#298 - Getting Ready for the Race

My dear friend, an experienced half-marathoner (who also completed her first full marathon this year), is making sure I'm stocked up for the Jazz Half.  I've got a cool hat like hers, a belt for my cell phone and other necessities, and some treats to help pump me up and keep me going! (10/25/10)

#297 - Rackin' up the Ribbons

Today we picked up most of our entries from the fair, along with the ribbons we earned. Final tally:

1 blue - first place - T (Parish Fair photos - Ferris Wheel)
3 Red - second place - T (Baby Blue Eyes photo in special color effect, Smoky Mountain StoryBook in Scrapbooking);  J (painted Christmas shirt)
3 White - third place - J (trading card collection) M (toy truck, offering can)

Not pictured are the ribbons the boys won for their photos (1 blue and one red each), school art (J - white), and writing (M - blue).  These were submitted through the school, and we'll get them back later.
(10/24/10)

#296 - Centennial Camporee

Our Cub Scout/Boy Scout Council hosted a huge Campout-Camporee to celebrate scouting's 100th anniversary.  We didn't camp overnight, but spent all day Saturday exploring and making crafts, and trying new things ...

The Black Hawk Helicopter was a big attraction ...

And both boys enjoyed trying their hand at fencing (J is in the blue helmet)

(10/23/10)

#295 - Fair Fun, Part Two

I couldn't choose just one ... so here are a few more ...

And after a ton of ride tickets, and several games, the four of us played "Whack-A-Mole" and Mommy came up the big winner ... with a Shadow the Hedgehog for the boys!

(10/22/10)

#294 - Fair Fun - Part One

 Getting up close with a sweet bunny at Old MacDonald's Farm.

 And enjoying some dippin' dots ... good to the last dot! :)
(10/21/10)

#293 - Happy Birthday to Me!

Gifts from my angels ...

(10/20/10)

#292 - And the Winner Is ...

ME!!!!  :o)  First place in the Washington Parish Free Fair Scenes category!! :o)  I also earned a 2nd place in black & white/special color effects for my "Baby Blue Eyes" photo.  (10/19/10)

#291 - Flying Fair Colors

Flags are flying all over town in honor of the country's largest free county/parish fair ... the other night at the pageant, one girl shared the meaning behind the flag ... I'm going to try and find out what it is so I can share with you ... (10/18/10)

#290 - A Morning Visitor

6:11 a.m. on a Sunday morning ... this little guy found an "escape" out of the fireplace and into our family room.  After a merry chase all over the house, he was captured and set free outside ... let's hope he STAYS there! (10/17/10)

#289 - Par-Tee Favors

We went to the first birthday party of a friend's little boy, with a Hole-in-One golf theme ... these were the par-tee favors, and my boys had a BLAST playing with theirs all day during and after the party! (10/16/10)

#287 - I Scream, You Scream ...

We ALL scream for ICE CREAM!!! A tasty after-school treat at a new ice cream parlor in town.  (10/15/10)

#287 - I'm a Little Coconut ...

Reminds me of a song we used to sing going to ROTC competitions ... (10/14/10)

#286 - A New Addition

... to the cow pasture behind our house ... So precious, and probably only a few days old. (10/13/10)

#285 - More "Signs" of the Fair

Along the highway leading toward our house, the "No Parking" signs go up before the fair, so that's another sign that Fair time is near ... (10/12/10)

#284 - Ready and Waiting

... for hordes of screaming fans ... from local school groups, to dance studios, to the Parish Fair Queen Contest, to the Navy Band, to top-name entertainers, the Fair Stage is home to the entertainment at the Fair. Although the stage is there year-round, we know the Fair is near when the benches are all set up!  (10/11/10)

#283 - Welcome

(10/10/10)

#282 - The Never-Ending Story ...

of laundry ... meet Mt. Foldmore! (Can you tell that I am not fond of doing laundry?) (10/9/10)

#281 - You Ain't Nothing But a Hound Dog ...

... but an awfully cute one at that!   Come on, say it with me ... "Awwwwwww!" (taken 10/6 on field trip, posted for 10/8)

#280 - Winnebago World ... The Beginning

Another sign that the Fair is almost here ... the appearance of RVs in the fields near the Fairgrounds.  We saw the first RVs today ... before the Fair is in full swing, these fields and many others will be packed to almost overflowing with RVs and fairgoers. (10/7/10)

#279 - BlueJack Ridge

4th grade field trip to the maze ,,, and all sorts of fun, including being buried in the"corn wagon" by friends. (10/6/10)

#278 - Ready to Roll

My walking buddy's daughter, ready to roll for our walk on a chilly morning. (10/05/10)

#277 - Happiness at IHOP

After the boys' dentist appointment and a few errands, we stopped at IHOP for dinner! (10/4/10)

#276 - Screamin' Across the Finish Line

My dear friend participated in a half-marathon today, and when I went to check the website for start times so that I could approximate when she'd finish, I discovered that they had a live feed from the finish line.  How fun to get to watch and literally cheer her and her siblings across the finish line - from two time zones away! (10/03/10)

#275 - More Signs of the Fair

Banners on the power poles line Main Street, which lead the way straight to the Parish Fairgrounds. (10/02/10)

#274 - Thankful for my Handy-Man

I am so glad that hubby is good at fixing things.  Our brakes have been squealing, and he spent most of the day today fixing it, with the help of a good friend from church. (10/01/10)

#273 - M and his "Pillow Pet"

They've been seeing the commercials for ages, and today while we were out and about for "Mommy and Me" time after M's annual well-check, he decided to buy this pillow pet with some of his birthday money ... he's named it "Honey Hive." And he's so funny ... you can hear him quote the commercial ... "It's a pet ... now it's a full size pillow" (Not just a pillow, but a FULL-SIZE pillow)  How fun! :o) (09/30/10)

#272 - The "Flag Tunnel"

Another sign that the Fair is coming soon ... the "Flag Tunnel" goes up over the main thoroughfare at the Fairgrounds! :) (09/29/10)

#271 - Pack Meeting Night

Our first pack meeting of the year ... Tiger Cubs were in charge of the song, and the Webelos did the closing.(09/28/10)

#270 - Nature Discoveries ...

After school today, the boys and I headed to the fairgrounds to take advantage of the beautiful weather.  We took a stroll around the park, and J found this baby pinecone. :o)  (09/27/10)

#269 - Signs of the Fair

The Washington Parish Free Fair is THE biggest happening in our area (for those of you who are non-Louisianians, our "parishes" are the same as your "counties.")  And it's fun to see the town getting prepared for this annual event - I think this year is the 99th annual fair.  This picture was taken on the 23rd, and was one of the first signs of the fair that I saw ... the red, gold and green flags displayed on the main entrance to the fairgrounds. (09/26/10)