Bagpiping Daddy

Mike was part of the PioneerHeritage Festival this past weekend. He and his teacher and a few other people played the pipes off and on almost all day. It took some coaxing, but he finally let me record him. Take a listen!

BMX Racer in Training

Evan is still trying to get comfortable on her bike. We told her if she would start from the end of the driveway, we would post a video of her. A few crashes later (she ran into Mike's car), she made her goal!

The Maze

We've never braved the maze before because I'm afraid I will get claustrophobic when I can't find the exit. This time we ran into one of the 'Corn Cops', Spencer, who is the son of some friends of ours. He encouraged us to go, so I told him we would go if he would come guide us out after about 10 minutes. He would give the girls true/false questions to guide them. About 20 minutes into the maze, Julie and I were ready to make our own path out!! We had been there for 3 hours and were ready to go home. Finally!! 25 minutes after entering the maze, we made it out (with Spencer's help)! I think they need a sign at the exit you can take a picture by (of course, for all those bloggers) that says "I survived the Corn Maize"!

The Cow Train and Oscar Hinkledinkle

We finally distracted the girls long enough to leave the poor ducks alone and take a ride on the Cow Train. No matter how many times Evan rides it, she always is excited to go again. Our local clown, Oscar Hinkledinkle, showed up to entertain. Evan is usually somewhat frightened of him, but this time she couldn't get enough. (He is a member of our church, but I don't think she really puts 2 and 2 together.) He made balloon shapes and kept them laughing! He even went on the hayride with us!

Evan picked out a baby pumpkin and a mommy pumpkin to take home. I came out of the pumpkin patch so dusty that it looked like I'd overdosed on QT.

The Corn Maize

Julie and I decided to take the girls to the Corn Maize this afternoon for some fun. Other than several mazes made out of corn stalks, they have ducks, a big pit full of corn kernels, water pump duck races, the famous cow train, face painting, hayride that takes you to a firld where you can pick your own pumpkin, and much more!

We spent a lot of time chasing, catching, and releasing the ducks. The girls had so much fun! They would chase the ducks so much the ducks would take cover under a building or a car. After a while the ducks got brave, and we would start the whole process all over again!

No Training Wheels!

Mike has made a deal with Evan that if she can learn to ride her little bike without training wheels, she can have a new big bike for her birthday. Apparently he shared this idea with Kassi's dad, so this afternoon the dads were out with the girls trying to teach them how to ride. It was really quite funny watching the dads rest frequently from all the hard work!! I think the girls had fun eventhough they had a few near misses and complained of being tired. Evan had a few good runs all by herself across Mr. Billy's yard (to cushion her fall). The funniest thing to see is Evan trying out her brakes while Mike is jogging behind her. I'm surprised he hasn't flipped over the handle bars yet!

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She's Becoming a Bowhead

My little tomboy has finally begun the transition into 'dolling up' (is that even a real phrase?). Evan was around boys for so much of her first few years that she naturally enjoys boy things - cars, blue, bugs, sports, etc. Her best friend who lives across the street, Kassidy, is such a DIVA. She is a real girl's girl! Frilly clothes, bows, updo's, big bows, dress-up clothes - and all that fun stuff! It just so happens that Kassi has rubbed off on Evan. We went shopping this weekend, and almost everything she picked out was PINK! She even wanted to buy some bows. I was able to get her excited about this cute little blouse because it had a headband with a bow on it to match.