The Great State Fair

Just a few pictures of our recent visits to the Great State Fair!  We went to the fair the first weekend with our friends to see Disney on Ice.  I love the ice capades and am always so excited to take the kids to see it.  This show was exceptionally good.  It was a lot of fun.  It was kind of wet and cold this day, so we looked around in the barns for a little bit, but didn't stay too long.  Long enough for some yummy food though!
This past Sunday, we headed back to the fair with Grandma and Boppy.  We got there just in time for lunch and shared tons of delicious food.  Then we headed to a few of the buildings.  On our way through the barns, we saw them hitching up the six-horse teams to their large wagons.  We hurried over the arena to watch the beautiful teams of clydesdales and various other horses compete in this event.  It was a ton of fun and the kids had a blast watching it!  After that, we headed to the car building to test out the seats in the latest and greatest models.  Harper has decided that she wants a Jeep when she turns 16!  Oh boy, that will be here before we know it! :)  Before we headed home, we all enjoyed another treat.  Yummy, fun times at our State Fair!

Our Cousin has Arrived!

On Tuesday, September 11th...we finally welcomed our new baby cousin into this world!  Harper and Owen had been waiting what seemed like an eternity for him to get out of Aunt Melanie's belly.  And they were super excited when they finally got to meet him.
Of course, they did not hesitate to touch and look and investigate from the moment they saw him.  Harper is a natural at holding and soothing him.  She will be his "babysitter" before long I'm sure!  She even got to feed him his very first bottle yesterday evening while Aunt Melanie and Uncle Cole got a little quiet time. 
Owen just can't get enough of Hazen.  He keeps touching and poking and hugging and kissing.  He holds him for short spurts and is then off to play.  When he first saw Hazen, he made Aunt Melanie unwrap him so he could give him the once over...checking everything from his toes to his belly button to his fuzzy hair. 
I know one thing is for sure...we all LOVE our new cousin Hazen!!!  And I think this Aunt thing is pretty darn cool!!! :)

Harper's Basketball Debut

Saturday, Harper had her very first real basketball game...EVER!  This summer, Harper went to basketball camp with our high school girls and loved it.  She said that she would like to play.  So, Richard and I got together several of her friends...and a few girls that we didn't know and put together a 3rd grade and under team.  Half of our girls are in 2nd grade and the other half are in 1st grade...so we knew we would be little.  How little and inexperienced...we didn't know...until the preseason seeding matchup.  In that game, our team didn't even score a point...not one single one!  Oh, well...they had fun!
This game, however, started out with a bang.  One of our girls made a basket right at the beginning.  Woohoo!  The Firebirds...were winning...for about 1 minute!  The team we played must have been all 3rd graders.  Most of them towered over our girls, but we are scrappy!  Harper did a great job guarding people, passing the ball (til she pegged one of her own teammates in the face), and hustling up and down the court.  I think our girls are just too nice.  They didn't want to take the ball from the other team.  We did end up making one more point off of a free throw.  Bringing our score to 3!  The other team scored well over 20, but again...our girls had fun!  Harper really does seem to enjoy basketball and she is improving everyday!  Can't wait for next weekend...maybe we will score 4!

T-ball in Action

Owen had his very first t-ball game on Saturday morning.  Richard is coaching him and about 10 other little ones in the indoor "learning" t-ball league at our community gym.  Several of the boys have played outdoor t-ball before, but many of the smaller boys haven't every played before...Owen is one of those!  He was so excited and ready to play.  He did great in the field at first.  Then, when he got the ball...he got embarrassed and Richard practically had to drag him to home plate with the ball.  He got over that pretty quick, when it was time to bat!  He hit the ball and ran super fast to first base.  By the time he got to second base, he was dancing and singing, while he waited to go to the next base.  What a performer!  Overall, it was a great t-ball experience and he seems to be excited for more!  Go Orange Team!

Go Fight Win!

Last week, Harper attended the local high school Cheerleading Clinic.  She loves going every year and always has a blast hanging out with the "big" girls!  They performed at half time of the varsity football game on Friday night.  After about a 45 minute lightening/rain delay...it was finally their turn to head to the field.  She was so far away, but I was able to get quite a few decent pictures.  She did great on the chants, but was definitely in her element when it came to the dance.  Her face just lit up!  She had an absolute blast!!!

Aquatic Fun

On Saturday, we headed to Tulsa for some fun at the Aquarium.  We arrived before it got too busy and got to see all of the exhibits up close without a crowd.  The kids were having a great time hearing all about each creature that was in each tank.  They wanted us to read the whole, entire sign!  Owen was a little scared at first because it is so dark in there, but he soon warmed up to the fact that the fish were going to stay behind the glass.  Harper remembered going there a few years ago and was very excited to be back.  She is such a science kid...just like her momma!

Of course, we had to feed some of the residents while we were there.  Harper and Owen fed the stingrays and the turtles.  It was so much fun watching them enjoy the wonders of the sea.  Harper even got to touch a shark...a small tiger one...but it was a shark.  We also got to see the huge shark exhibit...it is so cool.  Feels just like you are under the ocean with them!

Harper Finishes Second

Last weekend, Harper ran her very first 5K...and she finished 2nd in her age division at 35:02.  There were actually only 3 girls in her division...her three friends that we ran with.  I could not believe how much stamina that girls had.  Harper ran almost the entire way, just stopping for a few quick walks along the way.  Richard and Owen even came out to cheer us along the course.  About half way through the 3.1 miles, at one of the water stops, they told us there was ice cream at the end.  Boy did that motivate those girls.  Ice cream for breakfast...are you kidding me!?! 

 As we round the last tenth of a mile, before the finish line, Harper was running for all she was worth...and tripped.  She caught herself with her hands and knee.  But she hopped right back up and finished strong...bleeding extremities and all!

Way to Go Harper!  Here's to many more races in your future...with Mom I hope!