Swimming

We have spent many of these hot day in the water... at swimming lessons, an afternoon at the Beach with cousins, and at our neighbors` pools.  The girls are developing fins!

DC Fair 2011

Turtle Charmer C wrote a story about Princess B and B for the Queen contest Wednesday night of the fair... absolutely the cutest story at the fair. It must have worked because the "Turtle Charmer" won the DC 2011 Queen Contest. Way to go "Turtle Charmer!"


Cherry Bomb and Thunderstorm were part of the Cattleman's Bucket Bottle Show. The girls did a great job. Cherry Bomb's leader won her class, but couldn't pull off the BIG title. She also was given a hot, pink show stick because she has shown in this event for 4 years. GREAT JOB!Miss CC is the real turtle charmer. She won two monster trophies and was extremely excited and proud! She was so fun to watch... she smiled for three days!
Believe it or not, she does do a little work!
This mean team placed second in the kids games Saturday morning in the three legged race. Grandpa Ralph coached them to take home the silver... or $3 and a pop.

Sunday, Halfpint threw a flip-flop and eliminated herself from the Pedal Tractor Pull Trophy.
This year as always, the Utts all attend and compete in the fair... many successes, a few disappointments, but always a wonderful, fun time.

Those past presidents are smiling down from above!

Minute to Win It

Halfpint entered the Minute to Win It at the fair, eating pretzels with a gummy worm.  She has great focus and determination for 1 minute, it's the 2 minute mark that we sometimes have trouble.  She won $20 and had a mouthful of pretzels!

(I am blogging from my phone, something new I'm trying???)

Bible Boot Camp

Last week, we attended Bible Boot Camp at the Troy UMC. We put on our God's armor, made shields of faith, helmets of salvation, belts of truth. We also sang "I'm in the Lord's Army." (an all time favorite) It was a great week! Drill Sargent Leslie keep her troops very busy and HOT! BL was drafted for the pie eating contest, but had already ate to much supper and got second place.

Off to the DC Fair we go!

Summer Projects

Here at the Lough Ranch, or should I call it Project City, we have been very busy cutting, tying, and taping.

The girls made fleece blankets, they even picked out their own colors and patterns.

We used zebra duck-tape to embellish the "show tote" (like a show box, that will go to the fair with the bottle calves, and hold feed, buckets, brushes and other useful objects... is it big enough?)

We have also adorned our lovely cowboy hats with beautiful pink, cheap, silk flowers. These Dollar General jewels replaces the large feathers and provide a taste of girly-ness to the hat.

Last week we welcomed Canon Guy to the family, our projects started then, when Brett helped me embroidery-thread quilt a blanket for her newest cousin. Her stitches were not even and sometimes she would miss a stitch... but looking at the finished project, one couldn't tell her stitches from mine?????

Happy Independence Day

Of course our 4th of July was celebrated at the Ft. Bloomfield Rodeo, we enjoyed riding in the parade, volunteering at the rodeo, camping in the RV, cheering for the local contestants, watching the fireworks, and participating in the "calf dressing" competition. BL and Rodeo Committee team took home the big money, beating the rest of us! We need a rematch, maybe at the Chuck Union??

Firecracker

Seven years ago today, I gave birth to a 9 pound 9oz. baby firecracker. She was born just before noon, and I vividly remember asking for good drugs and the nurse told me, "Oh honey, there isn't enough time, you are ready to have a baby!" Those words were so comforting... THIS PREGNANCY WAS OVER! And in a few pushed, WA-LA, we had a firecracker. With all the challenges she brings to our lives, she is a fun-loving, wonderful little girl!

She requesting her favorite breakfast food, pancakes, this morning for breakfast... thanks Jenn B. for the homemade pancake recipe in the SC Elem. Cookbook, simply delectable!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LITTLE FIRECRACKER!