 'deal' was that if we did wristbands on Friday night, that would be IT for rides at the fair.  Other years we have done a few rides a night...but them sometimes run out of time for other things (and have some arguments about which rides to pick each night).  SO....the deal was no more rides. Well....there was this train that was just for little kids...but it was broken down on Friday night.  When I was putting Nash to bed that night I asked him what his favorite ride was....he said the zebra train (even though he never even got to ride it). SO, when we saw that they were trying to get it going on Sunday night...Jason couldn't resist getting Nash one more ride. Those 2 just snuck away to go on this ride...and the other kiddos didn't even notice! Pure joy....

Well, there are my pictures from the rides at the fair. I still have a lot more pictures to go through from the animals and other parts of the fair. Hopefully I will get to those soon....

whobody had an excellent vacation? (part 5)

We really had a wonderful vacation. It was the perfect amount of time away...and the kids were very good (for the most part....).  It takes a lot of preparation and planning to get ready for 4 days away with 4 kids...but it is all worth it. Cruz was a trooper...but was ready to get back to home and a routine.  The picture below was our only attempt at a family picture...  at least Jason and I look normal. ;) This is why I like to pay a professional to take our family picture....a professional who knows how to edit very well.

After the children's museum, we took a quick stroll outside to check out the boats on the lake, and see the ferris wheel...and of course, ride the carousel.  This first picture is an important one...this is the FIRST time that Keaton has ever actually ridden ON a 'horse' on a carousel (he is normally the cautious kid sitting on the bench :)   Very proud kid right there....

Lola has always been a HUGE fan of carousels....

Nash loved it too. Every time we went around he would wave at Jason & Cruz and yell "WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK DAD!!!!!"

That night we ate supper out and then came back to the hotel to swim again.  The next morning, a little more swimming and then we packed up to leave.  Nash LOVES to ride on the luggage cart....although he barely fit....

Not to shabby for 6 people for 4 nights...Good thing I have a strong husband. :)

whobody explored the children's museum? (part 4)

So...it is already AUGUST...and I realized today that I still haven't finished writing about our trip. The green beans are just going to have to grow another day...I want to get this done!!! :)

On the last full day of our vacation, we headed downtown Chicago to the Navy Pier...and went to the Chicago Children's Museum.  The kids had a BLAST. Keaton is still young enough at heart to enjoy those kind of things....and Nash thinks he is the same age as Keaton and Lola....so he was happy as a clam ALL DAY!

This museum had lots of neat little sections to explore.  The picture below is showing the kids climbing in the treehouse area.  They had lots and lots of fun!

The kids loved the water area...below is a picture of Lola and Uncle Tom playing in the water.

Keaton had lots of fun with the locks and dams... (notice Nash with his hood up...)

And then there is Nash...he just enjoyed running around messing with whatever Keaton & Lola were working on. (As you may be able to tell by the pictures...this may have been the best day of Nash's life!)

Nash especially loved climbing a tower and then walking across this rope bridge over and over and over and over and over.....

Sitting in this skid loader was the HIGHLIGHT of Nash's day.

In the building area, Nash was proud as a peacock to find this screwdriver!

....and Lola enjoyed the accessories...

and Cruz...well, he just enjoys LIFE in general. What a happy happy kid!!!

Working hard on our project...

Of course, Nash had to wear the goggles too...

Keaton and Lola in front of their finished project. (the goal was to have it stand on its own)

Of course Nash had to dress up in the fire station area. He LOVED it!

Keaton has always been a little afraid of fire poles.... he was pretty proud when he did this one 'by himself'.  Notice Nash running up the stairs in his gear...

...and here is Nash doing it 'by himself' too....

In the circus area, Lola was putting on a mini rockstar show...this was her pose. :) (We see this pose a lot when she is practicing at home.)

Keaton's weightlifting has really been paying off...

Lola has been working out too....

Of course, Lola and her stage manager were working on some circus tricks on the trapeze.

Keaton had lots of fun on the trapeze too!

Lola in the spinner....

...and Keaton in the spinner... Notice Nash in the background spinning plates... He was obsessed with the popsicle/ice cream cart....pretty much the whole time we were in the circus room Nash pushed that around handing random people fake ice cream and popsicles.

Serious business...

and finally our clown dressed as a clown. He really had a GREAT day!!!