green goodness

It's that time of year here...and this year we actually have stuff to can!  We planted our garden in a different location this year, not so convenient to all the animals around here.  So far all that they found tasty this year was the peas.  The green beans are doing great, and tomatoes!!  I think we'll have PLENTY of them.  Cucumbers, all good. 
So, my blog has had a bit of a rest.  I'm actually enjoying canning, well at least the finished product ;-)  I'm sure I'll appreciate it even more this winter.

County Fair

Her favorite ride--because of the horses, of course!

 Balloon ride

 Their favorite ride

Meri's ABSOLUTE favorite ride--she'd go down, and run up the stairs to go again, over and OVER.  I lost track of how many times, but it was a LOT!

 He finally got to go on a ride--and didn't want to stop =)

 Looking at horses with Daddy.

Trying to look at the horses!  Then she'd jump up and cling to the side =)

We went to our county fair last week.  The kids had a blast!  I was worried about James being scared and held off letting him go on any rides, but he was just itching to get on them =)  So I stood with him by his horse on the merry-go-round, sure that I'd need to just hold him, but he was so brave and excited!  Where's my baby???  Then he was ready to go on them all, but we stuck with the kiddie cars that go round and round. 

After that we went and saw all the animals, and James cracked us up (and the people around us) by cawing/screeching/yelling (not sure what you'd classify it as) at the turkeys and ducks and chickens !  Never a dull moment I tell ya!

We went and watched the rodeo, but were disappointed in it this year.  Either most of the riders were having an off night, or all the good ones stayed home!  But the kids enjoyed seeing the horses anyhow =)

Meet Cocoa

She's a sweetie--can't help but just cuddle her...and if you're a kid, run around and play with her all day--along with cuddling her  =) 

Up North for the 4th

 Okay, these loaded backwards so we'll start at the end...?! ;-)  Sunday pic of all cousins together

 James putting the squirt gun to use watering the flowers

 One of the fish Jake caught

 Lots of water time!

 Meri on the fishing boat

 Jake ready to fish

 This was his favorite with the squirt guns,

 He was undecided about the water, we'd ask him if he wanted to go in and "no, don't like it".  We'd bring him in and he'd kick around and have fun.  But this game with Gramma Ruth was a hit...Pushing rocks into the water with his bulldozer.

 Parade on the 4th.  Girls watching the horses

 Boys waiting for candy!

We left EARLY.  I saw the sunrise!!!!  It was prettier than it looks, the sun was a glowing red ball.  Beautiful!

We had such a fun time, great to be WITH everybody, just amazed again at how FAST it went!  Let's do it again next month ;-)

The Party

 The birthday girl with her horse cake

 All of us, sorry to my hubby, EVERY pic I have he has his eyes closed!

 A lot of helpers =)

 Can you tell she likes horses?!

 A fun new dress

James was enthralled with this dress ;-)