Fun at the Hocking County Fair!

We went to the fair 4 days this week (and twice on Tuesday!) We had a great time, and Dyl's going to be seriously bummed out when she realizes we don't get to go ride rides and see animals every evening when Daddy gets home from work! She was so cute on the rides, and she looked so grown up.

My boys. <3 Blake took his evening nap at the fair every time we were there. He's a trooper.

My new favorite picture of Dyl. :)

Having SO much fun! 

She was very particular about which car she wanted to ride in. And since this was Monday night, she usually had the rides to herself! That was great.

Blake's first trip on a Merry-go-round or any ride for that matter! Next year we'll put him on a horse. ;)

Chadmo is very talented and fanagled both kids into position so I could take the picture. :)

Dyl loved watching this cow groom her calf.

Dyl also thought our matching hand stamps were awesome. It's so cute to see what a nearly 3 year old finds exciting!

The market lamb I fell in love with and tried to convince Chad we should buy. 

Haley's 5th birthday fell during fair week. How much fun would that have been if she had lived?!? A giant party & rides, just for her! 

Really I think her birthday felt extra hard this year. Maybe because I didn't get to mourn her in Februrary since that is now Blake's birthday. Or maybe just all the thoughts of how we should have a 5 year old, almost 3 year old, and 6 month old running around. Always so much lost potential, and so many what ifs.

Haley at 5 months.

Dylan at 5.5 months.

Blake at 5.5 months.

Blake all dressed up for the fair! My new favorite picture of him!

More rides! She loves to steer. ;)

Waiting in line together. <3 I love her to bits.

Such a big girl! Potty trained these days too!

There are no words for how much I love Dylan & Blake.

Snuggle buddies.

Fun at the Wayne County Fair

Checking out the dairy cows with Grandma & Papa.

"Hmm, this looks like a nice cow..."

"Maybe I'll pet her."

"Ahh! That's one long tongue!!"

Her first ride of the night - the dragon roller coaster! She's been talking about this one since the washboard festival. She looks serious here (waiting for it to start), but after one lap around she was all smiles!

On the race cars, and my cousin Jenny's little boy Liam is on the motorcycle (the outer one) behind her. :)

Whee!!!

Getting ready to fly in a helicopter - Liam was in there with her but you can't see him. They were so brave!

Liam & Dyl on the bug ride - they were so cute together! They're just 2.5 months apart in age. 

Dylan's first ever trip on the Ferris Wheel! We had SO much fun. 

The cutest fair ride companion I've ever had. ;) She kept saying "Look at me, Daddy! Look at me, duckies! (There was a rubber duck game below us, ha!) Look at me, guys! (Guys = Grandma, Papa, & Mimi!)

Pretending we're that cow from earlier, or auditioning for KISS??

Riding the horses. <3

 We love the Wayne County Fair! We all had a great weekend, I just wish it could've lasted longer!!

Toad said "Croak!"

Another fun evening at Grandma & Papa's! A long walk, a delicious pot roast dinner, ice cream, baths, playing outside in the dark, and best of all: a toad!

Hmm, should she kiss him?? Probably not. ;)

He made adorable chirping noises and blinked when we'd pet the top of his head! So cute!

Our happy boy! He thought Grandma was pretty funny! :)

Weekend fun

Dylly was so excited to have a date night & slumber party with Grandma and Papa last night that she wanted to be extra fancy! So we got all scrubbed up, put her hair in French braid pigtails for the first time, and she said she wanted to wear a dress and shorts. ;) They went to Pizza Crossing and Dairy Queen, played I Spy, and read books. This morning they had egg & bagel sandwiches on the porch and watched the rain. After breakfast, Dylly said she wanted to go for a walk in the rain in the woods. Her wish is Grandma & Papa's command, and it sounds like they had a wonderful adventure! She is a lucky little girl to have grandparents who spoil her so thoroughly!! :)

Chad & Blake observing the girly-ness. ;)

Reading some books while we wait on a Grandma & Papa to arrive.

On a side note: week before last, we got two new fish. One is a plecostomus, Dylan named him Hula Hoop. :) Now, fish are hard to photography, but plecostomus are REALLY hard to photograph! He spends most of his time hiding behind the filter, and this is the only picture I've managed to snap of him on one of his brief forays into the public eye.

Sock Hop & his new best friend, Fishy Fishy II! (Sorry I'm such a terrible fish photographer.)

 

Last night, Chad, Blake, & I had a lovely evening of making pancakes and bacon for dinner and FaceTiming with Kelly, Jesse, & Sloane. (Sloane is SO cute!) 

After Blake went to bed, Chad and I watched World War Z. Then we had a glorious night of Blake sleeping through the night and sleeping in until 9:30 am! Wow! This morning we've been making zucchini bread, biscuits, and next up is oatmeal cookies. After nap time, that is! 

Love

My love bugs. <3

Watery days

Yesterday was a study in perfection. Week days really don't come any better than yesterday did (with the exception of the most insane diaper explosion I have ever personally witnessed.) 

The morning started with a walk at the fairgrounds and into the woods with the Dickerson clan. After the walk, Heather & I sat and nursed the babies in the shelter house while the kids ran around, played on the stage, and ate chocolate covered pretzels. Then we all came back to our house for backyard play time, sprinkler action, and lunch. After lunch, we went our separate ways for nap time. We had gloriously long naps, and I eventually had to wake Dylan up at 4:15 because she'd been asleep for 2 hrs and 45 minutes! 

It's been so swelteringly hot & humid here in the afternoons that it's pretty impossible to do anything outside besides be in water. All the pools are closed, so we decided to go to "Logan Beach" as Dyl calls it (Lake Logan, really.) We called Chadmo and he headed out of work earlier than usual and met us at the lake. We had a great time swimming for about an hour & half until our Pizza Crossing was delivered! Then we had a pizza picnic lakeside (dairy is definitely still a fail for Blake. Sad, but it was a delicious test.) 

After dinner we all headed home for baths. Then we watched some "Homeward Bound" before bed. The kids both went to bed fairly easily, and Chad and I had time for wine and 1 while hour of grown up TV. Perfection! 

Today we've been suffering from "everyday can't be as cool as yesterday" syndrome, and the fact that I had to accomplish some housework. Blake was pretty miserable from the dairy exposure, and Dyl was just generally a grouch. But we ended the day on a high note by going swimming at Fred & Susie's! Angie, Lauren, & Ben were there too, and it was a great time! Definitely a cool way to spend another hot evening. :) Now let's hope everyone sleeps better tonight than they napped today! 

Dyl finally conned Henry into holding her hand...

...he looks thrilled, doesn't he?? ;)

Lunch on the porch! Clothes optional! 

Dylan reading to Blake today. I just love her toes on the crib rail...

She does love to hold her brother!

"Look momma! He holding my hand!"

"I love you, Blakey!"

They really do entertain each other! 

Siblings

Oh the adorable, incredible, wonderful sweetness. Even if it's often short-lived, it is always the best part of my day. I love watching these two love each other!