Fair Time!!

It's Fair time in the Ozarks once again! I have already gone 2 nights; Sunday evening with our International Student friend Angella from Jamaica, as well as Ashley, Danny & the girls. Here are pics from that first night:


Ashley & I entered cookies in the same category, however, we didn't realize that until we saw them in the display case - she got 1st place and I got 2nd!! Her castle cake also got 2nd place!!

Annabella just wondering what's going on!

















Here are my peanut butter cookies (the plate with the red ribbon); I placed 2nd which is okay with me. It might be time to choose a different cookie though. I think I figured up that I've been entering the same cookie for over 6 yrs now! So yeah, I think it's time for a change of cookie.

















Here is a video I took of one of the rides called "The Zipper". I actually have rode this. Years ago. MANY years ago. It kind of looks like it might be the exact SAME one I rode many years ago. That's scary, isn't it?? You can hear our friend Angella comment about being sure not to eat before you ride it. Needless to say we stood back a little ways as not to get hit by any....projectiles!!

I also went tonight to participate in the "Grandparent's Cookie Contest', but I'll have to post pics of that later. I will go ahead and tell you that my no-bake cookies made 2nd place!! Wahoo!!

KC Royals & Fireworks

Friday afternoon Billy & I drove up to KC to meet up with some friends and go see a Royals game. This was the view from the escalator that we took to get to our seats:




Here is their new video screen; they are also doing other renovations as well at the stadium:



Our view of the field:


The fountains...I've always like the fountains:


Evan Longoria....son of EVA Longoria perhaps????


The mascot.....he's standing on top of the dugout:



Here is a picture of us with the couple we went with; Derek & Amy:



Eating hot dogs; it was 'buck night' which meant all hot dogs were a buck!! Needless to say that meant you had to stand in line for a LONG time to buy some.



After the game (they lost), we were treated to a fireworks show. Here are some videos:









It was a good little getaway although we didn't get back home until around 2:30 a.m. We are going to the fair tomorrow evening with our international students and then 2 nights next week I am going to participate in 2 other food events. The crock-pot one I've never done (but then again, this is the first year for that one) so it should be interesting. I've always liked going to the fair, but Billy just isn't too thrilled about it. We even went there on one of our first dates, but he says he took me just to impress me.....so I guess that's why I like going back!

I'm also waiting to see if my cookies or fudge won anything, but looks like I might not know until we go tomorrow. Occasionally another family member will go before me, then let me know how I did. So maybe this year I will wait until I go myself. I will be sure and take lots of pics!!!

Hot Day At the Ballpark

Billy and I drove up to St Louis yesterday to watch the Cardinals play the Padre's. It was "Christian Family Day".




So we're waiting outside one of the gates to get our tickets and 2 firetrucks pull up. We still don't know why, and all the other workers didn't pay much attention to them, so perhaps it's just a 'normal' thing.


Here is Ed Moncado; he's the one who gave us our tickets.


This was on our way to our seats. We had just walked up like 15 ramps, and made it to the top level. So we stopped and took a pic.


On our way to our seats.....which were actually behind left field. (so as you can tell, we had a long ways to go!!


Still on our way.....
Ah...finally. I'm not necessarily afraid of heights, just the STEEP stairs getting there. We were at the very top of the top deck; 2nd row from the back. At least for most of the game it was in the shade, because it was rather hot and humid!! And we had a nice breeze as well which helped.



You really can't tell because it's little blurry, but they won 6-5. It wasn't looking good there for a while, but Pujols helped by hitting in 3 I believe in the 5th inning.

Here is a video of that hit:





And you HAVE to do "the wave"!!! I think this went around at least 5 times before finally puttering out. (this was in a point of the game where it seemed like they were changing pitchers after each batter, so I guess we were all getting a little bored by then)




It was a good game, but just a little warm for me. Next Friday, we head up to K.C. to see the Royals play. It's 'buck night' so all sodas and hot dogs are a buck!! What a deal! We haven't seen a Royals game in like 10yrs. And this Cardinals game was the first time we've been to the new stadium.

The fair also starts on Friday, and once again I have entered some goodies. We'll see this year if I can beat my sister-in-law in the Fudge category. I've also entered pnut butter cookies again, and I added a new one this year in the 'Holiday' cookie category with "Holiday Tea Cakes".

I'm trying again in the "Grandparent's Cookie" category with "no-bake cookies" and decided to try something much different this year - they added a new "What's In Your Crockpot" contest and I thought I would enter taco soup. Why not, right?? Both of those contests happen during the fair next week. It is a little nerve-wracking however to sit and watch them 'judge' your entry. I guess you always have to hope that when they taste yours, they don't make a bad face.

I leave you with a picture of my Sunday School class that I teach; today I only had 2 kids- Sydney and Cooper. They are having a snack.


Have a great week!!!

Just wanted to let everybody know that we are all still alive, it's just been a very busy week!

Christopher began a new job on Tuesday; he works in the Portrait Studio at Penney's. So far he thinks it's really cool and even more now that they are transferring to new digital cameras in the next week.

Billy & I are heading to St Louis today to see a Cardinals game. A very kind friend got us tickets so we couldn't pass up the opportunity. It will be our first time to see them play in their new stadium. I will be sure and take lots of pictures.

I guess that's about it. Yep.

The Things People Wear At The Mall

Don't worry...I didn't have my camera with me at the mall today, however, it's amazing what people will wear nowadays in public.

We were leaving one of the major department stores, and noticed a young lady with a very, VERY short jean skirt on. Never mind that is was VERY short, it also had a hole in the side. Now she was quite skinny and quite tan, but I was glad she didn't bend over.

The 2nd gal was coming IN that same store through the mall entrance, and this lady was rather tall and wearing a very short "T-shirt" type dress. That wasn't the funny part. At the end of the ramp to the entrance, there were a couple of older gentleman sitting on one of the benches 'noticing' her. You could see them talking to each other while she was walking away from them. THAT was the funny part.

Someday I will remember to bring my camera and take pictures. I'm just amazed at what people wear, but I'm sure I haven't seen it all...yet.

A Post About Posters

Well, there has been lots of talk about, um, 'posters' this week in my neck of the woods, so I thought I would dedicate this post to posters of the past. Hold on to your monkeys, here we go:











You know, I tried to remember if I had any posters on my walls as a kid, and I think I had some of those 'kitten' ones. I know my brother used to have one of Lady Godiva, but even if I had found a picture of it, I couldn't have posted it. For obvious reasons. He also had a blacklight at one time and one of those 'velvet' type posters. Why is it that I can remember what my brother had in HIS room, but not my own???

I thought at one time my sister and I had a really cool 7UP poster that was a big butterfly, but couldn't find a pic of that one either. Oh well...I hope you've enjoyed this trip down memory lane. And just remember, life is short....so let's BOOGIE!!!

A Small Tribute....

I believe I wrote about her on her birthday in January, but hard to believe my Grandmother has been gone for 3 years as of today.

I was on the way to Houston, TX with some of our church members on a mission trip when my mother called to break the news to me. I had seen her about a week before when we had a baby shower for my daughter and granddaughter. I was so happy she got to see Sydney before she passed on. We were able to fly back to town for the funeral, but since we had drove one of the BSU vans down, we had to return to Texas shortly after.

Probably not a day goes by that I don't see or hear something that reminds me of her. I think God does that on purpose. Man, I miss her coconut meringue pies!!!

Life Is Like.....

....fried zucchini. Don't ask me why. It just is.

4th of July

Danny's father David was in town, so we decided to head out to Ashley's for the 4th. Here are some pics of the evening.







Here is what it looked like standing on their balcony:





And when we got home, here is what our neighbors were doing:




It was a fun night; tonight we head to a wedding here in town of a young lady that we've watched grow up while we attended First Baptist. It's amazing how fast they grow up, but it's also a privilege to get invited to share in their special day. I think it's going to be a beautiful ceremony.

More pics from Atlanta......

Billy playing WII in the hotel room.




Here is a Chick-Fil-A water tower:


Our favorite sign in Atlanta....."Grady" Memorial Hospital


A video I took outside our hotel room window of one of the planes taking off.