Well, we've gotten the State Fair behind us now and we started school this week. I guess summer must be almost over. I think I'm glad that fall is approaching. Don't get me wrong; I love the laid back days of summer and the fun we have at all the shows and fairs, but I despise the heat we've had this year. I enjoy not having sweat pour off of me as I sit in a cattle barn or even in our living room and am I ever looking forward to some lower electric bills!!

The boys had an awesome State Fair this year. I'm gonna take just a minute to brag on them. Chris showed a December calf in the crossbred junior show and in the open Mainetainer show. In the crossbred show, she was the division champion! He also showed his March yearling heifer in the Chi show. In the 4-H division he was a division champ. Jesse showed his February yearling heifer in the crossbred jr show and the Mainetainer open show. In the crossbred show she won her class! He also showed his December baby in the Chi show and she won her division and was reserve in her division in those shows. We got to the State fair early on a Sunday morning and spent that day getting everything set up and ready for the rest of our time there. Monday we had the two junior shows and the boys ended up participating the in crossbred heifer and all steer showmanship contest. There were 130 kids signed up! Both boys made it to the top 5 of their age division! We were so excited for them. The shows started at 9 am that day and they didn't finish showmanship until 8:30 or 8:45. We still had to feed all the calves and get them bedded down for the night. A little after 9 we tried to get into the Beef House for supper but they had just closed. We finally found a place to eat about 9:45. Those poor boys were exhausted. Tuesday was steer day and the boys had a job for another 4-H family fitting their 5 steers. They must have done a good job, because one of the steers won its division. They had to refit him because of the amount of time between times in the ring. That steer was the reserve champion 4-H steer!!! Wednesday was open show day. We had a little March heifer to show in the Chi show and she not only won her class but was reserve in her division. We got through the shows that day and then had to take care of some business. We ordered our pictures from the official photographer, met with the Beef and Livestock superintendents and paid the bill at the grooming supply trailer. Chris and I headed out for home with the cattle about 8pm and Jesse and Mike came with the camper about 8:30 pm.

The Friday after we got home, the guys started chopping silage at Grandpa Bastian's house. The boys had to leave for a youth retreat that evening so they had a short day of work. Saturday found Mike and I back in the silage and the boys at their retreat with the youth group from church. Saturday, I also had a bridal shower to attend for a future niece. She's marrying my brother's oldest step-son. Mike and I went out to a local pizza place and went up to thier loft and enjoyed a movie and pizza at the same time. So nice.

The boys spent the next week chopping silage with Grandpa. Mike worked on our car trying to get it in shape again. I worked at catching up with laundry and the house and working on lesson plans. My niece also had her first baby this week. Brock David came into the world on Wednesday weighing 7 pounds and measuring 20 inches long. He seems so little. People ask if I remember the boys being that little, but they never were.

And that brings us to this week. We started school yesterday. The boys are in 8th and 9th grades this year. Chris's quote of the week so far is, "Man, there's a lot of reading in highschool." Jesse's is, "How could he be such a grumpy man and be a man of God?" By the way, Jesse was writing his profile on John Adams when he made that comment. LOL

We're working on trying to figure out a way for our homeschool ag classes to count for FFA participation. I've also begun to work on ideas for Christmas gifts. Someone pointed out that it's now less than 4 months away!