Cowboy Caleb & Other Fair Antics

Our annual Fair Outing was a success! We rode the bus, rode some rides, ate fair food, and of course the long awaited and talked about Mutton Bustin' took place.

Drayson's Boots
Drayson lounging...

and watching Caleb ride a pony

And now the part you all have been anxiously awaiting:

Mutton Bustin'

I'm gonna spare you the details about how Caleb chickened out right before and was having second thoughts even though we have been talking about this for a whole year! (In his defense that sheep was making some crazy noises inside the chute)! Or how Mommy bribed him with everything under the sun, while Daddy threatened him with everything under the sun :) Thank goodness there were some awesome middle school age (previously pro mutton busters) there to save the day. They talked him into 'just petting the sheep' which then progressed to 'just sitting on the sheep' which ultimately resulted in him riding that baby for almost 10 seconds and taking 5th place out of 13 riders!!

Caleb getting instruction from his new buddies

in the chute ready to go
after the big ride

some of the riders...look at our little hick :)
THE VIDEO

The only part missing from this video clip is after the rodeo clown helped Caleb out of the dirt, Caleb stood up and raised his hands to the crowd and they loved it!!! We were so proud. (I may have yelled "whoo-hoo, thata baby!" while hanging from the chute gate...more than once :)

He was so happy with himself (and more than likely will sit in front of the computer watching himself over and over and over again).

We were just relieved that he actually went without the need for physical force (and his ride was totally more than respectable...I was so afraid he was going to get tossed 2 feet from the chute).

Chip and I watched the video several times last night after we were all home and the kids were in bed--I also happen to know that Chip took the video to school with him on a flash drive so he could watch it to his heart's content today :)

I know I've said it before, but being a parent is awesome, we would be so bored without these guys!

So Long Summer, It's Been Swell!

As of Monday, Summer Vacation will be 0ver! Chip will be back in his classroom for prep week and fall sports season will be officially started for me.

For our last Hoorah, Chip and I took Caleb on a "date" to Silverwood for the day. The Bug stayed behind, but was surely missed!

This was just a small part of the water park. It was massive and awesome!



Daddy & Caleb racing down the slides

The 'splash' wins it by a nose! I think Caleb needs a few more pounds to make this race fair.


The wave pool was sweet. Caleb loved it. He was diving under the waves all "Baywatch style"

Last ride of the night: Caleb's Favorite, The Log Flume

Passed out literally 30 seconds after pulling out of the parking lot
Caleb even went on some of the "big people" rides at the water park because he just made the 42" min. height requirement. He did a double tube ride inside a covered, pitch black tube with Chip and also we went on this huge 6 person round raft down a gigantic slide. The hilarious part was he was so excited to ride both of them, but then was terrified while he did it (yelling "make it stop" and "I don't like this ride"...which was real special on the huge raft because we were riding it with people we didn't know and they were looking at us like we were terrible parents :), but afterwards he was like "that was Awesome!" --4 year olds apparently don't grasp the whole "being scared for fun" concept.

Oh, and if you'd like to see a picture of Drays looking especially grown up (of course you do)...go HERE

The Bug's list of Summer Accomplishments

This is my second child, so I should know. But it always surprises me....how is it that overnight it seems like they "just know things?!" Just 8 short weeks ago he didn't even know how to walk...and now, well now...

The Mama's Top 5

(followed by everything else in no particular order)

1.Makes appropriate "vrooming" & related reving noises when playing with cars, motorcycles, etc.

2.Gives "bonks"--the new universal greeting or goodbye for our family & friends. When he's not in the mood to give hugs or kisses, he gives the "bonks" which is exactly as it sounds. He "bonks" his forhead into yours. Very sweet.

3. The open-mouthed kiss, and if you're lucky he'll lick your face!

4. Covers mouth and exclaims: "ooohhhh" from the very back of his throat. When something especially exciting has happened.

5. Throws up his hands in an "I don't know" gesture and turns his head from side to side when someone asks him a question that he doesn't know the answer to or when he can't find something.

*High 5's * understands directions* "shares" * hangs from the stove handle * smiles when disciplined * wrestles his brother * throws everything in the garbage (we are pretty sure this was the fate of lovey lamb #1 & lovey giraffe #2) * kicks a soccer ball * hits puck with hockey stick * plays fetch with the dogs * says: yeah, hi, dog, dad, mom * baby signs: please, drink, all done, more*

And he really, really likes the bath. And this is him yelling at me to "put down that darn camera, stop smiling at me like a living fool, and put my rear in the tub"

Bustin' a mean move with his "boom box" (aka crazy Leap Frog toy that plays music). That would be rad if we could teach him how to hold it on his shoulder, no?

Ok, so this was a total post for posterity's sake...I'm not sure I even know exactly what that means...but I think I've heard a smart person say it in a movie before...could one of you intellectual types let me know if I indeed used this in the proper context (this would be assuming that there are 'intellectuals' that read my blog)

Enjoy a Photo Recap!

Here are some pics from the past week or two. We are trying to squeeze out every last bit of summer that we have. I feel like August is almost over. This is always a bittersweet month at our house because it means Daddy has to go back to being "Mr. E" and no more lazy summer days. But Chip is usually excited to get a new year started, Caleb is stoked about another year of preschool, and I am happy to get my house back and into a routine. This fall also brings my first soccer season as "head coach" and Chipper will start his Master's program. Lots in store for the Elferings this autumn.

Caleb doing his best Crocodile Hunter impression (actually he catches bees...he now answers to the Bee Whisperer)

Showing off the new board
Drays doesn't want to be left out of course
My sis' little guy, Parker looking cute as always Daddy and boys enjoying themselves on the beach (this is how we tolerated the week of 103 temps)
Lovin' this beautiful place that we live...and my cute guys too :) Backdrops like this have me iching for a "big girl" camera!
Look close, you can see Caleb out there....just joking. Caleb chickened out and we couldn't let the perfect water go to waste so us "big kids" rode instead (this is Chipper) Drayson has been copying everything big brother does
Chipper as "super dad"-- swimming with all three boys at the Taylor's
Like I said...anything that brother does! He actually stepped off the end into the water
Megan, Pat, Chip, Mike & me looking fly at Deanna & Andy's wedding this weekend
Chip is officially old. He had his ten year reunion this weekend also. On Sunday all the football players from the State Championship team met for a "team dinner" Of course he proudly sported his Purple & White

Hot Damn, I'm married to this:

Dear Kassie, Jane & John,

I nearly peed myself when I opened my email to find none other than this picture of my now husband. Thanks for the laugh.

Pure hilarity I tell ya.

Let us ponder...

a. how much hair chip has

b. his missing basketball shorts (maybe we should just count our blessings that he wasn't sporting the beloved spandex on this day?!....Jane you SO know what I am talking about)

c. why in goodness name he was allowed out of the house like this, let alone why someone obviously took the time to pose him like this, but didn't bother to mention that he might want to remove his pants...from his brain!

His response: "Babe, you know I was a baller in the 80's!"

Just a little more evidence for our CPS folder...

Today I signed Caleb up for this:

Mutton Bustin' (aka riding a sheep)

This craziness will take place Thursday August 27th at the Ben Franklin Fair & Rodeo. And for those of you who will not be present to witness the event, there will be a video (I promise).