Church camping trip to Brandon

 We have one week of school in the books and have started a second week. Both kids are doing pretty well with school. They enjoy the schools days, but not always the homework at the end of the day. But overall, school is off to a great start. 

Covid continues to be a problem. The kids are not wearing masks in school, since it is such a small school and they are around these kids all the time. But, I am making them wear masks when we go to the store or library. We are back to masks and social distancing when appropriate. It kinds of feels like we are back to square one. Also, people are still really hesitant about vaccines, which is frustrating. 

This past weekend, we went camping in Brandon at the Big Sioux Rec Area. It was a really fun camping trip. We camped with people from Bethel and Sure Foundation. The weather was super hot and humid on Saturday. Like, sit and sweat in a lawn chair hot. But it didn't stop us from biking on the bike trail, hiking, and going for walks. 

Saturday evening, John had his work company picnic. So, we went to Crooks for supper and a beanbag tournament. At around 8:00pm it started storming really hard, and at 9:00pm we left. It was raining really hard and lightning and thundering, so we decided to just head home and sleep at home for the evening. 

Sunday morning we headed back to the campground to hangout and then go to church at the shelter at 11:15. Church was followed by a potluck, and then it was time to pack up and go home. I was really impressed with the campground in Brandon, I think we will be back again someday soon. 

Now we are into another week. I happened to have today off, so I dropped off kids, went to the gym, and now I am going to clean and catch up on things at home. Tomorrow, we are hoping to go to our last free Canaries game of the year. This weekend, we are going to the South Dakota State Fair. I am pretty excited about it. Emma has some projects she submitted to the State Fair, so we are excited to see those, and then explore the fairgrounds. 

I actually did not take any pictures this weekend, so I can't leave you with any photos. But, we had a great time camping, and the kids had fun running around with other kids the entire time. It was definitely a success, and I think there are plans for more camping next year!

First Day of School 2021

 Well, it's here. The first day of school. I really can't believe school is starting up again. This year is probably the least prepared for school I have ever been. We had an unbelievably busy summer, and it really just flew by. 

Both kids were pretty excited for school to start today. Emma is in 4th grade now. I hope she has a great year. She loves science and math, but she needs some work with her language arts and grammar. I am really hoping homework can be a little less of a struggle this year, and I hope she enjoys being in the upper grades room this year. I am really looking forward to basketball and field trips. 

Elliott is now in 1st grade. I think he is going to have a great year. He keeps getting better at reading, and his writing is coming along as well. We do still have to work on tying shoes and a few behavior things, but overall I expect a great year for Elliott. He is a really good example for his classmates, and he loves to ask questions!

The only downside of things, is that Covid-19 is deciding to ramp back up again just in time for school. There is a variant called Delta, and it is more contagious and is affecting the younger people more this time around. So, the hospitals are filling up again with people who are not vaccinated. So, we will see where we are in a couple weeks. I really hope school can stay in session and the ASC can stay open, but I guess I will just have to wait, pray, and see what happens. Also, the kids are not old enough to be vaccinated yet, so I will be praying that they stay happy and healthy as well. 

Pretty soon I will be heading to go pick them up from school. I'm planning on some sort of treats on the way home and a nice relaxing evening at home with the kiddos. 

Here's to another school year. And like 200 lunches to pack!

Fort Ridgely

 This past weekend we made the trip to Minnesota. We barely caught our breath from the fair, and then we were off on another adventure. It's the story of our lives these days. 

We left Sioux Falls around 3pm on Friday, and got to my parents' house around 6pm. Mom and Dad were driving the ditches looking for items that were stolen from our church. Our little country church was broken into and they stole some of the communion ware, the cross off the altar, and some smaller items. They tried to get into the safe where the cash is, but they couldn't quite do it. It was pretty sad to hear that people can't even respect churches anymore. 

After catching up at home for a while, and playing some 500 in the yard, we headed to Ryan's house for a shrimp boil. It was really good. We had fresh sweet corn, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, sausage, and then some shrimp. It was great. It was also a nice time to just relax and visit at Ryan's house. Mom and Dad took the kids home around 8:00pm, and then Ryan, Emily, John, and I could just visit for while. It was a really nice, relaxing way to visit. Emily left kind of early because she had to work the next day, but John and I stayed until 1:00 am. That was a super late night for us, but it was really nice to catch up with Ryan. 

Saturday was another fun, busy day. We started the day by sleeping in and just hanging out at Mom and Dad's house. We ate an early lunch, and then we headed to Fort Ridgely to do some hiking and exploring. John had never been to Fort Ridgely, and we finally made it there. We started with the historical items and John really enjoyed that. Eventually the kids got a little restless and we headed out on the trails. 

I really enjoyed being back at Fort Ridgely and hiking the trails. It had been a long time since I had been there and it was really nostalgic to be back. I had forgotten a lot of the trails! Elena and Rachel only made it so far and then they turned back. Dad, John, Emma, Elliott and I made it to the top of airplane hill. It was really fun to see the top of airplane hill again, and the kids really enjoyed that. 

After getting our exercise in, we went back to my parents' house and got cleaned up for Austin Black's wedding reception. It was on Marcel and Gretchen's farm, and it was pretty fun. They had a nice supper and a live band. The kids had a really good time running around with the other kids there. The adults had a good time drinking beer and catching up with everyone at the party. We stayed until 11:00pm and then finally got the kids home and put to bed (along with ourselves). 

Sunday was another catchup day. We ate a nice brunch at mom and dad's house before going over to Mark and Kathy's house to see Michelle's horses and dogs. The kids really enjoyed that. There were 5 dogs at Mark and Kathy's and the kids absolutely adored them. Around 1:00pm we left and finally headed back to Sioux Falls. 

We got home around 4:00pm, and had a good hour to unpack and start laundry before we left again and ate supper at Golden Harvest with Katie, Jim and Barb. After that, we went and saw Katie's apartment and then the kids and Katie swam at her pool. After the swimming the kids went home with Jim and Barb and John and I headed home. We finally got to sleep in our own beds, and get back to reality. 

Tomorrow is the first day of school for the kids. I can't believe school is starting again and I have a 4th grader and a 1st grader. Time truly goes by too quickly. Here's to hoping we can have a healthy, happy school year!

Swinging at Fort Ridgely 

Cousins 

Airplane Hill 

Kids being kids 

Turner County Fair 2021

 We survived our first fair as 4-H parents. It was one heck of a week, but we had a healthy dose of family time, and the kids loved it, so it was well worth it. 

Last Sunday, before the Fair, we headed to Ron's house for a bean bag tournament and potluck. Jill and Peggy were in town, and John's other aunts and cousins were there as well. Erika and Bert were also back in town again, so we had plenty of people to visit with. The food was good, and then we had our tournament. I was partnered with Samantha, and we lost our first two games and were out. 

We did have to leave early and check in the rabbits and chickens into the fair. We ran to Jim and Barb's house to pick up all the animals, and then we checked in the rabbits and then the chickens. The process was actually pretty smooth. After they were settled in, we checked Elliott's projects into open class, and then we enjoyed the free BBQ supper meal at Heritage Park. After the food, we checked in Elliott's and Emma's 4-H projects. After the craziness, we headed back to the camper to relax and call it an evening. We visited with some more family, and then called it a night. 

Monday was a crazy day. Emma, Elliott, and I had to work in the 4-H building in the morning helping serve refreshments to the 4-H judges. John was also busy judging open class photography. We ate a nice lunch at the camper, and then got the kids in their show clothes and got ready for the chicken and bunny shows. The chicken show was first, Emma showed two chickens. The show ended up lasting 5 hours, so it was very long, and not overly exciting. Emma's first chicken was in the first 1/3 of the show, and then the second chicken was in the last 1/3 of the show, so it got very long. Overall, Emma did really well. She got a purple ribbon with Stilts and a blue ribbon with King Peach. 

The rabbit show started while the chicken show was still going on, so it was a little stressful. Elliott showed first since he is a Cloverbud, and he did really well with his bunny. The judge liked his rabbit and he got a green cloverbud ribbon. Emma showed later in the show, and ended up with a purple ribbon and almost got best of show! She also did showmanship, and she got Reserve Champion for that. So, it was an awesome end to the day. 

Katie came out to the fair in the evening. We all ate supper together, and then Katie and the kids went on a couple rides together. Eventually, we called it a night. John headed back to Sioux Falls to work the next day and I took the kids for some well-deserved showers at Jim and Barb's house and then we all finally went to bed. 

Tuesday was another busy day, but not nearly as bad as Monday. It was an early start. Emma said the pledge of allegiance at 7:45 am and then we ate some breakfast and did some bunny and chicken chores. After lunch, Emma and I went to the Fair office to sell ride tickets while Elliott hung out with Grandpa Jim. In the afternoon, we visited the commercial exhibits and enjoyed just walking around and relaxing. We also found some family and visited with them. In the late afternoon, the kids and I headed into town for Bethel Open House. The kids got to put all their school supplies in their desk, and then we went through their daily schedules with their teachers. The kids won't admit it, but I think they are ready to be back at school. John took the kids back to the fairgrounds to sleep in the camper, and I enjoyed a night at home in a real bed. It was glorious. 

Wednesday morning, I got a nice big coffee and then headed back to the fairgrounds. The morning started with chores and Zebra donuts, and then John had to do announcements for a couple of hours in the fair office. From 11-3pm, we worked in the 4-h stand. The kids absolutely loved working in the 4-H stand. Emma took orders at the window, and did a great job serving the customers. John and I helped with the hot foods, and overall it was pretty fun. It was hot, and got long toward the end, but it was fun. After working, the Tomczak family came to visit the fair. The kids were overly excited to show the Tomczak kids the fairgrounds. We walked the entire fair, saw all the animals, and then relaxed at the camper for a while before they headed home. 

Jeff and Samantha headed to the fair that evening, and we had a lot of good family time. Elliott had the most showing his rabbit off to people. He would go out into the crowd and ask people if they wanted to see his bunny. He told me one day that he showed his bunny to 53 families. Elliott is such a character. He also loved showing off his projects to anyone who would go and see them. He was one proud 4-Her. Emma also enjoyed showing off her projects, especially her grand champion eggplant. She also was a very proud 4-Her. In the evening, we all played some blackout Bingo with the relatives, and then John went home to work the next day, while the rest of us went to bed. 

Thursday was the last day of the fair, and an early morning. We volunteered to pick up garbage Thursday morning for free wristbands for that evening. We picked up garbage for a good 90 minutes, and then got our wristbands. The kids actually seemed to enjoy themselves. We went back to the camper to eat, and then we did animal chores again. I sold tickets again from 1-3pm while the kids went with Jill and Peg to Ron's house to play with Abby and hangout. At 4pm, we hit up the rides with our wristbands. I went on a bunch of rides with the kids including the zipper. I don't know what I was thinking with that one, I'm too old for that stuff. Emma and I went on that ride, and she didn't really enjoy it either. There was a lot of closing eyes and swearing (from me), but we survived. The kids also did the tractor pull, and they both got 3rd place which was pretty cool. 

We rode rides until around 8:00pm, when we finally stopped and ate some supper. At 9:00pm, we had the crazy job of checking out the chickens and rabbits, and then finally the projects. It was 10:00pm before we were back at the camper with everything. John headed home and Jim brought the animals home while the rest of us finally went to bed. That was the end of a crazy, busy, fun fair. 

On Friday morning, we packed up the camper and finally headed for home. At home, we did laundry, cleaned, and got unpacked and then repacked again. John worked during the day, and then in the afternoon we headed to Minnesota, but more on that trip in the next post. 

I was very happy with our first official 4-H fair. We learned a lot, and I'm already looking forward to next year. That's a wrap on the 2021 Turner County Fair!

4-H baking

Washing chickens for the fair 

Getting the bunnies ready 

Puppies 

Fair ready 

Chicken show 

Grand Champion Eggplant 

Bunny show 

Elliott showing off his ribbon 

Rabbit showmanship 

Katie and the kids 

Reserve Champion Rabbit Showmanship 

Fairing hard 

Duckie races 

Blackout Bingo 

Cloverbud Show and Tell 

3rd Place Kiddie Tractor Pull 

Before the Zipper ride terror

Collected all the projects