The Farm

Last Friday Devin and I headed to Jackson for the morning. We took corn out to the farm so that they could freeze some. He was all excited about being out on the farm. He helped the guys husk the corn and even stayed outside with them while I went in with Grandma to clean the corn. He would husk and then hand it to Grandpa to finish getting all of the silk off of it. What a big helper he was.

Afterwards Tim took him for a tractor ride and he was so excited!!! He even got to drive it. I think he would have stayed on the tractor all day if you let him.
Devin also helped cut corn, well he tried but wasn't very successful. Butter knives don't cut corn very well, but they don't cut little boys fingers either!!

We had a great day with great-grandma and great-grandpa and Tim.

MOA

On our way home from Brainerd, we went shopping at Albertville and the Mall of America. Let me say that shopping with a 5 years and a 2 1/2 year old when you need things is not the thing to do. They were good, it was just hard to look for myself and keep an eye on Devin. (Mister into everything!!!!)

At the Mall of America we had to check out the Dinos made with Legos. What a hit with both of them.

They both also got to make a Bear at the Build a Bear Factory. They made one for Austin, too. Devin tought it was pretty cool to push the petal and stuff the bear. He enjoying giving it an air shower and brushing it's hair. Thanks to Grandma they all got new bears. Devin found a motorcycle that he liked and thought the bear needed to ride (and himself too)! I got him that and he loves it.

O'Reilly Get Together

At the beginning of August myself, Devin, my mom and Alexis went to Brainerd for a couple of days. We left town Sunday morning and then got back to Blue Earth on Tuesday the 10th. We had a great time catching up with the family and just enjoying each other. Devin and Alexis did really well together. I do have to say this photo is my favorite of the two of them. Devin would copy everything Alexis would do at night.

One of the days we went to the beach after nap time. Devin wasn't too sure about the beach. He has been to the beach one other time, but not to go swimming so this was a new experience for him. Of course he started to enjoy it when it was time to leave.
We had a lot of fun visiting and taking pictures.

Me and my Aunt Cheryl

Family visiting at Jerry and Cheryl's house. What a wonderful afternoon we all had. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be to see everyone. It had been a little over a year since I saw everyone last and boy do my dad's brothers look like him. I love them all, but it was really hard to be in the same room with them. Hopefully each time I see them it will get easier and easier.

Haase Family Get Together

On Sunday we went to the Haase Family get together. What a nice afternoon we all had. We celebrated a couple of wedding anniversaries and a few birthdays. We did a potluck and just relaxed while the little kids ran around.

It is always nice when a grandma can see her kids, grandkids, and great-grandchildren playing and having a good time.

Even the big boys were out talking and having fun!

Toy Story 3

Sunday night we took Devin to his first movie!!! We saw Toy Story 3 and it was great and I even cried. He did so well. He sat with Ben for the first part and then switched to my lap, but never took his eyes off the screen. He seemed to enjoy it. We went to Wells to see the movie, that way it was a little cheaper in case we had to leave early. Maybe we will have to do it again sometime soon.

The Fair

It is that time of year once again. The fair has returned to Blue Earth for yet another wonderful year. Last night was the first day and of course we had to go for supper!!!! We did a little walking around and Devin got to ride a few rides last night. He enjoyed the animals and really like the cows! I am not sure what his new interest is with them, but there was one getting it's hair cut and he would have stood there for forever watching if I would have let him.

This year one of my friends thought we should enter our jam in the fair and I decided ok I thought to myself, "why not go big or go home!" So, not only did I enter jam, I enter photos and scrapbooks. I entered 2 different jams and a salsa, 5 photos, 2 scrapbook albums, and 2 2-page layouts. I am very happy to say that I received many ribbons and a few Champions. But the one I am most proud of is my Reserve Champion on my 2-page layout featuring my dad and Devin. These were the last photos I had of him and it means more than you can imagine receiving ribbons for my work.

I also received a Champion on this photo of Devin and if you look in the bottom left is another photo that I took and I received a blue ribbon for that one.
I also received a Champion for my raspberry jam right behind Mandy's Grand Champion ribbon!!! We did a great job.
Tonight will be day 2 at the fair. More food, rides, and walking around enjoying the sites of the fair.

Green Giant Days

Wow, what a busy weekend we had. We started off the weekend on Friday night out at the Green Giant for some music and games. Ben entered a bubble blowing contest with a few other people that we know.

Devin had fun dancing to the music and running around. We got hit with three rain showers while we were there and during the last one we all got totally drenched. And at that point the rest of the music was done, so it was onto fireworks. We went over to the school's back parking lot and watched from there with a group of our friends near one of the fire trucks. Devin just wanted to go home, I think beside being wet and starting to get cold he was very tired. We watch the fireworks and Devin cling to Ben's neck the entire time and didn't want to see the BOOMS and kept saying all done and wanted to go home.
On Saturday morning Both Devin and Austin along with the neighbor kids did a half mile kids run. I walked with Austin and Ben walked with Devin and boy that was one long walk with those two. And this was right after we got done running 2 miles.

Yes, I said we. Melissa and I have been training for the last few months to run 5K's this summer and this was her first race of the summer. I am so proud of both of us!

I got Ben to run the race also. We did awesome and he only came in 20 seconds before me. I took 1st place for my age group and he took 2nd place for his age group.

After the race, lunch and naps it was time for the annual parade. I was a nice parade and we ended up with a lot of candy. Devin is in heaven with all of that candy!!! We had supper at our house with my brother and his family and then Ben went with Mandy to their class reunion, while we watched a movie and relaxed. Sunday was a day of doing nothing. It felt so nice to just relax and enjoy the day. I ended my day with a girls trip to Albert Lea to see Eclipse!!! It was great and can't wait for the fourth movie to come out. I might have to re-read the book again.