Mule Festival!

Today we went to the Clark County Mule Festival in Kahoka, Missouri.  I never knew so many people had mules... the place was packed!  They have events that you can compete in while riding your mule.  They have tons of vendors, trail rides, and a rodeo.  BJ found a mule that he really liked but they guy wanted $5000 for it, needless to say... we did NOT come home with a new mule!  You will have to excuse the quality of the pictures, I didn't take my camera with me so they pics were taken with my iphone.

How redneck is this entrance to the event?  It's a good thing we took the 4 wheel drive!

I have never seen so many mules in one place!

In this event, the contestants had to carry an egg in a spoon while riding in the arena.  They even had to trot without dropping the egg!

This was my favorite event, Mule Jumping!  The mule jumping right now was really good and took second place.  They highest jump was 52" from a stand-still!

I think this was the highlight of the day for the girls... getting to ride the hay wagon back to the car!  BTW:  I hate, hate, hate the hat BJ is wearing and if anyone wants to steal and destroy it, there is a hefty monetary incentive in it for you!

School pics.

Ever since I got my camera, I just don't see the point in buying the awful school pictures that the school takes, so I always do my own and have them ordered for the girls.  Alex is not a fan of having pictures taken so we got an acceptable shot the first time around (only because she was not even going to consider re-doing them!)  Sam, on the other hand, took 3 photo shoots to finally get one that she liked!  I am probably the only parent that Photoshops their kids school pictures!  Sam had tons of mosquito bites on her legs that had to go and Alex had a sore on her nose.  Oh well, it's done for the year and I got them ordered tonight!  Drumroll...

Family night!

Last night I had my niece, Nicole, my nephew, Josh, and my nephew, Dana, spend the night with us.  It is a rare occasion that all 3 get together because of their hectic schedules.  We had a really good time.  The older two, and I visited the local winery that just opened up in town.  It was quite comical because Nicole and I didn't like most of the wine that they poured for us to try and we both handed most of it off to Josh, so I think he had a pretty good wine buzz by the time we left!  I also tortured them with family pictures while they were here!

This is my youngest nephew, dana.   He is 16 years old, and did not appreciate me forcing him to do a photo shoot!  He would have much rather stayed home and watched football!

This is Josh.  He is 21 years old.  Josh was pretty cooperative about the pics.  He was happy with the way they turned out and was glad to get some pics of him and his siblings.  Josh has always been my buddy!  He used to stay with me a lot when he was younger and we always have a great time when we are together!

This is Nicole.  She is 24 years old.  Nicole is much too sweet to tell me I was making her miserable, but was obviously not loving the photo op!  

Finally!!!  It's about time I got Alex to let me take her pics for the new school year!  I have been trying to get them since I did Sam's back in the end of July!  

Isn't she beautiful?  And doesn't she look so innocent... don't let her fool you!

Sam got new glasses last week so she decided to wear them in the photos.  Her dad couldn't believe how old she looks in this pic!  They are both growing up so fast!

Some group shots...

I am usually the one behind the camera, but Josh played photographer for me so I could get a shot with me and my girls!  I have to say, he did an excellent job posing us!

Like mother, like daughter!

Well, unfortunately, it looks as if I have passed my horrible eyesight on to my daughter.  Samantha is a bit nervous about going to school this morning in anticipation of wearing her new glasses!  She made it 1 year later than I did, I had to get glasses in the fifth grade.  Why couldn't she have gotten BJ's eyesight?  Even as  terribly old as he is, (ha ha!) he still has perfect eyesight!

Yard Work

I have been so busy with work and the kids starting school that I have not had any time to update the blog. BJ has been home for 4 days because his truck is in the shop so we have been doing a lot of work around the house and property.  We spent 2 days running fence for the horses and setting new poles.  BJ leveled the huge mound of dirt that was left in our backyard after the construction of the garage and moved gravel to the parking area.  It is amazing how much bigger the yard looks now!  The girls both seem to like school really well.  I haven't managed to get the time to take them out and do some school pics yet, but I hope to accomplish this task this weekend.  Real Estate is really busy right now.  I have 4 contracts pending right now on top of managing all of my listings and trying to get my continuing education credits in before the end of September.  

Back to school...

I can't believe that summer has come to an end.  I guess with having moved this summer time really got away from us and it doesn't seem like summer was very long.  We did manage to take the kids to "Fun City" last weekend.  It is a huge indoor/outdoor water park in Iowa.  I didn't get any pics to post because I didn't take my camera for fear that it would get wet or stolen.  I am hoping, now that the house is in order and the garage completed, we can get some trail riding in before winter hits.  My poor horses have had minimal attention all summer!  Getting back into the school routine without Clara was a little strange... and even though she was always the last one out the door, we still managed to be late today!  Miss ya Clara!

I'm officially old!

I admit defeat... I broke down and bought a mini van!  We are heading to Fun City Sunday and planning a vacation after the first of the year and the kids and BJ absolutely hated traveling in my car, so I decided to buy a mini van.  The van is a 2003 Ford Windstar with 60,000 miles on it but it is in immaculate condition, not so much as a spot on the carpet!  With my kids and horses... that won't last long!  A Ford was not my first choice, but BJ absolutely refuses to let me drive any GM products because "they took money in the bailout!"  So, I guess I have to put his principals before my preference since he makes the payments!

Photo op!

This evening, Sam and I decided to take some pics.  Alex did not feel like posing for any photos so I let her slide this time, but I did inform her that she was going to have to let me take her pictures in the next couple of weeks so I have something to use for this years school picture.  I no longer buy the pictures that the school takes, I am usually disappointed and over-pay!

Happy Birthday Clara!

Happy 16th Birthday, Clara... From your family in the U.S . 

We Miss you!

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag

Wir vermissen dich!

Poor Zoey!

The girls have watched me give Zoey a bath thousands of times and for some reason, this time, they decided that they wanted to do it... I don't think Zoey appreciated this much!