the fair

Each summer we wait patiently for the fair to arrive. This year the kids have been doing extra chores to earn quarters so they can play the fishing game (more than once) AND buy their own sno cone.


They each fished TWICE. Fair prizes are awesome!


Reagan loved her $3.00 "ice with splash of flavor!"


They rode the train 2 times.


Carsyn and Reagan rode the ferris wheel with their dad. It was Carsyn's FAVORITE! Luke did NOT want to go- I sacrificed and stayed with him.....


Luke LOVED the tea cups. He liked to spin around. He rode it two times- once with me and then he talked his sisters into to using their last ticket to ride with him. They do not like to spin. He was hilarious! On they "down swing" he would spin it and they would go flying. He laughed and laughed!!

Can't wait til next year.....

the music truck

For the last 5 years a white van has circulated through our neighborhood during certain times of the year spreading musical cheer. A few weeks ago the "music truck" was passing by and stopped at a nearby house. Children were jumping up and down excitedly handing the man money. My children were watching intently. Carsyn said, "Hey, there's ice cream on the music truck!". I said, What?!? It can't be!". She said, YES! I saw pictures of ice cream on the side of it and those kids are giving him money!" So here we are weeks later buying our first treat from the music truck!

a mighty erection

It took 4 guys to lift and set in place....



Down to 2 for the finishing touches....


The kids LOVE it! We will be outside all day tomorrow.... (nice shot Luke!)

school...

Today was the first day of school. Carsyn is in kindergarten (5 half days) and Luke is in 3K (2 half days). It is hard for me to wrap my mind around it all. I feel like it was only yesterday that we began adding these little munchkins to our family and now we have hit the Kindergarten milestone. Thus begins the seemingly endless years of formal education...


Carsyn, Luke and Reagan (no, Reagan is not in school. She just wishes to be...)


Carsyn in circle time. She was nervous but did GREAT this morning! (She is sitting next to Clayton-one of her best friends)


Luke at the water table. His classroom is amazing!


We had a 1st day of school dinner celebration!

making their mark...

At about 11:00 last night you would have found Dale digging a 2 ft by 2 ft by 4ft deep hole- only to turn around today and fill it in with concrete. :) It is the base for the basketball goal.

We decided to have the kids leave their permanent mark. Hopefully 30 years from now Dale and I will be watching our grandchildren play on this very same court.

can it get any hotter?

It was 101 degrees today and quite possibly more humid than the day before. This afternoon I walked up the street to vote (which is about a block away) and I thought I was going to die! And NO, it is not because I am out of shape!
Nonetheless Dale and Shane began the lengthy task of installing the beadboard. WOW. I did not realize how long it would take. Oh yeah, the "roof" is up too.


the front roof


the back roof


the beadboard- nice, isn't it?!?

weekend fun

Dale spent all of Saturday (7 am til dark) painting 1,600 feet of beadboard. Sunday he finished the first coat and my dad, mom and I began work on the second coat. It was in the upper 90's with MUCH humidity. Not a fun way to spend a weekend. But it needed to be done (and it is ALMOST finished!)


Dale also put the first coat of paint on the overhang.


beadboard....


more beadboard....

all in a day's work

The trusses arrived on Tuesday. Total weight=3,900 lbs!


This photo shows the enormity of the trusses.


Do you see Dale holding the truss?


Look mom, no hands! (click photo to enlarge)

roof trusses

The trusses arrived on Tuesday. Total weight=3,900 lbs!


This photo shows the enormity of the trusses.


Do you see Dale holding the truss?

can you say "concrete?"