Showing posts with label Traditions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Traditions. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

All's Fair at the Fair

 Even if back-to-school is right around the corner, we still have lots of summer to squeeze into August! This month has been all about checking off the last of our favorite summer traditions- like the fair! This year's trip was sponsored by Pioneer. 
And corn (tbh our entire life is sponsored by corn)!
Noah is a great audience. 
He has spent a large chunk of his summer waiting for Emma and Adam to come around, and this day was no exection. Marching band and show choir are rough on the sibling schedule. But Noah is always a good sport about being my sole picture subject. 
Noah has, indeed, grown quite tall this year! 
"Oh I'm not here with these fellas. I got a piggin' competition down at the livestock pavilion and I am gonna WIN that blue ribbon!" 
Bucket 'o cookies!
A squeaky pig in pesto parm gnocchi!
Breakfast scramble eggroll- amazing. 
Egg on a stick, alwys. 
Look! Dad's blue ribbon-winning corn! 
The most exciting and memorable part of this year's fair was our behind-the-scenes, in the cooler tour of the butter cow!  THE BUTTER COW!  
Emma has a friend from school whose family is in charge of sculpting the cow, and he invited her to take a tour of the cooler! How could we refuse?!
This is my new claim to fame! 
I got to touch her! 
The funniest part was the stream of pictures that came in from Jason's coworkers who saw us!
We were all so invested in the process!
The smell of the 20-year-old butter in this cooler is one that will stay lodged in my nostrils and memory for a long, long time. 
Thanks for the tour and the ice cream, Dean! 
Yum 
Yay for the fair and for babies who are able to fit in ALL the things! 
This girl loves a footlong corndog! 
Noah and I got to go on the sky rider after the big kids left. 
Porkchop on a stick!
Come on squeaky pig, you're coming home with us! 

Monday, July 27, 2026

July in Iowa

 
Approximately two minutes after we got back to Iowa, it was time for one of our favorite summer traditions- the Yankee Doodle Pops concert! We didn't invite many new friends this year, but we still had a happy patch of grass full of friends who share this tradition with us! 
The weather was supposed to be hot and miserable, but it was actually beautiful with a glorious sunset, patriotic music, and a wonderful fireworks show. We would hate to miss this sweet night! 
The success of a 4th of July celebration, to a 12-year-old, is measured by glowsticks collected. Noah won this year. 
We even brought Leah with us- friends always love to see her in plushy form. 
Pictures of the evening taken by professional cameras.
On the 4th of July, we got to visit with Leah! We took her to the dam to check out the fireworks in West Des Moines, 
and then we all headed home for the suprise of the summer- crazy fireworks right outside our window! We'll never have to leave the house to see fireworks again. 
July means pollinating- Emma started this year and did a fantastic job of making the best of a hot, sweaty, dirty and hard job! 
Lovingly, it's giving Sammy- 
Lil cutie, she earns these naps! 
Life Prep dating lesson- water balloon toss to practice the back and forth that is required in successful conversations and dating and missionary work! 
Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-a! 
Leah joined us virtually and got to say hi to several other families from our stake that were there. 
Noah went to Planet 7! After a week of skating, swimming, ropes course and Adventureland with friends, Noah is offically ready for middle school. 
I finally got a few trips around Raccoon River in. Trust- it's hot this summer!!
Emma is a great missionary! 
We went paddleboarding, finally! Adam was my buddy for a bit, then he went out and joined Emma and her friends in the water.
Super-duper hot temple date!
An unexpected milestone- dropping my babies off at the pool and not even staying with them. They had a great time!
It's been too long since we've posed in the corn. 
Noah was thrilled. 
Skatepark date!
Jason was so excited to finally take us to the Drum Corp show. 
After four performances, crazy high winds and an unfortunate knock to the head by a boom mic, it was thoroughly rained out and cancelled. What rotten luck! 
Some summer days just call for a good round of Mystery Date. 
Jesus hot tub! 
Tour de Stake: Final Round- Oskaloosa Branch! Emma was already off with friends. 
Rain and whimsy! 
We are loving life in July! 
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