State Fair photos

Me, Nate & Grandma Becky took Kevin to his first State Fair! We started with the Hands On Farm. Kevin had a chance to plant seeds, harvest vegetables, ride a tractor, and milk a cow.

Another first, yummy corn dog!

A few rides down the giant slide

He sat on big tractors, there were lots!

We took a break for some ice cream

Grand finale: merry-go-round ride

*** For Tanya, you would be proud, we saw lots of livestock too. In fact, I am sure it's the most livestock I have ever seen in.my.life. all in one space. I did my best not to show Kevin I was a bit freaked out! This photo is for you!

This 3400 lb bull was a big deal

(Am I the only one who thinks the dinky metal fence might now be enough to hold this thing back? Seriously, did they sedate it?)

Such creativity

A few weeks ago Kevin was playing with an old hand-held radio, which he thought was a camera. He thought it was really fun to go around the house saying "click" and "cheese" imitating what you do with a real camera.

Last week during playtime at school he made a camera out of bristle blocks. The teacher's were so impressed and let be bring it home for Nate to see. Oddly, when I made a fuss at dinner time showing Nate the creative toy Kevin had made, Kevin got very, very shy and embarrassed. So modest.

A tradition...

An Iowa's rite of passage.... attending the State Fair! It's a big deal here, you can't believe it.

Nate and I went with friends last weekend to enjoy some junk food, live music & tons of people watching. Tonight we are going to take Kevin, we are hoping it's less crowded during the week. There will be kiddie rides, animal exhibits, playgrounds, corn dogs and maybe his Dad will win him a giant stuffed animal!

Photos to come!

Lots of baseball at our house

In case you can't tell... this is Kevin's wind-up. He started doing it Saturday night while we were watching the Cubs game. It seriously took 5 adults quite a while to figure out he was imitating the baseball pitcher. This motion is usually followed by Kevin screaming "homerun, I'm running the bases" as we runs through the house.

Chicago visit!

I have been slacking in my role as our family photographer.... I only snagged a few photos during our visit to Chicago last week.

For both my birthday, and Brian's, Kevin loved to help blow the candles out

Kevin asked Uncle Brian to read him some stories. Brian thought it was so funny that Kevin chose Christmas stories in August. He's two Brian... he doesn't know when Christmas is (just go with it)! The rest of us enjoyed a good laugh listening to Brian read all about Santa :)

Kevin is finally big enough to ride the bike Grandmom & PopPop gave him for Christmas. He was very brave, riding to the end of the cul de sac & back all by himself! Yes, I know, we forgot his helmet (next time, I swear!)

A minor medical emergency... Thursday morning my mom noticed that Kevin got a mosquito bite just above his eye. In fact, she was standing there and flicked the bug off his face so he wouldn't get anymore bites. Too late.... he got several bites above his eye. We didn't think much about it. He has had mosquito bites on his arms & legs a few times and it hasn't been a problem. By Thursday night his eye looked a little swollen. We all thought it would go away by morning... wrong. By Friday morning his eye was swollen shut and we had to go to the doctor. Kevin was prescribed a steriod and he is now all better. It was just enough drama to cause me to miss the majority of my playgroup-mommy reunion party on Friday morning :( All the girls told me we could reschedule during our visit in September.

Minnesota pics, a little late

2 weeks ago we took a road trip to Minnesota. Nate's family is from Minnesota and Nate has spent many memorable summers on the lake boating, fishing & swimming. Naturally, he was excited for everyone to meet Kevin and for Kevin to enjoy some of the summer fun he reminisces about. Too bad, the weather did not cooperate, but we did have a fun time visiting with everyone. A highlight of the trip was the wonderful campfires that Scott & Joe built each night.

-View from the dock of Linda & Scott's place-

-As always, Uncle Joe was a big help getting Kevin ready to swim-

-Nate thinks the water was mighty cold. I wouldn't know, I never got in-

-Kevin loved playing with the dogs & watching them leap for the ball from the dock. I'm running away before the spray me-



-2 year olds don't care if the water is cold-

-Neither do the doggies-


-On the way home we stopped for a bit of culture... The Jolly Green Giant is in Blue Earth, MN. I suggest you stop if you're on a road trip, it was a good excuse to have ice cream afterwards-

Thanks, Kevin

Dear Kev,

You made our road trip to Minnesota last weekend very fun. You were teriffic in the car. Yes, there were lots of snacks, silly songs, lovies, and your binky to keep you happy - but you were happy! Can you please be a good boy for our drive to Chicago today?

Love, Mom.

ps - You loved your new sleeping bag. Please sleep good at Grandmom & PopPop's house too. It will make everyone so happy! That is all I need for my birthday.