Day three

Monday was quiet, gorgeous, and filled with fun, food and friends. Just like the gods intended.

Vroom Vroom!

An hour is all Georgia could take.

Is that the look of awe or terror or both?

Wake up G, you're missing the horses!

Taking a break in the shade with Poppy.

Millie makes friends easily.

The girl loves a good parade.

They give away a lot of free crap at the Education Building, FYI. That awsome umbrella, however, is reserved for Hamline Grads only, or their three year olds.

Day Two

Note to self: Do not go to the fair on the first Friday.

Too many fat people wearing "I survived Anorexia" T-shirts, too many toddlers on leashes (and by the way, parents, a leash with a fuzzy teddy bear on it is still a LEASH), and entirely too many teenagers wearing outfits that should be reserved for a Prince concert, or hooking. Add to that poor Tony's nasty allergies and Millie's nasty mood, and we would have been better off going out to Famous Dave's for dinner.

Not to sound too negative, I will say there were a couple of lovely hightlights. Millie got to go down the giant slide with her daddy and two of her BFF's, Lucy and Betty. We had a great time at the Little Farm Hands area where it was nice and quiet and where Millie picked out a box of cereal which kept her surprisingly content. And it was an extra special treat hanging out with Sarah, Mike, and GORGEOUS Kaelani.

But next year, we're skipping the first two days. Just sayin'.

I have a creeping suspicion that the next few years at the fair will be limited to Kiddy Midway and the cow barn.

We don't know the girl in the foreground, but she was very sweet to Millie on the giant bee ride.

Kaelani, Betty, Lucy and Millie: The Four Tiny Farmers, The Future of America.

It's the cows.

Corn head

She was supposed to be dancing with all the other kids, but true to form, she mostly stood around mesmerized by the chaos.

Don't let all the complaining fool you, we're going back Monday!

First Day of the Fair!

I'm ready!


Bunny face




Trying to milk a concrete cow.


She still looks so small up there.




For some reason, I felt a little icky putting her on that ride.


And what's with the giant hippo with even gianter teeth in the back ground?!

The Dog Days of Summer

The cousins cheering on Andrew and his cows at the Washington County Fair.

Watching the "horse show."

The last t-ball game of the season during one of the hottest days of the year certainly calls for a DQ run.

Swimming with Coco and Elliot.

Swimming takes a lot of you.

Talking about the favorite part of the day with Grandpa.

A dance for Grandma and Grandpa.

Fishing with Grandpa.

Weeeeeeeeee!

A visit to Ikea to get chairs for our new deck.

Woodbury vacation

This weekend, a few of Tony's family members gathered at his sister's home for some summer fun. It all started with a visit to the Washington County Fair to meet the cow we will be feasting on during the winter months. Cousin Andrew won Grand Champion with one of his cows, so hopefully that's the one that will end up in my freezer. Back at the Bowman residence, it was swimming, t-ball, drawing, playdough, and some wrestling with Uncle Brad that kept the kids busy and oh so happy.

Millie asked to and was allowed to stay over night Saturday, her first sleep-over other than at my parents'. She cried when I called, but otherwise was unmoved when we walked in the door. We got to have coffee and adult conversation while the kids kept themselves occupied. Tony even finished the entire Sunday paper! It was miraculous, it was glorious, it was heaven.

Millie loves, loves, loves her cousins. I cannot believe what an amazing family I married into. Even if they do have to live in Woodbury ;)

Crazy California Surfer Girl.

Playdough with Dru and Kate.

Baby Dru

Beating up on Uncle Brad.