Lynn over at A Mother's Journal has tagged me. I have to tell you six quirky unspectacular things about me.

Let's see-
1- I don't like tomatoes- yes- those of you who have seen my garden will find this strange- as it's half full of tomato plants.

2- (I'm stretching this to 2 things- cuz I'm not sure I'll be able to come up with 6!) I do like spaghetti, ketchup, salsa and most other things that have tomatoes in them- just not plain tomatoes.

3- I drive Ben CrAzY when I don't put the toilet paper roll on the holder.

4- I don't like Pickles- yes- that makes for boring hamburgers- no pickles and no tomatoes.

5- I love sour patch kids candy. Roo got me a HUGE bag for my birthday. :D

6- I love thrift store shopping- especially the books section.... Ben says I have too many- I often buy a title only to realize I already own it. (that's what paperbackswap is for!- check it out on my sidebar!) But I tell him that elementary schools have libraries- so we need a library the size of an elementary school!

oh- I'm supposed to tag 6 more people- let's see- I tag my SIL- Natalie, my long lost friend Marisa (I'm SO glad you found my blog and we can be in touch again!) Rachel and Kim because you were SO mean on Sunday! :p and anyone else who wants to be tagged.

Frisbee Golf

For Family Home evening last night we went to a local park and played Frisbee Golf. We've been to this park MANY times (Roo loves it because of the Trains to play on- hey and we could even call it a history lesson for school-The Golden Spike) Here's a few pics of the kids throwing their frisbees. I'm afraid I'm NOT very good at frisbee golf (I'm not very good at golf either.... unless you score golf like you do bowling- then I'm awesome!- close to a 300 game!) I did a graceful pirrouette and landed on my backside. The boys thought it was hilarious. :p Last time I show them how good I can throw a frisbee. OUCH! I still hurt!

More pics from the County Fair

First of course was the Parade- we sat on Ben's parent's front lawn- it was perfect! Thanks guys! The weather wasn't too hot, kinda shady, and the kids got to play with their cousins while they were waiting. Doodle was so cute as he was getting candy. He'd rush out and get it- but he was so considerate, every time he came back he'd drop a piece of candy in Roo's bag, and the other in his bag. Always certain to make sure Roo had enough candy too- as Roo wasn't too concerned about getting his own candy. I remember many many many fair parades, passing out popcycles for my Dad's grocery store- always begging to be the one to sit in the back of the truck instead of walking the route- as much as I complained- I miss that part about the fair.

Bug did and awesome job of showing his pig. He earned a Red Ribbon for his pig, and he was excited. Doodle's rabbit Roger took 2nd place too. It's a little nerve wracking not knowing what we are doing with this whole 4-H thing. It's all so new to us, and we're just a little lost- thank goodness for great neighbors, who will help us haul our pig when we needed to, help Bug know what he needs to do to show the pig, and all the other things that we know nothing about.

Of course- if you are a kid- the fair is all about The Rides. We did consent to take the kids on a few rides at the fair. $20 doesn't buy much there. Bug and Doodle wasted 4 tickets each- (had to go through twice!) on a "Harry Potter" maze thing. Kinda dumb if you ask me, looked more like a McDonalds playland- only you just get to go down the slide once and you are done. But the fact that it had Harry and Hagrid painted as scenery on the front convinced my boys to waste their tickets there. Roo rode the Train and a spaceship ride. And of course the Motorcycles (he got 2 extra tickets- lucky kid) Then all three rode the trucks on a track. They thought it was cool. I thought it was outrageous! The ferris wheel- cost 4 tickets- at $1 a piece- that would cost $20 for our family to ride the ferris wheel- just NUTS! Oh well, Hope that appeases them, and we won't hear any more about riding the rides at the fair- at least for another year.

A Lesson I learned from Caps for Sale

This has been a very busy week with our county fair, and the kids both have animals they have entered in the fair- Bug has a Pig, and Doodle a rabbit. It's been crazy busy trying to get it all done. I've had a particularly hard week with my 6 year old, and had sent him to his room for something- I can't recall what he did.

While he was down there, I sat down to read Caps for Sale our Before FIAR title for the week to my Roo. If you've never read the story- it's a simple one- in the story a Pedler is selling some caps, and no one wants to buy any- so he sits down to rest under a tree. When he wakes up, he checks to see if his hats are still there, but it turns out some monkeys were in the tree, and stole his hats. He trys to get the hats back by yelling, stomping and pointing his finger at them. The monkeys just yell, stop and point their fingers back at him. Finally in desperation he takes off his cap and throws it on the ground. The monkeys in return toss their hats to the ground.

As I got to the part where the pedler waves a finger at the monkeys- wanting the monkeys to do something- it hit me. I'm like that pedler. I wave my finger, shake my fists, stamp my feet, get angry and yell all too often. Expecting my little monkeys to do what I say. When they are really just watching and copying what I DO. Even MY little monkeys are like those monkeys in the tree, they do what I do. Monkey see, monkey do as the saying goes. So starting NOW! I'm trying harder to be a better example to them, if I want them to clean up- they need to see me cleaning. If I want them to read and study, they need to see me reading and studying. If I want them to pray, they need to see me praying. Wow....what simple lessons can be learned from a children's book. I guess that's why it's called a classic- because you can still learn lessons from it no matter how old you are.

Hammy at the fair

Well bright and early this morning we took Hammy to the fair. They have it down to an art- pull up the trailor, open the gate, herd the pigs out, they go into the shed right to the scales, then off the scales on down the gates to the pig pens. It's quite organized. I'm impressed. We were worried Bug's pig wouldn't be heavy enough- they need to weigh more than 225 and less than 290. Luckily, Hammy weighed in at 230. WHEW!! Here's Bug with Hammy at the fair. So it's not "Zuckerman's Famous Pig" But "Bug's famous pig"

So if you are in town for the fair- go find Bug's pig and Doodle's Rabbit. They'll be thrilled you stopped by.

It's County Fair Time

It's that time of year! I have always enjoyed County Fair time- mainly when I was younger- because my Birthday is almost always during the fair. (it's not this year- it's on Sunday- and the fair ends sat night) We went down to the fairgrounds this morning to enter Doodle's rabbit Roger in the fair. (Read more about Doodle's rabbit here and here)
Bug will be going down tonight to take his pig Hammy, the weigh in is bright and early tomorrow- and some neighbors said they could take Hammy in their trailer down there, and their 2 boys are just spending the night in the back of the truck- not sure if Bug's going to sleep over, or what he's going to do yet. His pig Sausage was sent to the butcher last night. yum! I'm sure the sausage will taste good. lol I'll have pics tomorrow of Hammy at the fair. Reminds me of the story Charlotte's Web.

Happy 6th Birthday Doodle!!

Wow! I can't believe he's 6 already! It seems only yesterday we were getting a call from our RFC saying they had a foster care placement for us, a 4 month old baby boy who was cute as could be. He has a fun day planned- playing all day with his friend, picking up Dad and going swimming, then out to eat somewhere, and then of course, presents and cake.

Even at 4 months old he was energetic and fun. He never stayed in one place for long. Doodle's First birthday- just before he returned to his birth mom.

Doodle at the circus- 18 months- just after he returned to us.

The day the Judge finalized the adoption!

Doodle Riding his bike- Just before he turned 4!

Last fall at the Dinosaur park- Doodle loves to dig.

When Doodle says "mom take my picture" I have to hurry quick, because often he ends up running from the camera, or turning the other way before I've hit the button.

Happy Birthday Doodle! We love you! I am so grateful that you are a member of our forever family. Hope you have a fun day today!