A baptism, a birthday and preschool

Joslin was baptized this past Sunday. She looked beautiful in her dress. My mom got her the dress and embroidered her name and birth date on the hem of the slip. Laura got her a handkerchief bonnet.

Patrick likes to take pictures. Lots and lots of pictures. We need to work on what he takes pictures of though. We got him his own camera for his birthday but later that day he informed me he didn't want a camera for his birthday. He just wanted one on any day. Apparently he thinks gifts any old day of the week are nice.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PATRICK!

A Wizard of Oz cake for Patrick

Patrick got some weapons for his birthday. Every 4-year-old boy's dream, right?
A light saber!

An axe! Just like the Tinman!

Wow! 4 years old. Getting so big and smart, fast and strong. Handsome and funny. He's a great kid and I am so proud to be his mom.

The first day of preschool!

The breakfast of champions- Pancakes! A special treat for the first day of school. Darth Vader and his stormtrooper also enjoyed the cakes.

Patrick in the jungle we call our front yard all set with his new backpack.

Patrick, Wyatt and Ava all smiles before school.

Christy takes the troops inside. How cute!

Our family

Patrick works on a family portrait. That is him on the left with two ears and some hair, Joslin in the middle and Jason and I in the frame. Above Joslin is one of the dogs. He then added a lot of hair to the dog. I love these drawings.

Around the house

Zummi and Joslin check each other out. Jo is getting really good at holding up her head and trying to sit up. She is also working on rolling over. Patrick really wants to help her roll over so we have to keep an eye on him when she is on the floor.

Toes! Fabulous baby toes!

I had wanted to get a picture of Patrick with each of the dogs but he wouldn't sit with Zummi. He says: No- she smells! That would be courtesy of the skunk she met a few days ago.

Sidney gets a hug. She is smart and stays away from skunks. Either that or she is too old to go after them.

Patrick has a new swing!

The rest of the pictures are from the front yard or the jungle...

Where to begin...

I know this first picture is blurry but it was the best one I got. Patrick LOVED this ride. I hope Jason liked it too!

OK- so we went to the fair again for the school bus racing, figure-of-8 style. We didn't really know what to expect but figured it would be a good time. Up to 3 buses race in a figure-of-8 and occasionally run into each other but not so much demolition derby style. One bus did ram into another one, knocking it on its side. Then the ramming bus caught fire! The driver came running out and everyone cheered. The bus that tipped got pushed back onto its tires by a payloader and went on to win the race! The buses were losing tires, doors were flying open, lots of exhaust. It was fun.

Knox County is polluted? What? No!

Patrick and Wyatt at the school bus races.

Well- the buses were fun but the rides were better. We left the races after a few heats to get on the rides again.
The helicopter ride- up and down and around and around. Patrick informed me rather matter of factly that it was not a real helicopter since there was no propeller on the top. Of course!

We met up with Ava and Jonah and their dad Todd at the fair. This is a picture from inside the apple ride. What fun! It is a good thing Jason likes rides because Patrick is not quite tall enough to ride by himself on a lot of the rides. Jason even rode the Scrambler with Jonah and Patrick.

Jason and Patrick hit the carousel. It was funny for me to be standing on the side watching them go around and around. Each time Patrick went around he had a big wave for me and lots of smiles. I loved it!
When it was time to leave the fair it was dark and Patrick was worn out. He pouted all the way to the car. As we were snaking our way through the parking lot in a long line of cars Patrick says: I want to stay at the fair forever!

Jason, Patrick and Joslin read a book one morning.

Saturday evening we had dinner with friends. Joslin and Daniel hung out together on a little blanket. Two babies=fun!

Sunday afternoon we walked down to Joann's house. Well, we walked. Patrick rode his bike. While we were chatting with her, Maddie and her mom came by to feed a calf that was abandoned by its mom. Did Patrick want to come along? Silly question! Of course! He and Jason rode along on the Ranger out to a back pasture to feed the calf. I really wanted to go to but I could not see Joslin bouncing along in the stroller. Maybe next time. Anyway- Patrick tells me the calf slurped the milk right up(head movements were included in the story!). What a cute calf.

For Laura

My sister missed the demolition derby this summer at the Knox County Fair. Laura- these pics are for you!

Dirt spraying, smoke, flat tires and even missing tires, bumpers flying, engines roaring and one fire. Our first demolition derby was great!

While we were at the fair we had to check out all the animals. Patrick really liked the ducks.

Of course, what is a fair without some food?

This steer belongs to Gavin. He also has some sheep at the fair this year. His sister has sheep, a pig and her horse at the fair. We watched her in one class on her horse. Yeah, Hadleigh- she won that class!

Ahhh, the pigs. Fun to look at but not fun to smell. Even when we got home I think I could still smell the pigs.

COSI and WACO

We headed over to Wyncoop airfield for the WACO fly-in. It was so nice to sit outside, have our picnic lunch and watch the planes go by. Patrick really wanted to get in one(the last time we were there he got to climb in one- why not this time?).

We headed to Farm Days at COSI today. What fun! Patrick got on the riding tractor and said "Let's get this one!"

Cooling off in the fountains.

Madeline, Meredith and Patrick all fit in the cab of the combine.

Climbing in and out of the BIG tractors all morning. Cool!

Getting to milk a fake cow. Patrick and the girls were a little surprised to have water come out.

Ahhh- lifting a car. Pull!

This is what Joslin did pretty much the whole time we were at COSI.

Doomed

Jason left this morning for Project Noah. He will be in Slidell, LA for a week. This morning when Patrick got up I offered him some breakfast. He wanted Cream of Wheat...the kind that comes in those little packets.

Patrick: Have you ever made Cream of Wheat?

Me: Yes, of course!

Patrick: By yourself?

Me: Yes!

Patrick: Without Daddy helping?

Ok, ok. I get the picture. Patrick must think we are going to starve this week. Hurry home J!