Introducing August............in no particular order.

As the month of August ends school begins. It is a very bitter sweet day. We need the money the job brings, but it is so hard to give up the freedom we have with our summers.

We took a nice trip to Southern Nevada. August is still a little to hot for us northerners. We had a nice visit with family though. We tried to cool off at aunt Camrin's house. The kids say she is the "rich aunt because she has a pool."

The highlight of August has to be the good ole' county fair. Both Levi and Casey showed two lambs each. They did a fantastic job. One of the crazy rules at our house is you have to show a lamb at least once. I grew up showing lambs and looked forward to it each year. I know the kids will be hooked if they just try it once. Levi obviously chose to show a lamb again. Casey was just as hesitant as Levi was last year and was quite perplexed by such a "dumb rule" as she called it. However by fairs end she had had so much fun she informed us that she wanted to show next year. We just kept telling her "don't tell us" or "we're not listening." You see, the rule continues that after you show a lamb you have wait two months before you can tell us if you want to show again next year. Why two months? We want them to be good and solid in their decision plus, about two months after the fair is breeding season.

(The rest of the story....It was mid October when we were driving home from Grandmas house one night when Casey asked out of the blue, "Dad, has it been two months since the fair?" "Almost" I say. "I want to show again next year". I guess we have another one hooked.)

The summer ritual continues. How quick kids learn that blankets on the floor downstairs are much cooler than their beds upstairs. Living in an old house with little to no insulation makes heating and cooling the upstairs very interesting.

Sunday morning, a few days prior to the fair, Levi had a little accident on the trampoline. Like most fiscally conservative parents you wait a little bit before you rush him in the emergency room. Right? Plus, Levi has been known to be a little dramatic from time to time...or most of the time. The truth is, there was no obvious brake so we decided to wait it out and see how the night went.

By Tuesday he still couldn't put any weight on it so we decided we had better take him to our doctor who just so happens to have an x-ray machine in his office, an added savings for the fiscally conservative. The doctor could not find any brake on the x-ray but was very concerned with the amount of bruising and swelling. He just felt like there had to be something more than he was seeing on the x-ray. He made a little splint and said he would get back to us in the morning before the show after the radiologist at the hospital took a look at the films.

We had about 24 hours until he was to show his lamb so we rounded up some high tops from a friend, crutches from a taller cousin and had an earthy friend make an herbal wrap to sleep with in hopes that showing his lamb wouldn't be too painful. We did give him the option to sit out of the first show because it was just showmanship and judging wasn't until the following day. He was adamant that he was going to show. Wouldn't you know it, the first thing the lamb did inside the ring was rear up and come down right on his hurt ankle. He was hurting so bad. The tears were pouring down his face but he stuck with it and lasted through the show. We were very proud of him for toughing it out.

About 45 minutes after he was done showing the doctor called, apologizing it took him so long to get back to us, and said there was a fracture running through the growth plate and we were to get him in a walking boot asap. It made us feel kind of guilty for not rushing him to the hospital the first day but how do you know? Luckily the medical supply store was still open. It was amazing how immediate the relief was for Levi once he put the boot on. What a little trooper he was. The next day during the show he showed his lamb incredibly well with minimal pain. The judge recognized him by name over the PA system and told everyone in the audience about how tough he is because the day prior he showed his lamb with a broken leg. It was a good learning experience for Levi.

We have decided that Levi is the kissiest member our family. He kisses us good night numerous times, his bird and the dogs get kisses and apparently his lamb got her fair share.

Anna is running all over the house now. It is pretty cute because she has to keep her hands held up in the air for balance.