Eggs!

Here is what we found Friday evening:

Our very first egg!  I took a picture of it next to a regular medium egg to compare size.  We've had 1-2 eggs a day since then, so JJ decided he'd better be making some nesting boxes for the chickens.  So, this is what he did yesterday and I helped him put them up in the evening.

We are getting some seriously spoiled chickens, but it's still fun!

Sunday's Busy Day

Sunday morning, after chores were done, we headed to Lincoln again, this time with JJ, too.  First, we went to eat dinner at Valentino's before heading to the Dietze's Music Store to get Miss A her junior guitar.

Yep, she's going to start taking guitar lessons.

After that, we headed to the picture place to get family pictures taken.  We hadn't done it since E bunny was 3, so it was time.  It took awhile to get that done.  While we were waiting for the photos, and we were at the south mall, we went for ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery-which was really good.  We'd never been there before.

After pictures, we went to Champions Fun Center to have a little fun.  We did the go-karts, since IC has just been waiting all summer to try them.

He went in a junior kart by himself which didn't go as fast as JJ and mine did, so he was disappointed.  Next year, he should be big enough to drive the single kart and go fast.

After that, we did a little mini golf.

Then, it was time to head home to do chores.

Here is Miss A with her new guitar, she can't wait to start lessons!

School Shopping Day

So, Saturday the 27th turned into a change-of-plans day.  I had been trying to decide when it would be best to take the kids school shopping, since we always try to do something fun to make shopping more enjoyable.  I decided that morning that we should just go to Lincoln, since the kids wanted to paint ceramics and we have to make a return trip to pick those pieces up in a week.  I didn't want to run into a conflict with my foot surgery.

We got on the road by a little after 9 and hit up Target when we got to town.  That went pretty well, except for maybe temporarily losing IC in the store!  We got our needed school things and headed to to mall.  I wanted to get IC a black shirt for family pictures and figured we could eat there and kill 2 birds with one stone.

I gave in after dinner and let the girls ride the carousel in the center of the mall.

After that, we headed to Paint Yourself Silly, which has become a tradition for us to paint at every year.

And yes, I painted a piece, also.

After that fun we headed south, to the south mall to get shoes AND football shoes, since IC wants to play midget football this year.  The kids had been so good for the day, that we stopped at Barnes and Noble and I let them get a couple of books.

Then, we headed toward home, though we did stop at Walmart in York to get a few grocery items.  It was one of the best shopping days I had ever taken the kids on!

A Slower Week, At Least, That Was My Original Plan

I was thinking this week would be slower.  We had a few appointments and lessons this week-but we were going to be at home.  No baseball/softball, no fair, and no camps.

Yea, I was dreaming there.

Monday morning, I went to a back appointment, and came home to the back of JJ's pickup full of sweet corn.

Crud.  I know what that means.

I called my mom and she came and we started working on sweet corn.  Ugh.  It was a long, hard day.  Mom even took some ears home to finish for me and I finished cooking the rest Tuesday morning.

We ended up with about 85 quart bags of corn.  Hope that lasts us awhile, as we did run out from last year's.

Tuesday afternoon, we headed to guitar lessons for IC.  Since we didn't have Miss A's guitar yet, she will start lessons next week.

Wednesday was piano lessons in the morning and late afternoon, we also went to the pool.  That was against my will, but we did it anyway.

Thursday, we didn't do much of anything-we were all tired and had the "lazies."  Plus, it was also a little rainy/stormy for part of the day, so we had a reason to just relax for the day.

Friday am, I helped JJ sort calves and wean.  It went well and we had all 58 calves weaned by noon!  Mom came to watch the kids while we worked and then we shucked some corn for mom to take home to put up.

Horse Camp

Saturday morning, Miss A and I headed to Nickerson, again.  This time, it was for a Girl Scout Half-Day Horse Camp at Camp Crossed Arrows.  It was hot, but the girls hung in there.  Besides Miss A, there was a troop of 5 girls from Minden.  The girls first learned how to brush the horse, put on a halter, and correctly tie the saddle on.  Then, they got to ride a horse with someone leading them.  They also got a lesson in parts of the horse and saddle.

Next, they learned about the trail event you do in shows and walked their horse through that twice.  After that, they got to ride again, this time controlling the horse themselves (though their staff leader was beside them to help).  After that, it was time to rebrush the horses after taking off the saddles and then hosing them off to cool them down.

It was hot, but very much worth it.  Miss A did well and is already planning what things she needs to buy for her future horse (a saddle and a blanket to go under it)!

Haltering her horse, Snickers.

Brushing.

First ride on a full-size horse-Miss A's previous experiences have been on ponies (usually at camp).

Miss A was pretty fond of Belle.

Doing the trail ride.  For competition, like at the fair, the kids ride the horse and get on and off the horse several times, but since these girls were just learning about it, they lead the horses through the course instead.

 Riding without definite leading from the staff-they were just there to help get the horse to go where the girls needed them to go.

Hosing their horse off at the end of the day-I'm sure that felt good for them!

Miss A asked if she could do this camp again next year!  The 2 1/2 hour trip up there and back was worth it!

Playing in the Rain

Friday was a recovery/clean up day.  Mid-afternoon, the rain came and the kids had a blast running around in the rain, then they headed off to ride their bikes through the mud.

Thursday's Clean Up and Auction Day

Thursday, JJ brought the rabbits and chickens home early and helped load the sheep (they went somewhere else).  I got the animals settled, got the girls ready and we headed to the fair at 9 am to help clean up buildings and put away pens for the year.

At noon, was the 4-H picnic and then it was time for the auction.  This year, we sold IC's steer, Bucky.  It didn't seem quite as sad as last year.  We decided we will miss the animals, but not the chores!

Before the auction, they had awards.  Our club received a purple in herdsmanship in the sheep barn (for keeping our pens and surrounding areas clean).  Then, IC received Reserve Champion in Supreme Beef for getting the 2nd highest in points for the rate of gain, carcass contest, and getting a purple in the ring for his steer.

Then, it was time to sell Bucky.

After the auction, the kids had their annual post-fair water fight.

We made it home, unloaded the car, fed the animals left at home, cleaned up, had supper and crashed the rest of the evening.  We were done soon enough, I let the kids watch a Garfield movie to relax before bed.

Wednesday's Beef Show

Wednesday morning was the beef show, but IC didn't get into the ring until around 1 pm for showmanship.  He got a blue in showmanship and a purple for Bucky.  He also was Rate of Gain for Steers Grand Champion!

The club boys also brought in their three beef for the club pen of 3.  They were the only club that did it this year and received purple for the efforts!

The beef show was done by 4 and then we had to do chores, get static exhibits from the Ag building and then the girls and I went to the bull riding event.  IC went with Clint to do some rides by themselves and then IC skipped the bull rideing to be with JJ.  They did some packing up while we were watching the bull riders.

Tuesday's Show Break

We only have 4 boys in our new 4-H club and none of them had pigs this year, so we had Tuesday off from showing.  The kids had a shift in the concession stand from 10:30-2 pm, and us 4 four moms split our shift with the boys, since they didn't need all of us at once.

The boys did a good job of working.  Since I knew we'd be busy, my mom came and let the girls sleep in and kept them happily at home until after our shift was done.  IC and I were able to come home for 1/12 hours to rest and then we took the girls back with us to the fair to do chores.

The girls got their faces painted and a couple of balloon thingys. Then, it was time for the kids to go on the carnival rides and play a couple of games.

After that, the kids played a little "Golf on the Go."

After that, it was time to head home.