State Fair Bound

I am working until 3:00pm today and then we are headed to the Twin Cities.  Tomorrow we are going to the "Great Minnesota Get Together!!"  Yes, the Minnesota State Fair.  I am really looking forward to it.

The first place we will be headed is to the Dairy Show.  One of my favorite 4-H'ers is showing his cow.  I know Jasenko will do a great job!!

I am not looking forward to the crowds at the fair but I think it will be fun and a good learning experience for the kids.

More pictures to follow!!!

Ribbons

Time has gotten away from me this last month.  We were so busy with getting ready for a family reunion and getting ready for the fair.  Time just magically flew by.  After the fair I swear I could have slept for 3 days.  I was exhausted.  It was such a satisfied tired though. Tired after a job well done. 

 

I sat down Sunday night and wrote on the back of the kids ribbons.  Their names,  August 2013, the class/group and what they entered.  I was/am so proud of the kids.  I hope someday they look back at these ribbons as fondly as I look back on mine.

Speaking of ribbons… I need some opinions.  I am trying to decide how to organize their ribbons.  I have a few thoughts/options.

1.)    Hang their ribbons in their room.  This is what I did and I loved showing off my ribbons.  When I moved out though… they all got thrown into a tub and are an unorganized mess now.  They are bend and creased and in no order.

2.)    Put them in a book that stays organized and in good condition.  They can take the book with them to Show/Tell and drag them out to show their aunties.

Ok… I think I’ve made up my mind.  Option 2 is a clear winner for me.  Your opinions?

The 4-H'er in me

The 4-H'er in me is in heaven right now.  We are in full fair mode at our house.  We are getting projects ready for the County Fair!!  You might not know this but I held the "Blue Ribbon Plaque" for the most blue ribbons in one county fair for 3 consecutive years!!  That's right!  One year I had 21 blue ribbons.

Me with some of my projects

Me at Dog Training Class with Abby, my Springer Spaniel

I completely credit 4-H for helping me become the person I am today.  I learned how to speak to judges and to large groups.  I learned how to lead a meeting and how to take accurate notes.  I sent out invitations to our monthly meetings.  I learned project management skills.  Those 21 blue ribbons didn't happen by a miracle!  Although my Mom and Dad might disagree.  I remember several years when we were up until the wee-hours of the morning finishing projects on the night before entry day.

When I was 13 I stayed overnight in the dorms at the Minnesota State Fair.  I had earned a State Fair Trip with my Counted Cross Stitch.  It was an amazing learning experience.  It was the first time I was basically on my own with little supervision.  We had an 11pm curfew but before that we had free reign of the enter Minnesota State Fairgrounds.  I had an amazing time!  We sat with judges and worked on a needle point project.  I learned a lot.  Some of the things I learned I still use today. 

Now I'm creating new 4-H'ers.  Jacob and Amanda have enjoyed their time with 4-H so far.  Amanda is 5 and still considered Discovery.  She can take up to 3 projects to the fair this year.  She will be showing a Rabbit and taking two non-livestock projects. 

Jacob is in "the big group" now and can take as many projects as he wants.  We talked about how the more projects you take, the more ribbons you get.  With each project comes more work and expense though.  He decided his goal this year is 10 ribbons.  I think this is a reasonable goal and is do-able.

Jacob received a Volcano kit as a gift.  This has been a great project.  It is assembled and is ready to be painted.  

Jacob applying paper mache to his Volcano.

Jacob and John putting the finishing touches on the Volcano.

I will update you on our progress!! If you have interest in 4-H please reach out to your County Extension Office.  It truly is an amazing program!!

Bunny Alert!! Bunny Alert!!

Last night we had some great excitement at our house last night.  Jacob's Rabbit, Carmel, had 6 baby bunnies last night.  Going into this week I wasn't even sure if she was pregnant or not. 

This was an amazing learning experience for the kids and I.  Now I know what to look for and what to expect.  I'm so glad she had them in the evening when we were around and not in the middle of the workday or night.

When I came home from work yesterday I noticed that she was putting straw in the nest box.  I went out and got her a armful of straw.  She immediately took mouthfuls of straw into the nest box.  She made several trips and was very determined.  Then she began to pull hair for the nest.  Most of the hair came from her dewlap.  I have to say it was completely fascinating.

 

 

 

 

Before long she was in the nesting box and she gave birth.  It was extremely quick and she was perfectly quiet.  I'm not sure what I was expecting but she was great.  You could tell she knew exactly what to do.  She didn't have a mom to call for advice or a book to look something up in.  She just knew and I think that is AMAZING!!

 

 

 

Now... hopefully she'll continue to take care of these amazing little babies.  I will post more pictures as they grow and get bigger.  Watch for updates!!

Busy Sunday and Birthday Boy

It was my Husband's Birthday on Sunday.  We had a very busy day that started out at 8AM.  Jacob and Amanda sang in church at St. Paul's Lutheran.  They sing every month during the school year.  Jacob isn't fond of getting up in front of people but it is getting much easier the older he gets.  Amanda loves being in the big kid choir.  She's been watching her brother go up for a few years now and has always been so jealous.  Now that she's a kindergartener, she is included.

We had a Swimming Party for 4-H in the afternoon and a good time was had by all.  I am the leader of Klossner/Swan Lake 4-H in Nicollet County.  I was in 4-H as a child and love being involved as an adult.  It is such a great opportunity for the kids. 

We hosted the swimming party as an opportunity for people in the community to come and take a look at 4-H.  After swimming we had a short meeting, snack and a craft.  Jacob and Amanda did a Project Talk about their rabbits and how they will be showing them in the Nicollet County Fair.  I wish I had taken pictures but it was so busy I didn't even get a chance to pull out my camera.

For supper we joined his coworkers and our friends Ross, Jenn and Beth and all their kids for supper at Jake's Pizza.  It's John's favorite pizza!  It's so fun to get together with good friends and good food.  The kids ate, played games and ran like lunatics.  Beth and I got to play with baby Kya.  

Nick, Jacob, John and Amanda

John and his Birthday Peanut butter cup pie

Kya the Cutie Pie!!

The Sky's the limits... no, literally!

Have I mentioned that Jacob's Cub Scouts meetings fall at the almost exact same time as Amanda's dance class.  Usually John and I tag team and he goes in one direction with Jacob and I head in another with Amanda. This last week John was at work so I was on my own.  I was a little stressed but after dropping Jacob off with his cub scouts group (with a stern warning to behave himself) I headed across town to drop Amanda off at Dance class.  Then with my Super Mom cap on I headed back to cub scouts. 

The cub scouts met at the New Ulm Municipal Airport.  It was small but very nice.  I was very impressed.  While I was gone running Amanda to dance they toured the small airplanes and the office but I was able to catch up with them when they were in the shop by the larger planes.  Such a great learning experience!

Jet Setter Jacob!  He was so excited to show me the little toilet onboard!

Beautiful Sunset I almost missed.  Jacob pointed it out to me.  Sometimes I'm so busy that I miss this stuff.  Good thing I have him to point them out to me.

Jacob with the SkyHawk II

Pilot Jacob!  Thinking he is pretty cool!!

Hands on learning.  Can't get any better than that!

Be sure to put your email address in to Subscribe to the blog by email.  Don't miss out on our adventures!!  This week we have a lot of craziness in our lives.  I have two home shows and two large booths.  Sunday we are also helping out with our 4H Swimming Party from 1-5 at the Vogel Arena.  Are you in the New Ulm/Lafayette area and interested in 4H.  Give me a shout for details!! 

By Monday I'm going to need some rest. :)  I decided to start watching Grey's Anatomy from the beginning.  I just finished the 2nd Season.  Watching that while Knitting has been my guilty pleasure lately.  I can't share any pictures of finished projects just yet though.  A lot of these have been Christmas Presents.  I love each one and will have a hard time letting them go! Maybe I'll have to make one for myself too!!