Iowa State Fair 2012

My favorite time of year has already come and gone.  The Iowa State Fair!  The fair gets more fun for the kids each year as they grow a year older.  Hannah was able to partake in all the events this year - compared to Last Year at the State Fair, or even more, The Year Before That.

We took the kids twice this year.  One time just our family, on a random, beautiful Tuesday night.  We rode the bus there, which I think sadly was the highlight for the kids. 

They each got their own big people seats.

This pic was on the way home - Hannah's Cheetos face.

The kids climbed on every.single.tractor.  This is on a life sized Gator.

Little Hands on the Farm!

This year the tractor rides had a wagon, hay bales, and gas tank to pull behind. 

Hannah could do the tractor ride this year - with daddy's help.

Milking the cow.

Sorting all of the foods at the end.  Hannah even took out the foods that didn't belong that other kids had misplaced and put them in the right bins!  She must take after her Papa.

They kids got all tatted up.  Showing off their Hawkeye tats. 

Then on Friday night we met my family at the fair after work. 

Round 2 of Little Hands on the Farm.  The kids each picked a rubber pig - which they ended up keeping at the end by mistake.  We thought they were to keep, and learned that the next day. 

Picking out his crops for his basket.

Friday night was a little busier than Tuesday night, so they had to wait for tractors to ride.

Tractor ride.

Henry did such a good job - those tractors were heavy!

Food time - Brio eating chicken on a stick.  

Showcasing my dad's awesome photography skills!  (Inside joke)

We love watching the big Clydesdale horses each year. 

And another favorite - the big Elk. 

The weather was absolutely perfect for the fair this year - such a nice surprise.  Now that the fair is over means fall is on the way - and with fall comes football!!  I know our house is excited about that - is yours??!!



Summer Fun 2012

What a great weekend we had!  Talk about packing an entire summers worth into just three days!  Friday night we left work early and met my family at the Iowa State Fair.  It was our family's second time going, but the kids loved it just as much as when they went on Tuesday night.  Then on Saturday morning, we packed up our cars and headed to Adventureland.  We got there right as the gates opened to try and beat some of the rush, which turned out to be a great idea since the weather was absolutely perfect, making Adventureland a popular destination on Saturday.  We stayed until a little after 1pm, which was the perfect amount of time for this family. 

We started with the balloon ride.  Both kids loved it.  The parents - not so much.  Spinning rides are just torture the older you get!!

Then we hit up the lady bugs.  The kids loved being able to drive it themselves.

Hannah, such a big girl.  She got to go on rides all by herself this year!

Driving in my car. 

Now that Henry is a few inches taller this year he got to come on some more rides with us!  After some coercing, I talked Danielle and my dad into coming on the ride with us.  At the very end with the waterfall my dad pushed off and saved Henry and me, but soaking Danielle.  She is such a trooper:)

Henry loving the big boy rides!  The other awesome thing was we got there so early that we only had to wait about 5 minutes to get on.  We all recalled coming in the past and having to wait at least an hour to get on this ride. 

Since we, well mainly Danielle, was already wet, we figured we'd attempt the log ride.  Surprisingly enough, Hannah could go on this ride too!  By her look in this picture she isn't so sure, but she loved it.  She also didn't get soaked like Henry and Danielle did...

Love this picture of Danielle covering Henry.  She definitely gets Aunt of the year award. 

Hannah LOVED it!!

The kids hit up one more ride and we took a break out at the car for a picnic lunch.  Luckily I had a dry shirt in the car that was in the Goodwill bag that Henry threw on.  Note to all - bring a dry set of clothes and shoes for your kids when going to Adventureland.

Hannah and Grandma Deaner in their matching purple shirts.

We went back in the park for about an hour, hit up the train, carousel, and a few other rides. 

Papa couldn't resist the Snickers ice cream bar. 

Another ride that I was shocked there was no height minimum (as long as accompanied by adult) was the Gallion. I made the mistake of taking Hannah....she kept her head on Danielle the entire time.  She didn't cry until after we got off - but I felt terrible!  Henry went on it last year, so I figured she would be ok...guess not....maybe we will try again next year. 

 

Check out that lip.  

We ended our Adventureland trip with some Infant Ocean, and of course, me, Danielle, and mom's favorite - Tilt a Whirl.  Henry came on the ride with us and laughed so hard, maybe not as loud as I was screaming though....  A family favorite. 

The kids fell asleep on the ride home and slept well that night.  I definitely recommend Adventureland for a fun family trip.  Though I would not recommend taking your 2 year old on the Gallion....and I would also suggest going during the week since the lines do get pretty long on the weekends. 

Hope everyone had a great weekend and got to enjoy the perfect weather!!

 

Baby Vorac

Andy's sister Heidi and her husband Nate are expecting their first baby in early November.  So of course, we had to throw Baby Vorac a party.  This past Sunday we hosted a baby shower for Baby Vorac.  Heidi and Nate had the most adorable announcement in Geneseo when we were there for Easter a few months ago.  Both sides of the family were at there house when Heidi came down the stairs wearing a shirt that read 'Future Hawkeye' with an arrow pointing to her belly.  Loved that!!  We were all so excited for them!

Here are a few pictures from the shower.  Baby Vorac's gender will be revealed in November, so luckily black and gold goes with boy or girl.  This baby will be ready to watch it's first Hawkeye games in true black and gold style.

I love the onesies on hanger look, and since the gender is not yet known, I just bought some of each!  Pink owl for girl, and blue dinosaur for boy.

We played two games, guess the old wives tale gender prediction questions, and baby pictionary!  Heidi scored 50% boy and 50% girl, so guess we still don't know....

Baby got a TON of good stuff.  Toys, carseat, clothes, you name it. 

And of course, Hawkeye gear!

Love this one!! 

Heidi's good friends Leah, Amy and Brigit all came into town. 

And my favorite part was Nate packing up all of the stuff.  Heidi took some of our baby stuff we have in our basement - the famous Sleep Sheep Swing, that Hannah lived in for her first 3 months, and the tummy time mat that both of our kids used and loved. 

Can't wait to meet Baby Vorac in just over 2 months!!

Hannah and her Letters

About 6 months ago Hannah's teachers in the Little 1's room kept telling us how Hannah was the only one in the class that could identify all of the kids names on the back of each picture.  Then when they would point to the first letter of their name, and she knew what the letter was.  And they told us she was the only one in the class that knew all of them.  I was amazed too, for a little girl at the age of 1 to know all of that.  Well now she has gotten so much better, that ANY letter you point to, she knows it.  I finally got her to do it on video.  See below.