Our state fair is a great state fair ...

Well, the week was pretty weak but then I got a visit from my great friend Carol Alton, the Iowa State Fair started and Uncle Eric came to visit so things got a whole lot better.

Oh, before we get started, how do you like my new "silly face"? (Mom and I dad think I learned it at school but really, I figured it our myself. I'm very proud of me. They think I'm odd.)

Like I said, Uncle Eric came to visit and it's always great to see him. He is really, really good about playing with me and always has good ideas for what to do.

He also has an iPad so I was able to give Mom's and Dad's a rest. He seemed pleased to know that YouTube has lots of good construction equipment videos to watch. This photo was taken right before Uncle Eric, Mom and I went to the Fair. As you can see, I had my Fair outfit on.

One of our first stops was the Knapp Animal Learning Center. Mom showed me a baby pig while Uncle Eric made comments on the side like, "Pierce, that's the closest your Mom has ever been to a pig ... ever!" and "When Papa and Grandma Kathy had pigs your Mom paid me to do her chores." (I'm not sure I believe him as Mom seemed to know which end of the baby pig was which.)

Next stop? The dairy area in honor of Papa Jack, Grandpa Mike and Dad. I wonder if I like chocolate milk so much because I have dairy farmer in my blood? (No jokes about my head on a girl's body, please. Uncle Eric - paybacks are rough!)

I was disappointed with Little Hands on the Farm. Sure, I got a Pioneer hat, but they made you plant seed by hand. I'm used to a nice Kinze planter with a big Case IH tractor. I mentioned this to the teenager assigned to help with the area but they weren't very helpful. Needless to say, I had hoped to cover at least 80 acres but only got about five seeds in the ground.

This tractor only had about one uncle power. I doubt it would pull a very big wagon.

Our next stop was on Expo Hill at the MidAmerican Energy Company building. These are Dad's favorite people. I got to participate in the coloring contest but didn't submit my picture because Mom said I wasn't eligible. Oh well, Dad seemed very pleased that I participated and promised to hang it on the wall in his office.

OMG!!!! They have garbage trucks at the Fair!

Pork tent! Applesauce. Baked beans. Heaven. Oh ... wait ... huh ... I wonder where that baby pig's mommy and daddy were. Mommy? Where do pork chops come from?

Uncle Eric says that I can be a trooper when I grow up. I think that would be cool and my ears already look like this guys so I'm in good shape.

My first tattoo! The sheriff of Henry County said it was the best one he'd done all day.

Now we're talking! Finally we get to the equipment displays.

Vrrroooommmm ...

I made Mom put my seatbelt on so I was safe. (Notice the cool John Deere foam hat? I got lots of compliments!)

I don't know about you, Uncle Eric but I prefer a three blade deck on these zero turn mowers. You can really cover some ground.

Mom and Uncle Eric are famous!

So ... very ... sleepy ... ugh ...

Wow ... okay ... I fall asleep and the next thing you know the trip to the Iowa State Fair is over. It was a beautiful evening so Dad grilled out and everyone relaxed after a hard day.

Which is actually a nice seque because we ate outside at lunch today while at the park.

My neighborhood park is the best because it's really a school playground. Not only does it have fun park stuff but it also has basketball hoops and a track. I really wanted to see if I could make it all the way around and I did!

The only problem was that I was distracted during my lap because Mom kept yelling, "Run Forest. Run!"

That's it. I'm tired. It's been a busy couple of days.

Catch ya on the flipside!

Pierce

A week, much like other weeks ...

Hey, y'all ... welcome back to the blog. First, I want to apologize for missing a few photos last week. There were some good ones I should have shared but they got left out.

So, before we move into this week let's take a step back in time.

While I was in Newton with Grandma Kathy and Papa they gave me a special tractor cut out of metal. It was done by the gentleman renting their old house. He knows how nuts I am about tractors and I was thrilled with this awesome gift.

"Dad, put it here!"

Nice!

Oh, last Sunday Mom and Dad bought a new mattress and box spring for their new bed. (Weird, they seem to think their old bed was too small.) Anyway, all three of us laid on various options and after awhile I found one I liked and decided to just hang out.

So, back to this past week. I had fun at school and at home too! Mom let me pick my dinner on Tuesday and I decided on Mac and Cheese. I even got to help make it!

Wednesday night we went to Grandma Maggy's to give her a care package before her trip. Friday she left for Hungary and the Czech Republic and was very excited. (I told her everything I knew about being on a plane.)

Ever since I saw Papa do it I've been practicing getting in and out of my car, pretending it was a well tuned racing machine. No doors for me! I climb in and out just like a pro ...

.... VVVVRRRRROOOOOMMMMM ...

Some sandbox time? Yes, please! Saturday was a good sandbox day.

And finally, today I got to go to my first movie! Cars II was playing and the whole family loaded up and hit the theater. I lasted about an hour and was well behaved by all accounts. Two take-aways from the experience ... 1) theater popcorn is excellent ... 2) movies are bigger than TVs.

That's it for now. Remember, it ain't tailgating ... it's drafting!

Pierce

Family is fun ...

What a good few days to be me! Last weekend was a big party at Papa Jack and Grandma Margaret's house and everyone was here. This week Uncle Chris stayed in town, I got sprung from school for a day of fun and got to go to the racetrack. Yeah!

Monday morning started the week off right. Katie was still here and I could show her and Chris how I sat on the stairs and waited every week to see our garbage truck looked like. (They were impressed.)

Chris came over later in the week and let me play excavator on his back, which I thought was very nice.

Friday Uncle Chris and Grandma Maggy took me to an outdoor concert with violins and a cello then we went to the library and then we went swimming. What a day!

(I'm not sure why, but Uncle Chris broke into "Old Man River" while we were tubing.)

This is a cool slide that Grandma Maggy and I play on sometimes. Catch me!

Saturday morning we said our goodbye's to Uncle Chris then headed to Newton to watch Papa race a car! I gave him a big hug for good luck ...

... then took my spot on the pit wall with Grandma Kathy.

Papa looked very impressive as he prepared. "It's going to be a big race today!"

Strapped in and ready to go!

Vvvvrrrrrroooooooommmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was AWESOME, Papa!

Oh, and today I fell on my butt in the rocks while I was playing outside and needed my Thomas the Tank Engine ice pack. We don't need to talk about it and it doesn't need to be brought up in polite conversation but let's just say that some ice on your butt feels pretty good from time to time.

Until the next time ...

Pierce

Visitors!

It's been a really busy few days. Uncle Matt and Aunt Emily were in town as were Uncle Chris and Katie. It's been a long time since I've hung out with all four of them and I hadn't talked to Uncle Chris or Katie since they got back from China so there was much to catch up.

I started our visit Wednesday with a game of "ring around the rosey" and everyone happily played along.

Friday the whole gang got together and I was presented with an awesome bracelet from China! I really liked it.

Mom and Dad got a Yak's bell. It was really loud and I only got to play with it for a little bit.

Later in the evening I snagged Uncle Chris' phone and made some calls. It was important that I checked in with my peeps before the weekend kicked into gear.

Saturday was fun. There was a big party in Chariton at Grandma Margaret and Papa Jack's house. Everyone was there. It was just as we turned on the gravel that I realized a pit stop was in order. Thanks to the knowledge I picked up a few weeks ago I was able, with Dad's help, to "take care of things" on the side of the road. (I felt better afterwards.)

It's always great to see Grandma Margaret. She's the nicest lady ever. She even gave me fist bumps!

Uncle Matt took me down to see the tractor after everyone ate. It was hot so we both had our cool hats on.

I'm glad I was around on Saturday as Uncle Chris had tractor questions and I was able to help.

Next came a slip and slide. Dad's cousin Eric brought it down and it kept all us kids entertained for a long time. Mom had to help me slide and she got all wet. (It was kind of funny but don't tell her I told you.)

Afterwards I got to add my hand print to a special quilt for Grandma Margaret. Helping in this effort was Dad's cousin Ellen.

Needless to say, after a really hectic few hours of playing I slept all the way home. I think Dad and Mom wished they could have too.

Yesterday the guys got to have some guy time while the gals got to have gal time. It was nice. I think I want an iPhone. Uncle Matt seems to really like his and I don't see any reason why I shouldn't have one.

Here is a nice group shot. It was really great to have everyone together!

These two were having a lot of fun during the highlight of the evening on our last full night together ...

... a dulcimer recital/concert! Yeah! Rock on ...

Later, gang.

Pierce

A song for you ...

Sometimes a song says it all.

For you, my beloved readers. From my heart ...

Until next week ...

Pierce

Short and sweet

It was a great week. Both Dad and Mom were feeling generous and I benefitted. First, Dad went to the John Deere Classic on Thursday which meant he was able to stop at John Deere Commons and do some shopping. I'd been hinting at this for awhile and my wish came true ... an excavator!!!!!

Yeah for me!

Today when Dad was golfing Mom and I headed to the store and came home with something awesome ... a sandbox!!!!

Dad begrudgingly helped load it with sand after his round. There are some ground rules that I have to follow ...

1) Listen

2) Don't throw sand

3) Come in when I'm told

4) The sand stays in the sandbox

(Parents are so cute when they try and make rules.)

I'm really cute when I make cookies! (Seriously, what a great few days for me.)

Later!

Pierce