Updating on demand

Someone tells me I need to update my blog since it has been all of 15 days since I last posted something. I have been on the run, working and entertaining the kids. First I had to get rid of one (did I say get rid of one?) I meant I had to take someone to camp to learn to be a counselor just like her big sister. By some miracle there was time for her to do this between Dance Team commitments. Then, with one teenager gone, and it is summer and we are not doing anything, how about a quick trip to the Oregon Country Fair. Since we didn't really have anything planned, we were flying by the seat of our pants. First we need someplace to stay..... hmmmmm my cousin lives in Corvallis, just north of the Fair. Also having nothing to do, other than completely refurbish and paint one of their other houses, my cousin gladly says yes to us staying there.
Even though we only live 3 hours north of her, since we never come down to see her, when we do she invites all of her kids to drop by and say hello too. The first one we see is her youngest son and his wife. It is the first time we get to meet her. As you can see the conversation is mostly centered on the Wii. My youngest decided he wants to go visit more frequently since they also have pets, like dogs and cats.

Soooo, we end up at the Oregon Country Fair. I know it is going to be a touch and go day for my youngest with his ADHD and anxieties. Immediately he is overstimulated with sites and sounds and smells and people people people everywhere. He is drawn to this guy, riding a bike and sawing on wood. The end result was a small 2 piece puzzle we got to bring home.

Then we needed food. We are in a down to earth, country fair surrounded by vegetarians. Now some of my closest relatives are vegetarians, and I love them all, but I am with a kid wearing a shirt that reads, "Vegetables are not food. Vegetables are what food eats." Hamburgers, I see a place that sells hamburgers, we will go there. Let's just say I used all the distractions around him so he would not read the board over the register that said there were nuts and vegetables in all the meat patties. Fortunately he was hungry enough, he wolfed it down and never questioned me. The seasoned potatoes were not such a big hit.

Then he is ready to go (stimulation overload kicks back in) and I think, hey we can go see a show; sit still, watch entertainment, settle back down. First we have to find a stage, and hopefully it will be a show we want to watch. I come upon the Vaudeville stage, the one the furthest from the front gate. Let me back up here, we are wandering through the trees in the longest figure 8 and then some and it is confusing and we don't really know where we are and hey, look a stage!! Vaudeville, I like Vaudeville, I hope it is a good show. Parts of the show were funny, parts were, well, stupid, and then these guys came out. I started snapping up pictures so when my daughter comes home from camp, I can show her and she can try them at her circus class. (Yes I am encouraging her to run away with the circus.)It takes a well balanced person to be in the circus. and a strong one on the bottom.

Did I say we were wandering through the trees? and amongst them too. There are booths selling everything every inch of the way. People in costumes, and kilts, painted people and some regular ones like us.

If you are going to wear a costume, you might want a mask. They sell those there too. Most of them are very spendy, but pictures are still free!!Check out those guns!!

My daughter and the family nose.

Peace Out Man!!

Then the craziest thing ever happened. My favorite cousin (the one with the house they are working on) begged us to come back and stay with them again. I know why, we were having a wonderful time chatting and catching up and in the most wonderful house ever, so with a little twist to my arm, we were back. As if things were not the most wonderfulest to start with, they only got better when her daughter in love stopped by the next day with a kitty. An adorable kitty needing a home and people to love it.

And my favorite cousin's daughter had come down from Portland for the weekend so we got to chat with her. It turns out that many of my older daughter's special traits are shared within the family. I guess I cannot blame her OCD (or CDO if you want to keep things in true order) on her father. Mom, can we keep it?

You guessed it, we left it there.

I was fascinated by this on the way out. You know where to put your sunglasses as you come in the door.I get home, just in time to get older. Well to get older and eat fattening sweet desserts just because I am getting older.

These were counted several times. When you have that many, you would hate to be missing one.One of us needed a little eye protection just to see what he was doing.

Still full of hot air, I got them out in one breath. I did not get my wish since all the kids were still standing there watching me. Maybe next year.

Before the carnage, you can see the wax all over the cake and on the stove.These two seem to think it is good.

She hasn't figured out that there is to be no food near the computer.

A big game of sharing and keep away. Even though my oldest is holding his piece under little one's nose, she is holding her piece just out of his forks' range. He wonders why his plate is empty and she still has a full piece and a mouthful of cake?These would be my Favorite 4!! They seem happy.

All week, as I am getting older, Dancing Pants (her camp name) is, well, dancing and dancing and dancing. At the end of the week, they put on a show so the parents can see what they have learned in a week.

This is the Hip Hop.

The Varsity Pom...

More Pom... check out my baby's C-jump (second row from the left)

And the favorite... boy/girl dance. She is the one crawling the wrong way in the back.

A year ago, at the end of Camp Carrie, it was announced that this year they would be doing (by request) a dance to Thriller. It seems timely now, but as it was being choreographed, it was simply a request.

Upsidedowndaughter.

Boys climbing up them, her boy is in a white shirt.

And a graceful jump!!

All in all it has been a busy month, and that was only half of it. Next month..... Beach Pictures!!