Little Farmer

We took Cassie back out to the Iowa State Fair for the last day and went through the Little Hands on the Farm Display. It is the greatest thing I have seen for little ones. Here's How it goes...

You go into the first building and get an apron, basket and a hat...

You pick a "seed" to plant ( a poker type chip with a picture of a vegetable on it) You go dig in the dirt and plant your seed,

then you go harvest your crop and pick up the same veggie you planted.

You get to pick and apple from a tree in the orchard

Then you go through to the grain bin, get some Corn and Soy Beans in baggies to go in your basket, walk through the chicken coup and gather an egg,

head to the fuel barn and turn in your soy beans for a gas can to fill up you tractor,

ride that around a course,

head on to the sheep barn and get a bag of wool, go into the dairy barn and drop off you corn for food for the cow, milk the cow and get a container of milk,

head to the market and sell your items and get a fake dollar to spend in the grocery store.

Cassie bought some juice with her dollar. Isn't this just the cutest thing you have ever seen :-)

Crazy Storm

This morning we awoke to a crazy thunder and lightening storm. About 6:35 I thought the lightening must have hit a nearby house it was so loud, I opened the blinds and looked out and saw nothing. Then about 6:45 I noticed we had a car pointing at our house and waving. I sent Anthony out having completly forgotten about the storm. That loud lightening had struck our tree. Here are some pictures!

It's a small world after all...

Yesterday as I was strolling through the Iowa State Fair in search of some air conditioning I passed a woman I swear was a twin to a friend of mine from high school in New Mexico. After returning home and cooling off and napping I sent her a message to tell she she has a twin in Iowa. Imagine my surprise to get a message back from her this morning that in fact she is in Des Moines and was at the fair. Our time table was short as she is on her way out of town right now So I called her early this morning and Cassie and I got to run out to her hotel for a visit and some breakfast! It was so great to see Kristen again and catch up. She comes every year so next year we'll plan on a longer visit, maybe a bbq or something fun. Kristen when you get around to reading this thanks for hosting us this morning and we look forward to seeing you next year!

The Iowa State Fair

Alright so we admit it, we are not patient people... We had plans to go to the fair tomorrow so of course we ended up there tonight.. We had a good time 2 hours was just enough for Cassie. She visited the animals in the barn, had a corn dog

and a pork chop on a stick,

rode the giant slide not once but twice,

Had a smoothie, got a Hawkeye tattoo,

met Curious George, shared a cup of cookies with us and enjoyed herself to a T.

Lazzzy Dayzzz

I would say we are well deserving of some lazy days around here. After Paul passed away we drove to Chariton each day to make arrangements then spend about 60 hours down there for the visitation and funeral (Both were so nice and Anthony spoke @ the funeral, I was so proud of him). We came home and spent a day Shampooing our carpets, doing laundrying, taking back cans, and defrosting the deep freeze. So today is relaxation day. Anthony went golfing and I did some laundry & caught up on some e-mails. Tomorrow we'll hit the Iowa State fair for our annual Pork chop on a stick and Ye ol Mill date :-) We've been going the first Friday since we were engaged!

Monday we are back to work and hopefully back to a bit of normalcy in our lives. Cassie is doing so good with everything despite sleeping in wierd beds and moving around alot. Here are a few pictures of her Swimming @ Grandma's and enjoying her breakfast while we were in Chariton.

Peaceful

Last night @ 11:56pm with 2 of his 5 sisters and myself and Anthony by his side Paul passed away. I feel so honored that I got to hold the hand of such a great man as he left this life. Thank you Paul for all that you gave to your family and friends.