Fair Time and Zoo Time!



Owen did not hesitate to pet the calf


That's the wrong end Gracie!


Gracie with the bunny


Owen gets to pet the bunny


Owen with the sheep


In an egg


Watching the prairie dogs


Silly girls


Looking at the fish


Owen & Gracie


Hisssssss.....Owen loved the snake


Gracie and Ryleigh
2012


Gracie and Ryleigh
2010

The last couple weeks have included a trip to the fair, the zoo, a birthday party and many other events.  Starting with the fair.  The kids had a great time and loved seeing all of the animals.  They got to have snow cones and cotton candy.  They did really well considering how hot it was.  Gracie thought it was neat to see our neighbor's cow there.  We might have to make some time to try to get to the state fair this year.  It has been a long time since even Nick and I have gone to that.  There are many more things to do there, as well.

We went to the zoo last Friday and the day was beautiful following storms that came through the night before.  I found the picture from a couple years ago of Gracie and Ryleigh and thought it was fun to compare how much they have both grown and changed.  Gracie said that her favorite animal this year was either the giraffe or the tiger.  We almost had a catastrophe while visiting the giraffes. Gracie was trying to climb up to see on the fence and her shoe fell through a hole in the fence.  Luckily it was retrieved by Tony.  He used a stick after being told he could not jump the fence into the exhibit.  Owen loved the snake and fish.  He also liked feeding the goats in the petting zoo area.  He wasn't afraid at all to let them eat out of his hand.  After the zoo, we all ate at McDonald's and then everyone came to our house for a while. 

Gracie went to our neighbor, Brayden' birthday party over the weekend.  It was supposed to be a water party, but amazingly, it rained all day.  Go figure, the only day this summer.  The kids all had a good time, anyway doing inside stuff.  While shopping for a present for Brayden, we happened to go through the "Barbie" aisle and her face LIT up.  She was so excited. (I always avoid the toys when I have the kids shopping with me).  So if anyone needs ideas for birthday, she loves princesses and Barbie stuff.  Also anything purple or pink.  She is such a girlie girl sometimes.  It's amazing that she also likes to play in the mud and run around barefoot outside.  She also prefers skirts and dresses over anything else.  Sometimes I wonder if she is my child.

Owen also had an exciting weekend.  We are finally making some progress with the potty.  He went in the potty multiple times both Saturday and Sunday. He was dry after his nap on Sunday and went.  He gets pretty excited, but is still initialy reluctant to agree to sit on the potty.  Hopefully he was successful at school today, but I have my doubts.  Nick can't get him to go so I don't know if his teachers will be able to either. 

The summer is winding down and it is crazy that I will be going back to work full time in just two weeks.  We have one more trip to Ohio for a wedding and then back to the real world.  After school starts for me, Nick also gets really busy again with ISU athletics starting again.  We have both the kids' birthdays to figure out. Then the first football game is Sept 1 and we have friends coming to stay with us that weekend.  It has been great this summer being at home and having time to organize and get stuff done here.  I have also been able to do homework during the day instead of between 8:30 and 10:30pm and not had to get up at 5am to go run.  It will be an adjustment once school starts again.



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