9.10.23 Fair

Fair week started Sunday night after the party. Mark, Addie, John and I stopped to harvest wheat on the way home. After getting the wheat Addie using her new driving skills almost drove into the large siphon thankfully she listened and turned the car before the impact. Ugh teen driving is not for the feint of heart. That night and the next day the kids made bountiful wheat sheaves. Reed harvest some of the wheat growing at our house and also made a sheaf with his brothers picking each stalk to complete the bundle. 

We had bearded wheat, the sheaf below is beardless. 

Working to prepare baked entries. The first banana cake wasn't cooked enough and fell apart. Lia's cookies are the chocolate crinkle. 

Afton wanted donuts. We used one batch of dough to make those, cinamon rolls, and bread. It was really hard to waste such good food on fair entries. 

I made Reed dig some potatoes to enter. 

After we entered the items at the fair, Mark and Bruce got in the canal to help the water carrying capacity by removing the moss. This wasn't a hard job but took some time. Thankfully it was 100 degrees and the canal is clean and shallow. 

The next day Mark found his pig was overweight by 5#. Thankfully grandma and Uncle Kevin bought the pig and Mark was free to help more at home. 

My new stroller was a bit overloaded with these two. We had to change the tires but it was great for getting them around and carrying the assorted stuff that goes with kids away from home. 

Getting ready for chicken weigh in. We have fancy cages as you can see. Andrea wanted to also carry chickens like everyone else. We did not let her. 

At home they also found a way to cool off. 

Livy entered two paintings and got firsts on both. 

Addie with her pig. Her pig came out running and was not workable on the first day so she got a red ribbon in showmanship. 

John looks so serious, this year's chicken judge was very knowledgeable and thorough. 

Millie made some new friends and did well. 

These kids were so happy playing in the dirt. We patted them down every day before getting in the car. 

Livy did well getting a blue each day. 

Reed harvested his first watermelon fair week. 

Ready for bed when spending the night at grandmas. 

The gathering spot for the children at the fair. I was so thankful for this set up. This is where the kids returned and headed to. They were happy for hours. 

At home we had a nice wind storm and rain. 

One of the exhibits gave out developmental babies. Livy made sleeping bags for them. 

We made veggie critters. The vegetables and fruit were beautiful. 

Our bench ground crops never competes with bottom ground. Mark spent all day Monday gathering crops but put Addie's name on quite a few so she got the crop exhibit award. 

Survival and thrift. Everyday I made piles of ham sandwhiches. There were a few pbj but mostly ham. I think we used 10 loaves of bread in those 4 days. 

Best of all Livy and Addie became friends. They palled around every day at fair. They are within 6 months of each other in age. 

The sale is always exciting. Addie is a responsible helper running clipboards to buyers. 

John helps move animals. 

On Saturday Greg went with us to the fair. After all the festivities we were hungry and so tired. I bought food at the grocery store and we sat on my friends grass in the shade and refueled. She visited and loved us. The kids played and we all relaxed. It was a perfect end to a long week. 

 We were blessed and strengthened to make it through the week. I'm sure there were some pivot repairs, it was hot, 5 kids showed and sold animals. I took 5 kids with me to fair for hours everyday. I'm thankful for all who helped us have a successful experience. Life is good. 

9.9.23 Harold Homecoming

Harold's coming home was the same day as the start of school The kids begged to go and thinking that would be the best to go then pick them up later they rode the bus out to school. I had stayed up the night before making signs for his homecoming. 

An added bonus of his coming home was Anna and Aliza also coming home. This was our first time together ever. We think Anna and Livy look pretty similar. 

We were surprised and thankful for the large gathering of family to celebrate his return. I hope we can be present for each of these families as they too have similar moments. 

The plane was delayed. There was an unusual hurricane about to pound southern California where he served so we were about half an hour early. The kids were pretty patient. There was another large  family group there and the kids played around and with each other while they waited. 

Cousin Cambree made a card complete with freckles. 

Another elder and our group wondering where he was. 

Of course he was a punk walking right past us almost gaining the escaltor when I finally hollered I couldn't tackle him, and he stopped. My son. I was worried maybe he hadn't matured at all. 

A member had given him a fly rod set up. 

Seeing all the grandparents. 

The kids have been sad to not have more time with Harold. 

We don't know who's bigger but we know which one is not. All in all though they have a wide range of abilities and talents and I think a mutual respect for each other. 

This was the best to have them all in one room on the couch. Truly my heart melted. 

Harold using his hair cutting skill on Merle getting him ready for the family picture shoot the next day. 

With all his brothers watching and encouraging he didn't cry which was a relief. 

We had a meal plan of family favorites while we were all together. Lunch was pizzas. 

Addie is great at making memories and helped the younger kids make personal pizzas. 

That night we had a photographer come and capture an updated grandkid picture. The older kids are headed out on their own lifes and thus it was now or never. 

A storm slightly messed up the night so we took down all seating and moved into the house. The house was pretty full so I ate outside with Reed and my nephew it was pretty nice. 

Buddies. 

So thankful to have little ones along with the older ones. I'm blessed. 

My heart was so full being able to have all my kids in eye sight. I do love this group. I struggle to nurture each each day but they care for and love each other. The older ones have set good examples and are on good paths. The younger ones are growing and developing as they will. We aer thankful for the many stages and ages in our house. 

Life was very good that weekend. We swam, we feasted, we visited, we talked. Harold gave a powerful report both to the stake president and also to the ward. I was impressed with his testimony and learning. I'm touched that so many of the things I was very concerned about for him were covered in unique ways with people on his mission. He came back with some humility which has made him even better than when he left. He is teachable and confident. He has dreams and is charting paths to reach those dreams. It is grand to watch them become. And most important he has come to know the Savior as his personal Redeemer. We are blessed.