Eastern Idaho State Fair

Last Saturday kicked off Labor Day weekend and the Eastern Idaho State Fair. Jason's family came to Blackfoot to watch the parade that comes close to our house. It was a hot day and luckily Jason was smart enough to put up our awning to provide shade. It was fun and the kids enjoyed it. Jason and I took the girls to the fair on Monday (Labor Day) but I forgot to take the camera. So, no pictures to record that event. We had fun seeing the animals (my favorite were the HUGE horses), eating yummy food (funnel cake, fried mushrooms, french fries), and seeing the sights. We were worried the weather would be cold but it was just perfect! I burned the back of my neck. Whoops! Here are some pictures from Saturday:

Waiting for the parade to start

Jason and his Dad with Thomas in the background

Sara, Daniel, and Janelle

Mckenzie enjoying some cold chocolate milk handed out. NOTHING beats milk in the beverage department, in my opinion.

Kenzie hanging out with Grandpa

Elena hanging with Thomas and Cynthia who live in California so we don't get to see them very often. Glad they came to visit!

Picture of the "Original 7" Winwards

Fun day!

Rebecca turns 4

Becca was so excited the morning of her birthday! It was FINALLY here and she was four! She was born yesterday, to me, and now she's four. We put Elena on the bus to school and me, Becca, and Mckenzie headed to Pocatello so go shopping. We looked at toys and clothes and played in the little playground at the mall. We went to Costco where Becca got her very own Berry Smoothie. We won't mention that half of it got dumped on the bathroom floor but oh well! We came home and decorated her purple butterfly cake. I know it looks pink but it is purple.

This one says "Becca" but it is kinda hard to read.

That night I made spaghetti as requested for dinner. Then Monica and Jon and their kids, and the Walkers came over for a little party.

Becca excited to blow out the candles.

Challenge: blow candles out on TWO cakes.

I had to include this funny picture. Mckenzie wanted to wear her swimming suit. I didn't want her running around in JUST a swimming suit so she was fine with the fact of putting it over her clothes. Looks funny but sometimes whatever keeps a kid happy is worth it!

Yummy cake!

Opening presents. Here she got Anastasia and a church movie.

She wanted a puppy dog. It is currently lost but it will turn up!

When I started asking what she wanted for her birthday, Becca said every time that she wanted an Ariel mermaid doll with Flounder. I guess she saw it at the store one time to be that specific. Notice her shirt? Yeah, this girl loves Ariel!

Present from G&G Winward. She also got some clothing from G&G Woodland but I failed to get a picture.

Happy Birthday Becca! We love you!

Elena starts kindergarten

The day has finally come for Elena to start school! She has been so excited to go to kindergarten. She has had my count down the days for months! This picture is the very first day when we went to orientation and she had to take all her supplies. Look how stuffed that backpack is! "School" lasted all of 20 minutes that first day.

The next day was exciting because she got to ride the bus to school and have the first official day. I was concerned that she would be getting on the bus a full hour before school started and we live 5 minutes away. However, after her asking me for 2 hours how much longer, I'm glad it comes a little sooner!

Does this kid look ready to go, or what?

She could hardly wait to get on!

She marched onto that bus with such confidence that I wasn't able to shed a tear. It felt weird to have her gone that first day. Becca missed her but quickly adjusted to the fact that she was now the big sister for a few hours.

I have come to realize how much Elena talks. When she is gone, the house is strangely quiet. I guess I used to be that way, always asking questions and analyzing everything, so I guess it serves me right! =)

Random

Here are some cute pictures that don't really have to do with anything. This first one just cracks me up! Elena and Mckenzie are "playing" tennis rackets like guitars and Becca is singing into a princess toy. Of course you can see the sunglasses but Kenzie's goggles are too funny!

Playing at Grandma's house. All loaded up into the van toy box.

Checking out the ants

Cute girl!

Lake Powell (a couple months late)

I know this post is extremely late, but hey, it's here! Part of my problem is we took a whole bunch of pictures and since my camera takes higher pixel pictures, they take a lot longer to load. Therefore, I haven't taken the time to sit and download them to my blog. So today I am taking the time to do that. Here are some of my favorites to represent our vacation to my most favorite place on Earth!

Mckenzie playing on the beach the first day. It was great to get out after a long car ride.

My handsome hubby beginning the beach-relocation-through-erosion project.

This was just priceless! Elena took Mckenzie for a little boat ride.

The kids getting ready for a tube ride. Mckenzie got in a little later but she loved the tube rides.

They are so cute!

This is what sunscreen will do to your hair after a couple days.

Near the end of the week you can see what they've done to the beach!

I just had to include this picture because it is too funny! Erica was adamant that she did NOT want to go on a tube ride. Well, Monica had hauled all her kids to Lake Powell and they were going to spend SOME time behind the boat. So, she threw her in the tube. This represents the screaming tantrum that followed while we all just laughed!

This mama and baby duck kept coming around the houseboat to get fed little bits of bread.

Elena got to be a pro at jumping off the back of the houseboat. She felt invincible with her goggles on.

Elena and Erica: two peas in a pod.

My beautiful Becca. Here it was 90 degrees outside and she is wearing a jacket.

Jason and his scary orange eyes.

Mckenzie painting the pontoon.

Mckenzie LOVED rides in the "oat" with Grandpa. She thought holding the flag was cool too!

I love how she has the flag up even though Jason is still up.

Jason surfing

Our beloved Belinda houseboat. She is part of the family!

Proof that I was on the trip too! It takes pictures like this to help me see that Elena and I DO look alike!

Getting ready to surf. I had a hurt leg from falling at National Rally so I only skied once. I surfed a couple times because I figured if I did it when I was 7 months pregnant, I could do it with a slightly injured leg!

Oops! I was going to crash so I let go. I floated down softly!

We loved our vacation! Elena, Becca, and Mckenzie can't wait to go again!