I thought that I would post a new post just to inform my friends and family that I do plan to update my blog over this next few months. I know that I have been a blogger slacker for over a year now!!! How time flies!

This past weekend the boys and I went to Logan, WV to visit my grandparents, my dad's 2 brothers and 1 sister-in-law, and my mom's brother along with his son, daughter, son-in-law, and his grandkids. We caught a ride to WV with my parents and Kevin stayed behind to WORK!, watch the dog, horses, and house. We had a wonderful visit and can't wait for the next time we can go again. I think often of aging family members and working in the health care field myself, often with elderly folks, I hear so often about how much they charish visits from their family members. We never know what each day brings and so I encourage my friends and family to keep their elderly family members in mind and call or visit as often as possible.

Petal Tractor Pull

On Sunday of the Mascoutah homecoming there was a petal tractor pull and Amanda and I decided to enter the boys. The Future Farmers Association puts the event on and the winning distance from each age group gets a toy tractor. The boys all gave it a good go, but there was a glitch in the pull system. They had fun anyway!!

Carson was the first to go out of our group. He made it an entire 3'11''.

Hayden was the next to go out of our group! He had fire in his eyes and made it an entire 26'


I wish you could see his face clearly. It was hilarious.

Seth gave it a good round, too.



Carson got a second chance but still didn't make it over 7'.


Afterwards, Hayden and Carson had tickets left over from the night before and couldn't wait to jump in the ball pit.

The Mascoutah Homecoming

Every year we head out to the Mascoutah picnic which is always the first weekend of August. We usually set up our chairs early in the morning so that we will have a good spot for the parade. After the parade we usually walk around the picnic, let the kids ride a few rides, listen to the band and get a bite to eat.


Here is the boys waiting patiently for the parade to come by, candy bags in hand.

There are always a lot of tractors at the Mascoutah Homecoming.

The boys checking out the 4-H exhibit.

Here was a relay type sled race that we watched for a bit. The girls on the sled had to ride it down to the other end of the rink, stack several bales of hay, and then get back on and ride it back to the starting point.

At the end of the night, Grandma Bonnie bought all the kids snow cones. What a way to end the evening.

ZOO DAYS

At the end of July my friend Kate had zoo members tickets left over from the summer that allow you into the Children's Zoo free, Sea Lion Show free, ride the train free and free parking, so she invited us and to go with her to the Zoo before she had to start back to work (teaching). Amanda and her kids went with us as well. We had such a great time and the weather was perfect when we set forth. It got a little hot while we were there, but as you can see from the photos, the kids found every fountain, sprinkler, and cooling station in the place. Hayden was really excited that we made a trip to the zoo before school started for him as also.

Carson, Seth, Hayden, and Eli (Kate's oldest son) looking at the large goldfish. Notice Grace is not in the picture. I think Amanda knew where Grace might have ended up, so Grace was confined to the stroller.

A quick picture, but the boys didn't want to miss any fish swimming by.

I guess a new money maker at the zoo now is "Getting Captured at the Zoo", we had a bear and this Eagle come up to take pictures with us, then you get a number and can purchase the photos for $15. Well I just took a picture at the same time. The boys weren't too sure about the Eagle, but look at his face, I am not so sure about him either. Notice Grace is still not in the picture, hence the water in the back ground.

Ok, now we are safe for a group shot, we are a little further from the water. Poor Grace.


I am not so sure the boys were too excited to pose for this shot. "Come on mom we are ready to see some animals."

Hayden, Carson and Seth checking out map to see where we are going next.

The Sea Lion Show! This was a great show. This was the first time we have ever watched it and it was very informative, but kept everyones attention. These animals were very impressive. This female sea lion is jumping jumps while carrying a ball on her nose. We were also thoroughly instructed that these are NOT SEALS!!! They move very differently.

Everyone watching attentively. I wish they were always this attentive.

This female sea lion attepting to ring a bell hanging from the roof. She missed in this attempt, but before we left the show, she did it.

The male sea lion posing to say good bye.

A DAY WITH GRACE, funny but this picture reminded me of the blog I posted called a Day with Seth. Grace made sure she was in this photo.

Everyone posing in front of the camels.

Here is the first cooling station.

The result

Eli looks the driest.

Checking out the Giraffes.

The ape exhibit was closed, so we had our own monkeys.

The boys were extemely amused by the prairie dogs. We lived in North Dakota for a few years and they were everywhere there. The are very active, the bark, and chase each other. The kids laughed so hard.

Another cooling station

This turtle was walking around the chldren's zoo and all the boys were able to ask the worker about her and touch her. Eli and Carson wre the first to touch.

Once we were in the Children's Zoo we came to some fountains and it all ended there. The kids were soaked. They loved this most about the zoo. Everyone is waiting on a fountain to shoot up.

Carson decides to wait with his mouth open, and get a drink

So Grace does, too.

Everyone running around

Now we are really wet.

And last but not least, little Isaiah, all tuckered out.

Thanks again Kate for sharing your tickets!!!

MONSTER TRUCKS GALORE

The boys look forward to going to Monster Jam in St. Louis every year in February, and periodically ask me throughout the year "How much longer until February?". Well, this year another monster truck circuit called Monster Truck Challange came to a near by raceway on July 26th, so we suprised the boys with tickets. We went with some friends of ours, Jeff, Kristi, Adam, and Alex and the boys were SUPER EXCITED! They were able to meet all the drivers and I let them get their shirts signed since we had nothing else for them to get signed. The trucks raced and had a freestyle competition just like Monster Jam, but overall the boys say they still preferred Monster Jam in February. Bob Chandler, the creator of Bigfoot, the original monster truck, was also inducted in the Hall of Fame this evening.

Kevin and the boys watching the qualifying rounds.

Bounty Hunter is one of Carson's favorites and has more horse power than all the trucks (1500 or so)

The boys climbing the jumps after the qualifying rounds.

Hayden "woo hooing"


One of the jumps.

Alex, Adam, Hayden and Carson in front of a truck we don't have out of our 111 diecast trucks. This one is called Nightmare. Does anyone else think this looks like a cell phone comercial?


Another truck we don't have, Hot Tomale's driver signing the boys shirts.

and another truck we don't have Tailgator

This is Tailgator's driver signing Hayden's shirt.

And now signing Carson's shirt with Carson sitting on his knee. This guy was really funny, and held up the line tickling Carson.

And of course, Bigfoot

Bigfoot's driver signing Hayden's shirt.

And Carson's shirt

And the boys with Bob Chandler. Believe it or not we don't even have a bigfoot replica. All the grandparents take note, the boys are still excited about collecting these diecast trucks and Hayden's last count was 111, but we had very few of these trucks.

The boys watching Brutis's driver run away to get ready for the race. We have this truck.

Raminator, another truck we don't have.

The boys walking back to our seats before the race.

The boys watching the race.

Bigfoot and Equalizer racing. Bigfoot won of course, but it was close.

Bob Chandler being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The surprise truck of the night was a monster truck limo that played music, lit up and blew out smoke.

The boys loved when it was playing "Bad to the Bone"

Blowing out smoke.

Hayden dancing to the music.

It was a hot night, but we had a great time!!