Fair Time

The 4-H Fair is in full swing in Huntington County. Last night I met up with my girlfriends for dinner at the 4-H fair. We ate and chatted and then chatted some more (that's what we do we best TALK). The fair is something that is important to all of us and we love to share in it together. We all spent many summers running around the 4-H fair together and creating lots of memories together as friends.

Heather, Me, and Tiffany

Theo and Trace finally got to meet. Theo is my friend Shannon's baby. Shannon and her husband Brian live on the East Coast. We stay in touch with each others lives by blogging! If you want to check out Shannon's blog go to http://2304miles.blogspot.com/ Shannon and Theo made the 12 hour drive to come back and go to the fair. Shannon is very brave she made the 12 hour drive by her self with baby Theo. Trace is Tiffany and Dwights son's. Tiffany and Dwight live in southern Indiana over 3 hours away. Trace and Theo were born on the same day!

Meet Theo and Trace

Braden Heather's little boy is getting so big.

Heather and my friend Kristi also gave birth on the same. So Trace and Theo have the same birthday and Braden and Bowen have the same birthday!

Trace and Grandma Sherri

Sinful Pleasure

Everyone has a guilty pleasure…I have several; Coldstone Creamy, reality TV, and reading! Most people would not consider reading a guilty pleasure, but the books I choose should made me feel guilty; they are full of sin, gossip, and lust. Lately I have been a guilty reading machine. Every free second I have I try to sneak in a couple of pages. After I graduated in May I made a list of books that I wanted to read. I started right away on the list. I started with Multiple Blessing by Kate Gosselin. This book was heartwarming and insightful into their lives with 8 children. Next I went on to Stories from Candyland by Candy Spelling. I have read all Tori Spellings books and she has a lot to say about her Mom, so I wanted to see what her Mom had to say about her! Bunny Tales was next by Izabella St James. This book was all about her experience living in the Play Boy Mansion as one of Hugh Hefner’s 7 girlfriends. Bunny Tales was intriguing and scandalous. I stayed with the Play Boy theme for my next book. I read Sliding into Home by Kendra Wilkinson. Kendra tells her story and how she got where is today and what she hopes for in the future. Kendra’s book gave me more of an understanding of Kendra and how she views the world. After Kendra’s book I was anticipating the release of Tori Spelling’s new book Uncharted TerriTori. I have read Tori’s other two bestselling books (sTori Telling and Mommy Wood) so I could not pass this one up. I was not disappointed, Tori wrote another page turner. Tori reveals her irrational fears, family secrets, and passion for her work. Tori truly is an entertainer, she knows what the people want and she delivered in her new book with all the juicy details! Next on my list is in the mail still, the title is Divorce Sucks by Mary Jo Eustance. This book is all about how Tori Spelling’s current husband Dean Mcdermott left Mary Jo for a life of fame. As you can see I really like Tori Spelling and reading any book that mentions her. Even though these books will not expand my mind or make me a better person, but they do help me relax and laugh!

5...No Way

Kinsey Lynn is 5...No Way! It seems just like yesterday that Dathen and Lisa told our family they were going to have a baby! On Christmas 6 years ago Dathen and Lisa bought both our parents slippers for Christmas, then at the end of the gift giving Dathen came out with one more gift for Mom and Dad. They opened the present and it was baby slippers. We all just looked at each other puzzled for a second. Then we noticed that Dathen and Lisa had taken off their sweatshirts and they were wearing t-shirts that said "Mommy" and "Daddy"! We all started screaming and hugging! Kinsey was an exciting addition to our family. Dathen and Lisa love a surprise so they did not find out what sex the baby was. It was such a great surprise for everyone. We were all over joyed to find out that Alivia would have a little girl cousin named to Kinsey to play with! I know the Lord has big plans for Kinsey. She is full of energy and brightens any room she walks into with her smile and laugh! I am glad that I have the pleasure of watching her grow and mature!

Kinsey Opening her presents

Hello Kitty was the theme of Kinsey's party
Kinsey opening the shoes we got her

More gifts

Time to blow out all 5 of those candles

Smile

Kinsey, Zach, Brenden

Time for Cake

Kinsey's cake made from love by her Mommy

Miss Hollywood is 2

2 years ago I was blessed with my youngest niece Addison Leigh. Addison has brought so much joy to our family. The day Addison was born I remember be so anxious to find out her name. My brother Dathen and his wife Lisa kept her name a secret until she was born. As soon as I got the phone call from my brother that she was born I said is she healthy? He said yes, my next question was what is her name? I was so excited to have another niece, the second I got off work Eric and I went to the hospital to see the newest addition to the Strine family. Over the last 2 years I have watched Addison grow and develop into her own self. I love her spunky little personality. We are truly blessed to have Addison in our lives.

Addison opening her shoes from Uncle Eric and Aunt Heidi

My Mom bought her sunglasses and she refused to take them off
Daddy and Addison
This is the reason I like to call Addison Miss Hollywood...she love sunglasses

She is ready for her cake

Addison did not like everyone singing

Blowing out the candles

Eli, Addison, and Layla

Addison eating her yummy cake

Addison Cake homemade by her Mommy

Summer Softball

Eric plays softball on my brother Dathen's church softball team. Most of the time the games are so late I don't go but this week the game was at 6:15. I went to the game to cheer for Eric and Dathen. My brother's wife Lisa and his girls also came to to cheer them on. They did not pull a victory off but Dathen and Eric both played very well.

Eric up to Bat

Kinsey cheering her Daddy on
Kinsey and Addison thought it would be fun to put their sunglasses on Max
Kinsey and Mommy

Addison our little Miss Hollywood

VBS

Last Sunday our church had their VBS (Vacation Bible School) ending program for the congregation to see. The kids sang songs and danced away. I love it whenever the kids perform for the congregation. I love to see children profess their love for God.

MaKayla wore the dress Eric and I got her for her birthday!

I think she looks super cute, but I may be a little partial.

Play Time

My sister Jennifer and niece Alivia came over Sunday for a visit! Alivia and Max had a great time playing together! Max was determined to not give up his new turtle.

Silly Bands

Has anyone else noticed the silly band craze? I seen these things everywhere and all on ages of kids! My nieces and nephew are no different, they have also joined in on the fad.

My niece Alivia with all her silly bands

Clark Family Photos

Sunday morning I took some pictures of the future Clark family. On September 11th my sister Jennifer and her fiance Drew will tie the knot! I am so excited for my sister Jennifer and niece Alivia. Jennifer wanted to place some pictures around her reception of her family! So of course she asked me to snap a couple shots of the happy family! I had a blast and I think they turned out pretty well!

Friends

Last night Eric and I headed to Fort Wayne to spend some time with friends. We were all going to go to the 3-Rivers festival but the rain put a damper on our night. The rain may have stopped us from attending junk food alley but it did not stop the fun. We decided to go to Snickers Comedy Club. The headliners were Johnny Beehner and Mike Marvel. We all had a great laugh and a great night!

Jon, Candi, Holly, Jeff, Me, & Eric

4-H Parade

Last night Eric and I along with the Brouwer's attended the annual 4-H parade. I was an active 4-H member all though my youth. Most of summer memories consist of 4-H memories. My sisters and I made the best of fair week. We stayed at the fair all week tending to our animals but mostly just socializing with all our friends. My parents let us do as many project in 4-H as we wanted. I took pigs, chickens, rabbits, and goats for the animals. I also entered sewing, craft, food, and photography projects. The only championship I ever won was green bean casserole and if you know me well you know that green bean casserole is my all time favorite food.

Some of my fair memories I will not share....I would not want to get my sister's (Jennifer and Brandy in trouble)...One of the best nights of fair was auction night. After the auction and the awards we would have spirit night. Spirit night consisted of a crazy obstacle course you had to complete with your team. Whichever team had the best time won the competition and received a prize. For several years a group of my girlfriends and I had a team call the Bombshell Babes....but you know teenage girls we got in a fight over something...(honestly I bet not one of us could tell you what the fight was about now)...but I do remember we were a group divided. Janell, Tiffany, Jennifer, and I left the Bombshell Babes and created our own team. We named our new team Chicks and Hicks. We ask a couple of our guys friends to be on our team!! After the competition Bombshell Babes and Chicks and Hicks made up and the rest is history (but I still like to tease my friend Heather that she was trader for not leaving the team with us)! I could go on and on about funny 4-H memories. What a great way to spend my summers during my youth!

Bowen and I at the Parade Last Night...Look at all that Candy

Bliss

Happy Anniversary

On July 12th Eric's parents celebrated 31 years of marriage bliss. Last Saturday while Eric and I were in Indy we went to lunch with Dan and Nancy to celebrate 31 years of marriage with them. May God continue to bless their marriage and love.

We brought wine and flowers

Dan and Nancy at Union Jack...I took 6 pictures

Nancy had her eyes closed in every pictures so I finally gave up.
Eric, Nancy, and the puppies

Summer Fun

Last weekend Eric and I stayed with my sister Brandy and her family in Indianapolis. On Friday night my brother Dathen and his family joined the mix. The kids all had a great time playing together and we had a great time watching them!

Uncle Eric, Liam, Kinsey and Layla Playing Outside

Play Time

Fun Fun