fair

Fair followed Johns homecoming weekend. The first day we entered static exhibits in the red barn. After seeing the weak showing of crops by FFA members we quickly drove and gathered some crops from Uncle Kevin for Reed to show. He got enough to enter in open class for the other kids as well. 

Millie did not make weight after a diligent effort of hand feeding her pig 3x a day for two weeks. She was available for other shows like dairy. She really enjoyed the tame dairy cows. Key word being tame work has been put in to make them so gentle. Washing them was a particular favorite activity. Or maybe she really enjoyed the teamwork with the owners. Nonetheless, fair provides many opportunities to learn new skills and help fellow club members. 

The younger kids entered baked goods. Sugar cookies and the new york times best chocolate chip cookies. Out west they were not the best. We think they are delicious. 

Merle entered an apple pie. 

He won judges choice. 

Afton showed her hog. We have to learn to bend over like the other more serious showmen. We have not been very dilligent learning the fine skills of showing our livestock. 

Reed dong what it takes to sell the animal at fair prices. 

Showing the grandmas what we entered and seeing what the cousins entered. 

JAke was a good sport but when he was done he was done. 

Both girls enjoyed time in the ring with the jersey cows. The dairy princess is always a nice lady. 

And one early morning on the way to prepare animals Reed hit a deer that was crossing the road. Thankfully the kids were ok. The van is totaled. We took another car to him he went on and Addie and Greg towed the van to the shop. Yet another life experience I guess. 

Andrea won sugar for her raspberry jam she entered. She truly does make it. She picks a few berries, I wash them, she smashes them and adds the sugar and clear gel. She got quite the load of sugar for her entry. I promised her we would make stuff with it when the big kids go to school. We still need to do that. 

The fair experience was good as always. I went as long as I could with Jake and then came home and rested out of the heat.  The kids had a good time watching shows, visiting with friends, and enjoying ice cream specialties. Another year down kids grew in confidence, responsibility and enjoyed winning a bit. All these are important parts of growing up. We are thankful for the wonderful club leaders, the caring parents and family support. And the very generous buyers who provide so much monetary support to the kids work. The main buyers and then those that add on are pretty staggering. We have thank yous to compose and that takes a while with all the people that contributed to their projects. We are very blessed.
 

John Homecoming

We had a huge milestone this summer. John came home from Houston! The new mission president sent and updated itinerary I did not carefully read as I had logged in my brain and phone the original itinerary from April.So we were late picking John up. No hour of anticipation, just a phone call from Anna while we drove that John was waiting at the airport wondering where we all were. Oh epic mom fail. Another family welcomed him and talked with him while we got there. I got out and went in for my mom hug. The rest of the family waited while we gathered John and loaded up while trying to redirect other family to just meet us down the road at a restaurant. 

In the car not sure of what's going on. 

At the eatery the hugs and reintroductions. 

Seeing grandparents. 

Meeting Jake who wasn't sure about this but was a good sport. I think these two share a lot of similarities as babies. 

Great grandma was excited too. 

After dinner we got some photos. My parents had left earlier to get back to work. 

The crew hopped up on cotton candy and ice cream. 

The temple age kids went to the temple and the rest of  us went to Fred Myers because 105 is too hot to sit in the car. We wandered around for over an hour. 

That weekend Anna and Joey and Harold and Lexi came. It was good to be together. 

After John's homecoming address which was superb talking about the power of Jesus Christ, Joey was ordained by Greg to the Melchizedek priesthood. It was another step forward towards being sealed together. It was so good to be together and worship. 

This is the only picture I got of some of my sons together. Its hard to be the person wanting to take pictures and yet really loving being able to look back on being together. Harold cut the guys hair, he gave Merle a shaved in design he was pretty happy with that. We ate some, we swam at the pool, we visited, the hair cuts happened, John gave a really great talk filling the time with inspiration, faith, and witness of how Jesus Christ improves our life. 
 I love having my children around and interacting with each other. I love seeing who they are becoming and happiness and confidence they have. I love how they joke and counsel with each other. This is a good spot to just be observing as they make their way in the world. We appreciate all the support and help from family and ward members. Life is good and we are very blessed.