I know it has been August since I last blogged, but to be honest, I have been so busy with the new job at Midwest Central (which I'm really enjoying) and all 3 girls in school! I also have had trouble getting motivated since we lost Mom and I find that things that were so important to get done, are sometimes put off to the side because I don't have the emotional energy that I use to. I'm sure it will turn around someday! Blogging should be a priority because my sisters depend on this to watch my girls grow up so with the new year coming, I'm going to try to do more blogging! If it's like any of the diets that I try each year, don't count on more blogs:)

I'm going to start with some pics from Chris and my trip to Jamaica. We went before Christmas for a much needed rest and for time alone! Love the girls, but sometimes it is good to miss them:) Then, of course, the Christmas pictures - gotta love those!

Karen

Kitchen is Moving Right Along!

Randy's "homemade" cookies I made for them - right off the oven!

The bar area

this gives the true color of the cabinets and it has the crown molding on top

Needless to say, a kitchen remodel is the most trying on a family. Thank goodness for family who lives hours away and offers to take your kids when your pulling out cabinets and are without counters and a sink! The girls have spent the majority of the week with Aunt Kori in Indiana and during that time we've had our wood floors put in and the cabinets put in. Counters get measured tomorrow and hopefully will be fuctioning by the time we go back to school. So much for getting to enjoy it over the summer! I really couldn't be happier with how smooth everything has gone and I haven't hurt Chris yet, come close, but haven't done actual harm to him and probably won't since he says we can go and buy a new stove tonight!!!! For those of you who don't know, I've been using a Rankin original. My stove came from the farm house when dad moved. We figured it to be about 17-18 years old. I think I'm due for a new model! Happy shopping tonight!

Fair Time!!!!

Chris with Houdini who took reserve x-bred steer! Kelly, that's Neil Parr behind the steer. I'm behind Chris talking to him.

Emma very proud of her lavender ribbon!!! Mom and Dad were proud too!

Ella and the queen with Ella's princesses.

Waiting for the junior showmanship class

Natalia gave it a try!

The tongue sticking out must mean something!!!!

Anna was very determined!

Ella pulling hard!!! Her steering was a little off - she almost hit a post!

Finding his spot to lay down after placing 3rd

Gibby running in the show ring!

Flower Arrangement - 4-H A rating

Market Basket - 3rd

We spent the last week at the Mason County Fair in Havana. Emma took 2 steers, 1 barrow, vegetables, and flowers. The girls had a great time and met more people again this year. Chris and I were exhausted at the end of each day but got up and went at it again the next day. All in all, the girls had a great week. Emma did very well and gained more confidence in the show ring with her steers. She really seems to enjoy it and is becoming quite the showman. We still have some improvement in the swine dept. as her barrow, Gibby, ran around the ring the whole time and then laid down in the corner and wouldn't get up when his class was over. Ella made herself known to everybody. She was rarely at our spot in the barn, she was always somewhere else! She played with her princess figurines and made a ton of friends (mostly high school girls). Anna watched the pig scramble with intense fascination. She was studying up the techniques for catching a pig next year. She is determined to catch a pig next year! The girls and Chris are already talking about what they are going to do next year. As tiring as it is, I love it that they are excited about it and want to do it!

Demo-Day 2

Eric putting in the last two pieces.

New drywall!!!!!

Phillip working!!!!!

Phillip waiting for directions.

Funny what you find behind the walls. Extra drywall - I guess Grandpa paid for it and they were going to make sure he got every bit of it!

What the h---- are we going to do with that?????

So much dust flying, didn't get a clear picture.

Thank goodness for Eric! He and Phillip came down today and helped us take down the soffits(sp?) and the wall that needed to come down. Couldn't have done it without them! Thanks guys!

PS: Sorry, but the pictures are in the wrong order:)

kj

Still haven't hurt Chris:)

Demo Phase 1

We've officially started the kitchen remodel over the last 2 nights. AND, neither Chris or I have killed each other:) Here are some pics of what we have done.

Swimming!

I apologize for it being so long since I last blogged. I find it hard to do this and so I tend to put it off, but you can thank Devin and Christy and Brittany for encouraging me to blog. I just looked through their blogs and that made me get on the ball! All I have for you is the girls swimming. We have been extremely busy this summer with softball, piano, 4-H, VBS and family visits! I thought this would be a relaxing summer where I could hole up in the house and not go anywhere, but with 3 girls I should have known that was not the way it would be:) It's probably good for me to be this busy!