2011 County Fair

Well, it has been a very busy week here!  It is Walker County Fair this week and we have definetly had our share of the fairgrounds!

  

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Just a quick recap...

Thursday Brogan turned in her Canned Good: "Spirited Pumpkin Butter".  She won fifth!  Not a bad showing for her first fair.

Monday Jeremy & I took our rabbits over to someone so he could tell us what he thought.  The news was not very good.  We warned the kids about what we were looking at and told them not to get their hopes up.

Monday night we had the Little Tykes Rodeo.  Christian looks forward to this all year.  He counts down until it is time for his rodeo so when this came he was on happy cowboy.  This year Rylen was old enough to participate and Brogan decided since she would be to old next year she would give it a try.  Christian won 1st place in the "Run to touch the Dog" and 4th in the "Stickhorse Race".  Brogan won 1st in the "Stickhorse Race" and 2nd in the "Wagon Pull".  She beat out a group full of boys!  Rylen waited to whole time and kept asking when he was gong to get his trophy.  He finally got a ribbon for participation.  He was so happy!

Tuesday Brogan, Codey & Joshua showed rabbits.  This was the second year for Codey but just the first for Joshua and Brogan.  To our surprise we did well.  We were extremly happy that we were not in the bottom eight.  These were "No placed".  When we made it past that we were a little more relieved.  Joshua ended up 18th and Codey 20th.  Codey was bummed but they both took it all in stride.  Brogan however was doing really well.  After every 5 we were feeling a little better.  Not that we felt we had winners but we were relieved that she was still in the running.  She ended up 6th!  She was so happy and is still saying "I can't believe I got 6th on my first year!"  We go to the Premium auction next.  Ughh!  So nerve-racking but so good for her!

Also on Tuesday Brogan had her sewing competition.  She ended up 2nd in the interview and 4th in the construction.  We were so happy for her!  I think I was more nervous about this than the rabbits.  I was so happy that she did so well!

We also did the Kids on Parade on Tuesday.  Rylen & Christian modeled with Brogan.  All of the kids got a special gift for participating and the boys had fun.

It was one looong day to say the least!

Wednesday we went to Kindergarten Day at the fair.  We went with some other families and the kids had a fun time looking at and petting the animals despite the cold weather.  We waited outside 45 minutes to ride an old firetruck.  It was the only thing Rylen had been asking to do and I was determined that we would wait and do it for him.  We did and then we hurried to the car and headed home to a warm house and lunch.    

Tomorrow is Thursday and we have the Premuim Auction for Brogan.  More nerves.  Friday morning Brogan turns in her bread for the Baked Goods competition.  Saturday is the freezer sale for Joshua & Codey and Sunday we pick up rabbits and clean up the fairgrounds.  One long week but well worth it! 

Two Hearts, Two Loves

Lunch & A Movie

Just thought they were super cute!

They can't eat in the living room so they got as close as they could without getting into trouble.  A little bit of a movie while they eat lunch on their break.

First Sewing Project Finished

Well, there it is!  Brogan's first sewing project is finished.  Did ya hear me?  I said FINISHED!!  It was quite an adventure and not without some mistakes and frustration but it is done and she did it all by herself!

Now on to the Walker County Fair and District 9 4-H competitions!  Good Luck Girl!!

Boing, Boing, Boing

Rylen has really been enjoying our trampoline lately...

Warrior Baseball

Codey is on a new baseball team and this weekend I was able to make it to a game.  Finally!  The boys worked hard and played hard.  It was a back and forth game the whole time.  In the end they lost by one run.  They have many more games to come.



Gotta have some fun in the stands while the game is going on...

Pillow Delivery

For her sewing class Brogan had to make a pillow and then give it to a resident at a nursing home.  They made the pillows in the Fall and Brogan had not yet taken hers to anyone.  We were waiting for the season to fit the material.  I am so glad she did.  She decided to take her pillow and give it to one of our good friend's grandmother, Mrs. Shelton.  Mrs. Shelton is in an assisted living center here in Huntsville.  Brogan had visited with her when she went over there with our friend.  She decided that she wanted to go back and give her the pillow.  It ministered not only to Mrs. Shelton but our friend also.

While we were there we visited with some of the other residents as well.  There are so many talented people that live there.  There is one woman that still knits.  She makes lap blankets for anyone that asks anyone that she sees is in need of one.  There is another woman that writes poetry.  She showed us a book of her poetry that she has wriiten and it is beautiful.  She said she started writing when she was a child and  one of her best friends died and she has been writing ever since.  It was wonderful for us to be able to meet and visit with some very special people of past generations.  I am so glad that Brogan chose to take her pillow THERE!

Park Day

We had a fun park day with friends this week.  I think the pictures say enough...

Caring for Bunnies

We are getting ready for this year's Walker County Fair that is coming up at the end of the month.  Brogan, Joshua and Codey are all showing rabbits this year.  We didn't have the number of bunnies that we anticipated but we are gearing up, getting ready and hoping that they will have a good show.

While the bunnies are fun to play with and look at, the work behind them is not so much fun.  In fact, they would do anything for someone to take their turn at cleaning out the cages.  This time it was Brogan's turn...

She didn't complain (much) and once she got out there and got started she was finished in no time.  She is one tough girl, that's for sure!



Just Imagine

All is actually going smoothly in our house this morning.  The morning movie is over, I'm braiding Brogan's hair while she reads Roald Duhl aloud to me, the baby that I watch is asleep, the little girl that I watch is playing with cars and the boys are getting dressed.  No harsh words, no bickering.

Then Brogan looks up, the shreek is heard and "OH, GROSS!" comes out.

I look up to find...

I stopped, listened and heard him reviewing his letters and sounds.  I asked him what he was doing and he point blankly stated "My Phonics".  I smiled, said "I love you, Ry" and suggested he go get dressed so he could finish.  He did, with a smile.

Brogan couldn't believe I would take a picture but he was so cute!

Mock City Council Meeting

Today our homeschool group participated in a Mock CityCouncil Meeting with the city of Huntsville.  The City Secretary, Lee Woodward, the Mayor, Jay Turner were there to explain how a meeting runs.  In addition, Mayor Turner spoke to the students and answered questions for about 30-40 minutes. After the Mayor's session the students ran the mock city council meeting.  Brogan represented Position 2.  She was a little nervous but did a great job!

As we were leaving we saw the Mayor in the parking lot and he graciously took a picture for us.

The event is archived on the City of Huntsville's website for one year.  Take a look for yourself and see how the students did!

Anderson-Iola Tourney

AOA played in the Anderson-Ioa Tournament this past weekend and, as usual, it turned out to be a very cold weekend.  The boys did great though and had their best showing since they began playing in this tournament many years ago.  They won 3rd place!!

Joshua kept the books mostly but got to play a little second base also. 

He even made an out in the little time he was out there!

Co-Op Classes

It has been awhile but we are participating in the local Homeschool Co-Op again this semester.  I am teaching a Pre-K/Kindergarten Literature class and a Poetry class for 3rd-6th graders.  Both have been very fun to teach and I hope the kiddos are enjoying it also.

Enjoying national pancake day!

Patterns

Rylen and Christian were practicing patterns this week...

Cinderella Practice

Brogan watched every practice and performance of Joshua's when he did "To Kill A Mockingbird" this past Fall and fell in love with the idea of doing a play herself.  So, she auditioned for a role in the Huntsville Community Theatres production of "Cinderella".  She kept saying she wanted to be a mouse.  Boy, what high aspirations, right!?  Well, believe it or not, she got a part!  And the part she got..drum roll please...A MOUSE!!  They have been practicing and their parts are starting to come together.  The best part...she loves it and is having a blast!