County Fair Lite

 Today is day #1 of County Fair 2024. I thought we cut our entries down last year, well this year we cut even more! The fair is a great part of 4-H but it is not the only part. As the boys get older I don't press them to enter several items for each of their projects. I know just offer my help to get done what they want to do. And since mostly they just want to be with their friends it makes it an easier week for me. 

Last week we helped our club decorate our haybale, that was fun! Also last week Daryl had his buymanship judged. This week he has Archery and is working in the concessions stand. After I realized I didn't complete an entry for Alex's computer presentation, he is just being a helper this year. Honestly, he is the most meticulous help I could ask for! I think one thing that the county fair has taught my boys  is to pitch in. At the fair if your area is done you go and ask your neighbor if they need help. If someone asks you to run to the office for something you go get it. It's teamwork at its finest. 

Happy Fair Week everyone! It's going to be hot and not everyone will be the champion. I hope you all still have a good time and be nice to yourselves! 

Daryl's Buymanship outfit, once he found the
peacock golf shirt he made the outfit around it!

Helping mom set up fair displays!

Happy 12th Birthday Al!

 It's always fun when your birthday lands on a weekend, today was all about Alex and getting ready to host some friends for his birthday. After sleeping in a little, (we had the late baseball game for Daryl last night), Alex and I headed to the store to shop. Armed with sandwiches, chips, cake and ice cream it was time to clean! 

This was not a part of the day Alex had planned on but we had to get company ready. I slipped in a quick sewing project before we picked up two of Alex's friends. We had food, cake and Ice Cream and then we went to Skyzone. It was just what Al asked for and mission accomplished! Bonus, Aunt Rita and Uncle Steve stopped by for the birthday boy! And the house is clean!

Making his wish!

Got some gaming headphones from Mom

Sewing project! 

June Goal Check In

It's almost halfway through July and I've finally documented my June progress! I'm also trying to stay on top of my running all month and not just the last week. My monthly goal is easier if I start sooner...who knew?

So far this month we celebrated the 4th of July and the boys are on vacation with their dad. When they get back it will be full steam ahead on county fair prep! 

We should also be wrapping up baseball soon. If the fields can stay dry for us! 

Read 18 Books 12/18 

I really wanted the hat that the library was giving away for the summer reading challenge. Last year they ran out of the prize so I was out to read three books as fast as possible. Good News, I got the hat! The challenge really helped my reading goal! 

Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner was not what you would think based on the title. And the looks I got reading this book at baseball games was hilarious. It is actually a pretty good read about a young woman finding herself. It's a 7 for me. I think that's the highest rating I can give a book that I won't actually keep for my book shelf. 

Yellowface by Rebecca Kuang was on hold from the library for long enough I can't remember what prompted me to place the hold. But I'm glad I did. This was a great book that had me guessing the entire time. It starts as possible plagiarism and weaves in a lot of social themes that writers deal with. Including not reading your books reviews!  It was a unique story and I appreciate that in a summer read. I would have put this one on my shelf, but alas it was a library book.

To end out my reading challenge I read Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I came across this book by accident as I finished reading Yellowface while on vacation in South Carolina. The Air BnB we stayed in had a lending library and I knew this title so I decided to give it a read. This book is terrible because of the subject matter but so good because of how it is written and the story that it is telling. I understand why it was a best seller for so long. I recommend but it is not a beach read, even though I read most of it on a beach! 

Run 600 Miles 309/600

Once again I got serious about my running goal the last ten days of the month. I got my last two miles on Sunday evening, the last day of the month. LOL 

Monthly Healthy Habit Drink More Water  

I have increased my water intake. Mostly because of my cool new Yellow KU water bottle. Your water bottle matters! 

2024 Money Goals:   

• Replace Garage Door Replace Windows In a holding pattern on my new windows
• Down payment on New Car cashed out my CD that I'm using just for this purpose. Now I wait until August to find new car.....
• Pay Mortg. Principle down 4K Made a principle payment in June 
• Hit my Savings Goals for the year Put money in the savings account in May, but also made a withdrawal for the windows. So my savings account is sad, but not financing windows makes me happy. 

Waiting for the Potwin Parade

Having fun with smoke bombs

Love the T-High drumline!

We did watch the big fireworks at Auburndale but came home to do some of our own.
It was a great 4th of July!  

Two New States!

 Daryl and I are back home and reunited with Alex, Purl, Lola and Grandma! The trip that we took has been on the calendar since December and it took us to both South Carolina and North Carolina. We mostly stayed in Myrtle Beach, SC but we did venture to North Carolina to go fishing. It was a really cool excursion because it was a kids fishing lesson and they first lowered bait to the bottom to catch crabs, then they fished with a pole and lastly they fished with a net. Even an experienced angler like Daryl enjoyed the types of fishing he had never tried before. 

We planned to go to the beach once during our trip, we ended up going three times. It was really nice that the Air Bnb had beach chairs and beach toys for us to use. I got a lot of reading done on the beach. The other fun things we did was Alligator World, A Pirate dinner theater and Mini Golf. It was a full four days. 

Having returned I was still feeling like I needed to do something for Alex. So today Daryl, Grandma and I went to Virtual Reality Lawrence. The boys had a blast using virtual reality headsets and we celebrated with Ice Cream after. He is almost 100% after having his appendectomy on the 13th. His recovery was a little longer than normal because his appendix had ruptured. 

With these last two states down, I only have 13 to go! However, I think I am done with new state for 2024. :-)  

If you have a gamer I recommend VR Lawrence

Daryl and his next best competition, Joseph! Joseph actually beat him...shhhhh 

Our Pirate show was a Dolly Parton production.

Us in our silly hats watching an Alligator show!

These were the little guys

What can I say? We are from Kansas. 

Relaxing on our porch every night was one of my favorite things to do. 

Almost Family Vacation

 This last week Daryl and I traveled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with Jeff and his kids. It was supposed to be our first vacation with five kids but one kids' appendix had other plans. I feel bad Alex couldn't come with us but he settled for being spoiled rotten by Grandma Rosie! 

We planned one activity per day leaving us plenty of time for the beach and pool. Our Air BNB was on a camp ground that had beach access, a grocery store and a water park, so we were close to a lot of fun. 

This post is for our first two days. We went fishing day one and kayaking day two! I'll post our next two days later. Currently waiting on our plane home. It's been just a little delayed. Leaving blog time! Ready to get home to my other boy!

We fished on Bald Head Island North Carolina 

I helped him with his life jacket!

Back at the Ball Fields

 Last summer neither of the boys wanted to play baseball and you know what, that was ok. I quickly forgot what it is like to be at the fields till after 10pm a couple of nights a week. Well Daryl had so much fun playing high school ball this year, he joined a team out at Dornwood. 

I was proud that he pretty much did it all by himself. I got a text asking if he could join at team, and I said as long as it doesn't travel. The next text I got was a couple of days later telling me his first game was the coming Monday. His first game started at 8:30 PM and we got home at 11! On a work night! I'm glad he is being active and social this summer, but man, these hours are rough! 

Alex spent the first week of June at 501 Math program. It went from 8-noon each day and he said he liked it. They played a lot of games and it was a small class and he liked that too. 

Go Rhinos!