Back to school haircut and other news

Mikayla started Swim Team this week (so far so good!) and is attending the Freshman Orientation at the high school on Wednesday.

School doesn't start here until the Wednesday after Labor Day... so she's not quite done with Vacation Mode yet.

She'll be quite busy once school starts:  homework, swim team, gymnastics team, 4-H and training the Service Dog.  I have no doubt she'll still have time for facebook and America's Got Talent.

Alexia is also enjoying gymnastics - and devising plans to aquire a horse.  Or a hamster.  Neither are on my 'Approved Pet' list.

She's also working on a plan to follow in her sisters footsteps by training a service animal.  You shouldn't be surprised to find out she's expecting to up the ante... and train a miniature service horse for the blind.

You think I'm joking?  Think again.

In other news, Tanya's 2011/2012 First Graders have thier first day of school tomorrow, Alexia has a birthday coming right up and everyone is getting excited about the 2011 Puyallup Fair of course (please stop by to see us... you know we'll be within shouting distance of the dog barn... on selected days).

~E

Visitors must leave with a zuchinni effective immediately.

Guess who is considering swim team!

Alexia took over the pony rides at the fair today.

You'll be glad to know we all survived the 2011 Skagit County Fair.  All day, every day, four days.

The girls all did a great job in their events and both have earned the opportunity to compete at the Puyallup Fair in September! 

Both girls spent the first two days competing and showing their dogs in the Dog Barn and the ring.  On days #3 and #4, the kids had the run of the fair while Tanya helped out the Superintendents to keep the events on track.

Instead of paying for pony rides, Alexia somehow managed to negotiate a win-win-win deal.  She spent hours helping younger kids mount and dismount the ponies, led the ponies & kids around the circle and then helped load the ponies into the truck at the end of the night.  In return for her services, they let her ride the ponies whenever there weren't others waiting in line.  Plus, they gave her $5 and told her they'd be pleased to have her helping out next year.

Most of the pictures are still on the camera - but here are a few from Day #1 & 2: