Why wouldn't I be wearing slippers in August?

I LOVE THESE SLIPPERS!!!!!!!!

Can you say corn dog?

We had been in the gates of the Iowa State Fair for about 10 minutes.  We were just finishing up our free samples of Cookies BBQ Beef and Beans when Harrison says "I want a corn dog!"  It was 10:00 am and in true Wilcke fashion he was wondering why that wasn't the FIRST stop we had made.

We had a blast at the fair.  We went on Saturday with Greg and Pam.  We started out with the mandatory DNR building with all of the different types of fish and different types of environments from Iowa.  Bennett liked the ducks outside better.  Duck is one of his favorite words.  He says it so forcefully!

Then we checked out all of the real fishermen.  These are the people who are hocking their wares by showing us how we can't possibly live without them.  $80.00 tupperware sets, Z-Coil shoes (UGLY!), mops that clean your floor with just water (I've had one for a couple of years!), etc.  Greg and Pam are always looking for that next must have.  This year car wax was the bait and Greg got hooked!

After that we were on to lunch at the always fabulous Pork Producers tent.  It is just soooo good!  While we were sitting down eating, we noticed a woman next to Chris was munching on a pork chop on a stick.  She was taking bites out of her mouth (after they had been substantially chewed) and setting them on her napkin.  Now, I have had occasion to have taken a bite and come to realize that said bite is not chewable.  I politely and discretely put my napkin up to my mouth to get rid of the cud and then fold the napkin so as to not 'gross others out!'  This woman just let it sit on the table saying "I am full of salvia and am braking down right before your eyes!"  As Harrison would say 'DISCUSTING!  And to top it all off, this woman was one of the fine employees of the Iowa State Fair.

After lunch we were off to Little Hands on the Farm.  Harrison had been waiting for the all morning.  Little Hands on the Farm is where children ages 2 - 11 get to plant seeds, harvest the produce, take the produce to market, etc.  The volunteers let both Bennett and Harrison participate and Harrison did great.  Bennett got hung up on the digging a hole for his seed and  then picking more apples than one toddler should.

What I really enjoy about the whole process is that it makes sense.  After we picked soybeans we traded them in for fuel for our tractor.  Before we milked that cow we feed her corn so she could produce healthy milk and then got said carton of milk.  After we took our produce to market we got cash to spend in the store.  I hope I am not sounding uppity or holier-than-thou-type-mom, but I really took the time to explain all of these things to Harrison.  We read all of the signs and he put together the process that he was going through.  His only disappointment came when he realized there was not water in the watering can.  "But mom!"

I really enjoy those kinds of teaching opportunities and I feel sorry for the children whose parents don't take the time to explain to their children that what they are doing is not only fun but a part of life.  Soapbox, put away.

After the Farm we went into the Learning Center.  This is a fairly new building and I had not been inside yet.  The whole building centers on animals that have just recently been born.  We saw a goat that was only 2 hours old!  Most had been born right in this building.  Being from a farm I don't know how the animals felt about giving birth to their young right in front of busy crowds (normally they prefer to go off and be alone in a quiet area) but I do know that I appreciated it.  It was great to see animals that were only a few hours old.  One calf had been born at 3:00 am and some of the chicks were literally breaking through their shells as we watched.  Harrison especially liked the chicks.  That was neat to see.

Next we were off to the Sky Glider.  This ride freaks me out quite a bit but in reality it is pretty safe.  It's not like you can't fall out, it's just that you would have to be very careless to fall out.  Anywho, Pam and Harrison rode on this and they had a great time.  Chris, Greg and I hung out with Bennett who was a little wired as he was eating lemons and was about 1 1/2 hours past his nap time!  But he still managed to take the cutest picture!

Now we began to think we were hungry again, but we stopped off at the Butter Cow and Butter Shawn Johnson.  Always very cool.  Then we took the boy's picture in the children's tunnel.  We do it every year.  Harrison's picture's turn out the best.

So, more corn dogs and a turkey leg filled our bellies this time and then it was off to see the big boar and giant bull.  On the way to the bull, Bennett finally decided to take a nap.  Uggggg!  He cried for almost 15 minutes before passing out.  And then, I have never seen such a wet baby.  Talk about sweaty!  He was soaked.  We saw the Budweiser Clydesdales and then were off to the Varied Industries building to cool off.  The temp really wasn't that bad, but the way Bennett looked in his stroller, we all knew he needed some relief.  

After the Varied Industries building we made a final stop by to get JR's donuts and some fresh root beer.  Harrison's meltdown came at this point and we knew it was time to go.  After he was through we chanced fate by heading towards the Giant Slide.  Harrison had been talking about it and he only gets to go on 2 rides at the fair (the midway is OFF limits!).  He had a blast (so did Chris) and said he wasn't ready to go home.  Us, being the parents, older and wiser, etc, knew better and put our foot down.  "No, it is time to go home and you will do what we say."  OK, so maybe it was "When we get home, we will watch some cartoons!"  It's was all good, tired, exhausted parents do!

Overall, the fair was great.  I love to go and people watch.  That is the bitchy part of me.  I mean really, will the drunk men with babies in their bellies ever put their shirts back on?  I hope not.  Too much entertainment value for me.

Sorry for the long post.  I just got carried away reliving my day! 

Wal-Mart

I love the Olympics.  They are addicting to watch and it's almost like a car wreck - I can't turn away.

This morning, Harrison and I were watching South Korea and China compete at archery.  I was explaining the sport to Harrison and telling him about how the girls were trying to hit the target.  We watched a little more and then he got up and went to the bathroom.  When he came back, he sat down on my lap and began watching again.  He then asked "Tell me again why they are trying to hit the Wal-Mart."  I couldn't help but giggle and I had a hard time telling him that they were trying to hit a target, not a Wal-Mart.  I can't imagine how complx our brains and thought processes have to be in order to understand language and all of the 'tricky' ways that we manipulate it to suit our needs.  So funny!

A parade

The Iowa State Fair kicks off today.  It is one of the biggest state fairs in the country and it listed as one of the 1000 places to visit before you die!  We are going this weekend and I am going to gain 10 pounds and not think twice about it.  I am so excited!

Last night we went to the Fair Parade.  It is a huge parade with over 200 entries.  It started at 6:15 pm and we left around 8:15 pm and there were still floats and bands coming down Capital hill.  I have no idea what time it got over.  The boys had a great time.  We usually go to the parade in Ames every year for the 4th of July and that is fun but Harrison really focuses on the candy (a lot of it!).  The parade is fun and it is fun to watch Harrison get the candy, but it seems like that is what we focus on  - candy and not letting other kids steal our candy!  The great thing about this parade is that they don't throw out candy.  We really get to focus on the floats and music.  

The boys LOVED the bands, especially Bennett.  He was mesmerized.  He would be eating something or looking at me and then hear the band and then just stop.  He kept his eyes peeled on that music until he was careening his neck to watch as it was lost from view.  Harrison kept telling us to 'LOOK!  LOOK!' every time something was coming.  When asked what he liked best he said the horses and bulls.  Some road apples were left right in front of us and that took a little time to explain.  "Why do they potty in the road?  We don't potty in the road!"

We really got a great place to sit.  I am definately going to remember this spot for the future.  We sat our chairs by the street and then put a blanket out to 'picnic' on.  There was a giant green space behind us.  I had brought a ball so we kicked that around for a while before the parade started and then Harrison found that he could run on the brick retaining walls so there was lots to keep us occupied.  Harrison even met a friend to play ball with!

Of course a fixture of all fairs and parades are Queens.  There is the Fair Queen, the Pork Queen (a definite honor!), the Sauerkraut Queen, the County Queens, etc.  There were about 4 floats with the County Fair Queens on them and every time one went by Harrison would wave and say 'Look at all the pretty girls!'  Well, once those floats passed there were some floats with State Fair volunteers.  When Harrison saw that float he said 'Look at the pretty boys!'  We all laughed and he just went on waving.  

Have appetite - will pant for food.

To add to the list of very strange things that Bennett does - he pants for food.  Literally.  If you have something that he wants he comes towards you with his mouth open and making a panting sound.  He started this a week or so ago and now I think it might become a habit.  Today he was eating cheese with my mom and every time she would take a bite the panting would get harder!  What a goof!

Lunch time

What is this that you are feeding me?

Timing is everything

Miles has this all figured out.  'If I take my nap at just the right time, when I wake up everyone will be asleep and I will get ALL the attention!'  Bennett, Will and Harrison had been in bed no more than 5 minutes and Miles woke up from a 45 minute nap - that stinker!

Today is Will's first day here with us and it has been a good day so far.  There haven't been many smiles or giggles from him but not crying sessions either (which is what Bennett would do!).  He spent most of the morning checking everything out and getting pushed around by Bennett.  If Will had a toy, Bennett took it.  If Will was sitting in the rocking chair, Bennett shook the chair until Will got out.  This will all change once Will figures out that he is bigger than this twirp, Bennett!

Harrison did great.  He showed Will around and played with him out on the porch for a long time.  He then took to scolding Bennett every time he took toys from Will.  My daily circus is just beginning!

Hmmm...smelly

So I was putting Harrison to bed for his quiet time this afternoon.  As we were walking into the bedroom he asked me to lay with him and I had told him no.  I put him in bed and laid down to snuggle next to him.  I told him I was going to go take a shower now and I gave him a big hug and just looked at him.  Soon he said "Mom, I want you to go."  Oh - he has not said this to me in a long time.  Usually there is a bit of a struggle at bedtime.  While Bennett is the best sleeper I have ever met, Harrison is on the opposite spectrum.  I asked him when he wanted me to come back and check on him (this is a little routine that we have).  He said - and I am not making this up - "When you get rid of that breath.  What does it smell like?  I don't like it."  When does honesty not become always the best policy?

Fore!

Harrison went on his first official golf outing today.  He has gone golfing many times before, just never with clubs!  Chris, Harrison and my dad went out to Jester Park and played 18 holes.  Harrison had a great time.  He 'whacked it' (his terminology) and putted the ball.  What a little man he is!  Things that Chris wants to remember:

1.  Chris was just getting ready to putt the ball when Harrison said "Daddy, try and hit it in the hole."  Good advice!

2.  My dad was putting a 10 footer and Harrison clenched his fist and said "Yeeesssss!" when it went in the hole.  

3.  Harrison decided that he wanted to be the one driving the cart and Chris had to chase him down to stop the cart.  Harrison was a little surprised that he had done that.  Curious minds three years olds have!  

They had a great time!  I just wish I would have sent the camera.

This is delicious!

So, this morning, Miles had a doctor's appointment so he wouldn't be here until 11:00 or so.  I was feeling a little restless so I asked Harrison if he wanted to go to the mall.  'The mall?!  YES!  YES!  YES!'  I guess that meant he would be willing to go along if Bennett and I choose to go.  We arrived at said mall and 8:02 am.  There, greeting us at the door was Van and Bonnie.  Van and Bonnie are local radio personalities for WHO.  I don't listen to them (KGGO rocks!) but I am familiar with them.  I guess they were doing a promotion of some sorts and before I knew it both Bennett and Harrison had AE ice cream sandwiches in their hands.  Oh good, ice cream at 8 in the morning!  SUGAR!  Harrison couldn't stop talking about how good the ice cream sandwiches were.  "I am a lucky boy!  This is delicious, mama.  Why haven't I had these before?'  All comments that meant he wouldn't be coming to the grocery store with me anytime soon!  Luckily, we were going to just the place to wear off the unneeded energy.  The mall play place is fabulous.  And it is even more fabulous at 8:00 am when your 2 children are the only 2 there!  Harrison pretended he was a dragon and had claimed the castle as his own until Bennett discovered that he could get to the top as well and then Harrison decided that he was the king and Bennett was his servant.  Together they would slay the dragon!  How fun the imagination of a 3 year old.

Upon returning home I realized that Bennett had taken the house keys out of my purse (he likes to wear them as a necklace) and we were locked out.  I saw him take them, but some how I managed to leave them at the mall.  Luckily for us, we don't lock our windows and Harrison knows just how to break in!  Ahhh, the upbringing of a house thief!