Birthday and Fair Weekend

Last Friday, we attended a friend's birthday party in Boise, then stopped by the Western Idaho Fair to watch the Junior Angus Show. The girls were so excited; they love the fair. They had a great time playing at an indoor gym for Isabella's party, then also had a blast at the fair. We got to see lots of friends. We went to the petting zoo, ate ice cream (they used their own piggy bank money and were so proud) and watch the Aussie Kingdom show about kangaroos and wallabees. Saturday morning was the ROV Angus show. It was an early morning to get there, but the kids were troopers. We showed 14 head and had reserve grand heifer and several class winners. A bull Josh and I bred, raised and sold was also a division winner. I'll let the photos speak for themselves. The kids had a blast. Mackenzie and Emma helped Carla and Michelle with awards. Little J LOVED the cattle, pointing to them, saying moo, wanting to pet them. Oh, and he loved the dirt too! It was a great day.



Jayten saying goodbye to the calves with Daddy.




Emma was content just watching the crew take the animals to tie-outs.



MJ loved helping lead a heifer calf to tie-outs.





The girls wanted to help clean the tie-out beds. Such good workers.



Getting water buckets ready.



J found this cord and had a lot of fun carting it around.



At the petting zoo with friends Fallon and Piper.



Checking out the baby goats.



MJ milked a cow.



Heading off with friend Fallon.



Saying hi to "Cupcake'' with Grandpa Mark. Our help for the weekend, nicknamed the heifer that.





The girls and Jayten enjoyed the play gym at Isabella's birthday party.

A Day with Mackenzie

Yesterday I took the little ones to daycare, and MJ and I went to register her for school and run errands. I'm not sure when the last time I had just her with me. It's been too long! We had a fun day together. She chose to go to McDonald's for lunch and later in the afternoon we stopped by Dairy Queen for a new mini-Blizzard. That really is the perfect size. Not too much, but satisfying. We went and picked out all her school supplies, which she is excited about. She found out she'll be in the same class with one of her besties, and they both are thrilled about that. It was nice just having the day with her. With her being in first grade now and all day school, I know I'm really going to cherish the time I have with her. She's growing up way to fast and will be 7 soon! I know she missed getting to do the errand run last year when she was in school, so she thought it was quite fun. Plus, she's really a momma's girl and loves one-on-one time. I really need to find more for each of my kiddos. MJ will be eating lunch at school, which she thinks is cool. And she'll be on the same bus. She loves her driver too! She starts next Thursday.

We found out Emma will have a new preschool teacher this year. She was a teacher last year, but is taking over for another gal who is going back to school. I was a little sad because we all loved Mrs. G, but I know Mrs. W will be great too. Emma starts Sept. 1, going two afternoons a week.

My weeks are crazy now, trying to still edit photography sessions and work on a magazine issue. I have decided I need to blog every day though, even if it's just a journal of what we did. I don't want to forget all the fun memories we've been making. It may get a little boring, but at least I'll be able to look back and see what we were up to!

On Monday, Jared, Stephanie and Mya came over for dinner, so it was fun seeing them. Mya turned one in July, and is such a cutie. The kids love playing with their cousin. I made some homemade vanilla ice cream. Yum! Today, we played outside some this morning, and I've been working on wedding edits and the magazine. I also took a break to make some homemade chocolate almond ice cream. Well, back to it!

The kiddos

I have to apologize for those who check in regularly. I am waaaaaaayyyyyyyy behind!! I have so much to write about and post from our summer. We had a wonderful time in Kansas. The kids played in the water, played with cousins and saw lots of family and friends. Jayten got his first hair cut. Emma went to the ER. We attended a wedding and two county fairs. School registration is next week and the girls start on the 26th. Whew! So much going on. I do hope to write it all soon, and you can bet I have a ton of photos to go with the stories. Right now I'm busy editing a wedding, a sisters session from Kansas, plus three sessions from Idaho. And putting together the next magazine issue! I just thought I'd throw up a couple pics from Kansas. As you can see the kids are getting big. And I was really excited there was one farmer with wheat still to cut when we arrived, so I could get some photos of the kids in it. They were not nearly as interested in standing in the wheat field as I was. But, Idaho wheat just isn't the same. Anyway, here is a quick image of just the wheat since it seemed to cooperate better that morning. Ha!

June 20, 2010 ~ Father's Day

On Saturday, June 19, we went to Nampa/Boise. We stopped by Fred Meyer in Nampa. They were having events for Father's Day. The girls participated in a cake walk and tried to win a cake for Josh. Have a few futile attempts, they went and picked one out got to decorate it for him. After that we went to the mall in Boise to look around and do some shopping. It was a fun day of just hanging out as a family. The kids did really well too.

The next day we celebrated Father's Day with cake and ice cream. The girls had picked out cards for Josh and he also got a new Dale Jr. collectible car.

We love you Josh! You're a very special daddy and husband too.

June 13, 2010 ~ Visiting Zani

The kids love to help feed and brush Zani. Jayten stands at the fence and points and tries to make horse sounds at her.

June 13, 2010 ~ Playing in the Pool

Josh brought home water guns for the girls. It was a standoff.



Then they turned on me! Emma would get a little ornery smile on her face and start squirting at me. She is so funny! She'd run around as fast as she could chasing everyone.



Emma built that little gun thing out of sprinkler parts. She just picked them up and screwed them all together. She said it was her bubble gun and she was shooting bubbles.





J was enjoying his first dip in the pool.



Checking out the water.



My little waterbabies.





Little cheese face!

Sunday, June 13, was a beautiful day. We worked on the yard, getting sprinklers set up and fixed. We finally were having some really hot days so we cleaned out and filled up the pool (plastic stock tank). The girls were so excited. Water is so fun to play in! MJ set up lawn chairs, and we just sat out there watching them swim and relaxing.

Little perfomers

The girls love to dance. The other day they wanted to put on a little recital, both doing some ballet and a hip hop. Emma calls it hiphopballet-all one word. "When I'm older, I'm going to do hiphopballet, Mom." It's funny to see the moves she does that she's seen the other girls at dance class do. Too cute.