State fair time

We finally made our annual trek to the Kansas State Fair on Sunday.  My niece got 6th  and 4th in the intermediate barrels and poles for the 4-H show.
I chose the picture below because this is how the boys took in the fair.   These two little boys were facinated by every part of the fair.    They loved the animals, they wanted to explore every building and go through the carnival.
We took our annual trip through the old mill.  Then Addie got to ride on it with her older cousins who insisted on rocking the boat as hard as they could.
Luke and I have our new favorite at the fair. It started last year, but I must recommend the Wheatland cafe in the Pride of Kansas Building.  The apple

dumplings were very delicious.

Sleep over

This past weekend my sister and I went to go hear bible teacher Beth Moore at the Intrust Bank Arena.  I was pretty surprised the event was basically sold out.  The event was a simulcast.  So the event was being aired in 50 states and 19 countries. Kind of a big deal.  I was surprised they were in Wichita, but then I figured out the group was from Texas.  So with a new state of the art arena, and a quick plane trip home, Wichita seems like a very nice venue.
She told a story about living out in the country and discovering how to live with snakes.  I could relate.
We ate at a little restaurant that had sprung up next to the arena.  They served the food on a large slab of wood. We got some type of smoked meat slab.  It was very different from where we would normally eat.  My sister and I both agreed it was a good thing our husbands were not with us, because they would not enjoy a different style of food.
So while we headed off to Wichita for the day my parents agreed to watch our kids.  My brother even got in on the deal.  His kids got to spend the night at Nana and Papas too.
My poor brother in-law had to suffer through his 50th birthday.  He had a few funny cards, but a good day overall.

S'more fun

This week the girls started school.  On the first day we took them to school I took Addie to the middle school where she quickly met up with her buddies and basically didn't even say, "Bye mom."
Luke took Allie to her school where she met up with her cousins who were starting first grade and Kindergarten.  This year Allie has the same forth grade teacher as Addie did.  She came home spouting all kinds of facts and information from the first day of school.
Weston got a taste of life without his sisters.  The first day he did pretty good, he got a haircut and Dad kept him busy. He did ask a few times when would his sisters be home.
Addie could not figure out her lock so I advised her to bring it home and practice.  After a short tutorial from Dad she was able to get the lock open.  Now she thinks she needs a locker shelf.
She told us that one of her teachers does not give detentions.  He said, "I take care of it."  A few of her teachers are new to the school and I am sure are trying to get their bluff in on some of the students.
No late papers, after one day their papers are a zero grade.   That should teach the kids to get their work done.
The first day the bus came she was about 30 minutes late. I was just about to take the girls in myself but the bus pulled in.  The driver said her lights were not working properly and they had to be fixed.
On Sunday we headed out to my parents and enjoyed a meal and the grandkids enjoyed running around and eating s'mores.  The evening was nice after it finally cooled off.

Party is over girls

The party is almost over.  This is the last hoorah.  My girls start back to school this week.  Many other schools around us have aready started.  It was only a matter of time before 4th and 6th grade class schedules came out.
Allie seems to be excited about her teacher this year.  She is a little concerned about not seeing the name of one of her friends on the list.  I made the girls go through the school supplies they brought home from last year and Allie only needed a few things.
Addie has her bag packed and is a little concerned about staying organized this year.  We got her trumpet picked up from the music store about a month ago.
The girls and I went shopping the other day and picked up the last few items needed for the school year.  Addie noted that people try to make a good impression on the first day of school with what they wear.  I wonder when her extensive wardrobe of T-Shirts will change.
Sunday our 4-H horse group got together and had a swimming party.  The kids had fun.  Luke noted that just the right number of kids were there to make the party fun.
Poor Weston, he might have the most adjusting to do.  I bought him some preschool books for him to work on this year.  So far he seems to be having fun with them.  Addie has helped him.  It's pretty funny when he tells her no, and that he knows the answer, when really he is wrong and has no idea what he is talking about.  It's definitely nice to see her get a taste of her own medicine.  She does the same thing with her homework when I help her.