The State Fair and a crapy leg

We went to the state fair because Shay really wanted to see some 4-H pigs for some reason, I guess he was having a Charlottes Web moment, so off we went. Sadly after what seemed like hours in the hot baking sun we learned a valuable lesson about using a phone to ask if the pigs were at the fair before driving 2.5 hrs each way to see for yourself. They were not there, if you were wondering.

We walked FOREVER and found cows!

There of course was cow dung all over the place and some got on the stroller wheels. I kept telling the kids not to get in front of me but Skyler couldn't resist. Needless to say we laughed our heads off and made fun of poo poo leg and I had to bribe him to get this picture. It still makes me laugh.

We let all the kids pick a ride. This should help you understand how cheap I am, each kid picked 1 ride. Also some one noticed (well I think everyone noticed) our big family and gave us a ticket they had left over. So I showed it to the kids and told them to look on the ground for tickets. They found three! I was so excited. Anyway, Jane and Elly both picked the ferris wheel. I talked Skyler into riding my favorite ride from back in the day. It cost 1 more ticket than he had so I told him just ask the guy if you can ride anyway and he said yes. It was brutal. He was really shaken up and thought for sure he would die. Kaely got the raw deal, she took forever to pick and then went through the mirror house, totally lame. She cried, thats how bad it was.

Adam was just a sweet cute baby all day. I am sure when people saw him they knew why we had 5. By the end of the day we were beat, spent and happy. The fair is always fun, even with a cheapskate mom.

This ones dedicated to Jefferson

We went out to dinner with some good friends the other night, which was really fun. But I got stuck taking the three girls to the bathroom 4 times. The fourth time I made them all go because I didn't want to go again. There were three stalls and one was occupied so two went in one and one in the other. A minute later, a teenage girl walks in and says "is anyone in that one?" and I say "yes there is a midget in there." (talking about Elly who is in the stall she pointed to) And before I can say anything else, a midget walks out of the other once occupied stall. Yes you heard me, a midget. When I just referred to my 5 yr old daughter as a midget. How could I have known?

With shock on my face, I quickly look at the ground as I see a glimpse of a dirty look as she walks over to wash her hands. What? What just happened to me.

When we come home Shay and Skyler are on the stairs and I relate the story. Shay is laughing hard, real hard and saying how could that happen and Skyler is laughing and questioning if it really did. Then I tell them the truth, all of it was true until the part where the midget walked out. I thought of that happening when I had said that about Elly being a midget and how terribly awkward it would be.
It was sooo good to see Shay laughing so hard. Just thinking about it, I can't help but laugh. I hope you laughed a little too!

Where I have been.

After my mom passed away, I was given one of her journals. It was the one she wrote in when my brothers and I were born and small. Every time she had one of us, there was a gap of a year or so, with sparse if any entries. I learned a lot from seeing this. I learned that life is busy with a lot of little ones but not as busy as the first year or so after a baby is born. They need so much of you, to feed them, cuddle them, kiss them, nap them and so on. Adam is ten months old and I have been loving him like there is no tomorrow. Every time I see him I love him more. His crooked smile, snotty nose and teeth just half way grown in. He has already taken his first steps. I can't believe I can love something so much. I have paid more attention to the process of falling in love this time. And realizing this I see that the process is continual. I am still falling for and loving each of my children and Shay as well every day. When they triumph, I triumph, when they cry so do I, When they battle I am right with them. And this process of fighting, winning, falling and overcoming, smiles and tears, that is where love is developed. The process is so beautiful and completely encompassing that sometimes we don't see that we are involved.

So if you are wondering where I have been, I have been birthday planning, costume making, trick or treating, caramel popcorn eating, cookie baking and most of all falling in love with, and loving my family and this sweet baby.