Mt Larcom Show

Mt Larcom is a town not far from Gladstone and we went to their fair!  Apparently it's a big deal.  First up was free face painting.  Evelyn had been talking about this for days and couldn't wait!  So fancy!

We watched a log chopping contest.

We saw award winning jams and quilts and cakes and flowers!  I do love a fair!  

There were lots of horses!  We watched horses jumping hurdles and pulling little carts.  And met this beautiful Shire horse, Titan.  Oh, he was a beauty!

What's a fair without corn dogs?

But I think everyone's favorite was the petting zoo.  They had goats and sheep and ducks and guinea pigs, but my kids loved the chickens.  What is it with my kids and chickens?  There were these crazy fluffy ones!  Yes, that is a chicken Isaac is holding (not quite sure why it was partly painted red). She even had a blue beak and face (not painted).  I'm sure Opa knows what kind of chicken it is.  

Bridget wanted to hold it too.  But it was a little big.

Instead the adolescent chicks were more her size.  She was so happy!  A few times I was thinking "Lennie, don't squeeze the puppy!" but she did well. 

And Evelyn loved them too.

I wish I'd gotten a picture of Lydia helping little kids hold the chicks and guinea pigs.  She would have spent all day there helping.  What a fun day at the fair!  

Brisbane Trip

A few weekends ago we drove down to Brisbane.  On the way we stopped at Aussie World, a little amusement park!  Basically carnival rides, but you only have to pay the entrance fee.

It was a perfect place for the kids.  Just a handful of fairly mild rides.  Even for Bridget!  She and Isaac enjoying a leisurely cruise on a coal car.

Evelyn and Bridget on a space ship!

The kids found this rickety bridge over a giant gaping pit!  Yikes!  Don't fall!!!

Lydia and I shared some magical mother daughter moments on our favorite ride, the swings!  And there was a little bug roller coaster on which Evelyn squealed in delight!  We rode the ferris wheel and played miniature golf.  It was a good time!

After Mike and I enjoyed a Saturday morning at the Brisbane temple we all went to our favorite Brisbane bowling spot.  (There is no bowling alley in Gladstone, so this was a priority in our Brisbane plans.)  

Isaac got TWO strikes!!  Taking after his father.  

The kids tend to gravitate to the arcade games after a few frames of bowling and come back when it's their turn.  There was another family of kids playing games and Lydia discovered there were still some credits on one.  She went to inform the mom that they had more playing time, but the mom was so impressed with Lydia's honesty that she let her play.  And THEN she won the jackpot!  The mom was ecstatic, and decided it was yet another reward for her honesty.

Bridget sitting with Lydia's booty.

And with all of Lydia's tickets, she divided her points into 4 so that each of her siblings could pick something out of the prize cabinet too.  Is she amazing or what?

We enjoyed an absolutely wonderful Sunday in the Chermside Ward!  Even received the sweetest compliment over the pulpit that they were happy to have my singing voice again. (Aww, shucks!)  Ate dinner at a dear family's house then off to a family fireside as well!  The kids got to join the primary for a musical number and Mike gave the closing prayer.  How perfect!

Here's the perfect ending to our stay in Brisbane.  On our way out Monday morning we stopped at the temple with the kids.  We are so blessed!

 

Double Digits Lydia!

Lydia is ten!!  Ack!  Where did all the time go?

Here is the birthday girl diligently practicing her piano.  What a good girl.

Even if she is a little strange...

My ten year old off to help Daddy coach Isaac's soccer team.

While everyone else is away at soccer I get two special helpers in the kitchen.  Here are Evelyn and Bridget mixing waffle batter for Lydia's dinner of choice.  Amazingly none of it ended up on the floor!

Leftover waffles from dinner were cut up for Lydia's birthday chocolate fondue!  Strawberries and bananas are healthy, right?  Covered in chocolate?  Only more so!  

Ten candles!  See anything tricky?  (The blue and green flames didn't show up in the picture so well.)

For her birthday Lydia wanted a watch (a bit nicer than the one Evelyn got) and a particularly cool spiral bound notebook.  Is she Oma's granddaughter or what?  Love this girl!!

Lydia is such a blessing to our family!  She is so beautiful inside and out and the older she gets the more fun she is as a daughter and as a friend.  I'll enjoy it while I can!  

Happy Birthday Evelyn!

Evelyn turned 5 yesterday!  Here she is at school with her best friend of the week, Gabby.  (It was hilarious, I couldn't get a picture of Evelyn at school without some little girl jumping in!)

Gabby also joined us after school for a play date and an "afternoon tea" of cake and ice cream.  This year Evelyn wanted "a cake that looks like a chocolate cake" instead of a doll cake.  Less work for me! But I still made it fancy with flowers and pearls!

Daddy hugs!  It's so fun to have Daddy home right after school (the perk of starting his work day at 5 am).

Let's eat this cake already!

For her birthday dinner Evelyn wanted scrambled eggs.  That's usually our fallback dinner, so another easy request!

This year Evelyn wanted a pink watch "with numbers all around it" (not like Mommy's watch that just has dots).  She also wanted a kitty that meows and purrs and moves.  And what better excuse to give new pajamas?  Here she is with all three!

So as not to be outdone, Bridget wanted a picture in her pajamas holding a kitty too.

We love our bright, beautiful Evelyn!  She is growing into such a fun and loving little girl!  Happy birthday, dear!