Boone County Fair

What is August without a trip to the fair? Well, actually the Boone County Fair. That's what the kids call it instead of just "the fair" and it's incredibly adorable.

 Maren "screamed for her life" (her words) on the dragon mini roller coaster.

Warner was frighteningly good at turning the hot air balloon ride. In fact, they started out with another little girl in their balloon but she wasn't a fan of all the spinning so they stopped the ride for her to get off. I think the kids were happy to be able to spin to their hearts' content without her. Better them than me. I would have lost my dinner with all of that turning.

 

 

We did pay the extra $4 a child for the pony rides. The fair only happens once a year, right?

 

 

 

The kids each got to choose a treat before we left. Warner being our indecisive child originally wanted a funnel cake but saw ice cream before we got to the funnel cakes and it looked awfully good. He decided on a banana split. He'd never had one before and had been wanting to try. I was happy because it was huge so we shared.

Maren knew when we walked in that night that she wanted cotton candy. She's our decisive one.

We went home tired, hot, and sticky, but happy we were able to spend another summer evening at the fair.

Four Year Stats

Maren's four year old well visit was this past week with Dr. Harmeling. She weighs 40 pounds (75th percentile) and is 40 1/2 inches tall (also 75th percentile). The doctor asked Maren a series of questions to determine if she is on track with certain things. After a dozen or so questions, the doctor turned to me and said "well, her speech is certainly developed!". Yes, she can talk. She really does have an excellent vocabulary ... and has yet to meet a stranger.

Favorite color: pink and purple
Favorite food: turkey, cheese, and mayonnaise sandwiches
Best friend: Drew, Riley, Braeden, and Ainsley
Favorite book: Alice in Wonderland
Favorite movie: Aristacats
Where do you like to go: Subway for dinner (for mayonnaise sandwiches)
Favorite toy: Fairies, baby dolls, and Barbies
Favorite thing to wear: Dresses
Favorite thing to do outside: Ride bikes
Favorite game: Uno
What do you sleep with at night: Teddy and blankie
What do you want to be when you grow up: Cheerleader, singer, and Mom

First day of Kindergarten

Today is Warner's first day of Kindergarten. It's been a whirlwind these past few days as we signed a contract on a new home in Union, listed our home, and transferred Warner to his new school - New Haven Elementary. Thankfully Warner has adjusted well to being at a different school than we had planned, I think mostly because likes the tiger mascot better than the eagle. Hey, whatever works, right?

He is in Mrs. Anderson's A.M. class and drop off this morning went smoothly. I'm proud to report I didn't start crying until I got back in my car to drive home! I was fine until I read this poem Mrs. Anderson gave me as I left the classroom:

I gave you a little smile as you entered the room today

because I know how hard it is for you to leave

and know your child must stay

Just know that as you drive away

and tears down your cheeks may flow

I'll love him as I would my own

and help him learn and grow

So please put your mind at ease

and cry those tears no more

For I will love him and take him in

when you leave him at my door.

I'm so proud of the little man Warner is becoming. He is kind-hearted, eager to learn and please, polite, happy, and considerate. I can't wait to see what this first year of school brings for Warner. I know it will be great!

Bedtime show

This was bedtime a few nights ago. Maren and her bitty baby wore their matching pajamas.

So Warner wore his Scooby Doo pajamas and slept with his Scooby stuffed animal.

The kids realized a while ago that the tops of Maren's four poster bed come off. Since this was my bed growing up, I knew this all along but let them figure it out themselves. Meredith and I would always use the tops as microphones, naturally. A girl needs a microphone while singing, right?

I guess it's second nature because Maren does the same thing with them.

Warner decided he'd use his as pretend swords. Of course.

And then he used them as percussion to accompany Maren's (dramatic) singing.

Oh how I love these kids.

Happy birthday, Maren!

I'm not sure how it happened, but Maren turned four on Monday. This picture was taken that morning after I braided her hair "like Rapunzel". It's one of her favorite hair styles lately. Doesn't she look old? And beautiful?

We celebrated Saturday at the lake with Kevin's parents and my parents. Maren requested a Hello Kitty cake.

She also chose the birthday meal: grilled cheese, broccoli, and tater tots. We all laughed at the dinner choice but I think everyone was secretly thrilled with the menu. Who doesn't love a grilled cheese?

I feel a bit bad about the party only because Maren was expecting (or maybe just wished for) a big party that included her friends. For instance, she insisted on us needing two cakes instead of one because of all of the guests. I told her she can have her first friend party when she turns 5 and she seemed okay with it. Lord help us next year I'm afraid she'll invite everyone she knows to her big celebration!

You know why I stink as a mother? I forgot to bring my new, amazingly wonderful camera to the lake. So these pictures stink. Ugh.

That camera was worth every penny.

On Maren's actual birthday, she chose to visit the Zoo. The entire weekend was hilarious because Maren would say something like: "Mom, can I please have chocolate milk instead of white milk today? For the birthday girl?". I must have heard for the birthday girl a dozen times. Scary how easily she picked that up.

 I even paid $2 for the kids to feed the giraffes. You know, for the birthday girl.

 

At four, Maren knows all of her letters, can count past twenty, can write her name and a few other names as well. She still rides her bike with training wheels but has no fear. She will zoom down our driveway on her ez-roller without thinking twice. Maren can swim in the shallow end of the pool without floats. She thinks she's as old as her brother (perhaps even older?). Maren still throws fits when she doesn't get her way, but she's getting better at controlling her emotions.

Maren loves to read - she can spend an hour in her room alone, flipping through books. She loves playing Barbies and can dress them without much assistance. She loves her baby dolls and especially loves Teddy and blanket. She loves to snuggle and loves to pretend she's a mommy - wear a dress, put on her plastic high heel shoes, grab a pretend phone and say she is going to work. There are so many wonderful and unique things about Maren I can't begin to capture them all in a few paragraphs.

Maren, you bring so much joy to our family. We love you! Happy 4th birthday sweet girl.

Approximately 137 Pictures

Okay maybe not 137 pictures, but there are quite a few in this post. I am really mad at myself for not blogging more. The primary reason I'm upset is because we've had the blog made into a book each year and it's a wonderful annual album for our family. When I do get around to blogging, there is so much I need to catch up on, I end up skipping a lot. But, it is what it is. So here are 137 pictures from the past month or so.

The lake. We have spent every weekend at the lake since the middle of June. And that makes me happy.

One weekend the Whitakers joined us on the boat. We had such a lovely time. The kids loved having their cousins to swim and play with.  

Maren is not interested in skiing. She claims she's too scared but I find that hard to believe. She rides the tube forever, all the while asking us to speed up or go over waves. She also jumps off 6+ ft. cliffs at our favorite cove. I guess she'll do it when she's ready. In the meantime, she loves everything else about boating.

Warner is our ski hog. This kid will ski for 20 minutes straight. The minute the boat stops he's asking for a turn to do something.

He tried barefooting off the boom last week and I am amazed at how well he did. The poor kid took two faceplants but kept trying. 

Warner also enjoys kneeboarding, so he's well rounded. :)

My parents made it to the lake the weekend before July 4th. The lake isn't really the lake until they arrive. We enjoyed wonderful time together just the six of us a few days last week. Lots of boating, golf cart rides, and fun.

Warner attended Woodson Bend's junior golf camp for three days last week too. Seriously the cutest thing ever. 

Dad and I double barefooted on his birthday of course. 

Mom and the kids making monkey bread.

 Lightning bugs!

The Courtneys (and a few friends) joined us for July 4th. Here's our group shot minus me. We had a blast but were seriously rained out all but one day. And that day was still cloudy with a few stray showers.

Despite the weather, we figured out how to have fun indoors. One afternoon we had a euchre tournament that lasted nearly three hours. It was so much fun even though I didn't win and lost a dollar.

A few pictures from our one day on the lake with our guests ...

 Warner and Aunt Kathy.

 Warner and Katie.

 Warner and Timothy. Noticing a trend?

Maren and Timothy ... but not behind the boat. Maren will be our social boater I suppose. I'm looking forward to more time on the lake this summer and (hopefully) more blog posts.