The Training Wheels are off!!

I took the training wheels off Carson's bike and he found his balance immediately!! He was so proud of himself!! Starting is still a little hard for him but a few more days and we will have it!!
I was not sure how the first time would go so he had helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads!! I cannot wait to take him to the trails near our house and let him loose on the hills!! The first thing he asked me this morning was to go out and ride his bike!
He quickly learned that if you stay close to the grass falling does not hut as bad!!
Yesterday was also the annual fund run at Carson's school!! The kids collect donations per lap that they make in a 15 minute period!! This year's goal was 15,000 dollars!! If the goal is met then the principal will be dressing up as Hannah Montana and doing a concert at the schools assembly!!
Carson did 12 laps and was very red in the face when we picked him up!! He did more laps than most of the older kids!! In fact the kindergarten class were the overall winners proving that energy is endless when you are 5yrs.!!

Our Busy Weekend

Saturday Craig and I went to my cousin Elizabeth's wedding! I just love flower girls...when you have all boys...N-E-way the older girl looks like the little girl in Desperate Housewives...you know the one that is Lynette's step daughter who causes all the trouble and yet has that sweet face!!
The Bride and her stepfather uncle Jimmy have a dance to a country song in typical Hauk Style.
Cousin's Rachel and Brent have a Dance together!
My sister Jen showing her husband some lovin' after some drinkin'!!
Sunday we went to the St. John's Apple fest held every year in Fenton!!

This year was different from the past few!! Connor was not afraid to ride this time!! This was a good thing because Carson did not want anyting to do with the "baby rides!" It is good to see that Connor could do this on his own because he is shy to begin with and he also has that little brother syndrome!!
Carson did not want to go on the "baby rides" but was not tall enough to go on a lot of the older kid rides!! After running into his "best friend" (see picture below) he managed to enjoy some of the kiddie rides!!
We ran into Shelia and her kids at the Apple Fest! Garrett and Carson have not seen each other much since school started! They had a GREAT TIME together!
We found a ride that would fit all four of our kids...I love the boys laughing in the front of the car and see Connor in the back with his little girlfriend!!
After the all the rides, fun houses, games, and elephant ears we could handle we went over Toni's house and had a fried chicken dinner!! Home cooked fried chicken, mac-n-cheese, mashed potatoes, salad, corn, rolls, and cake!! After the fair, wedding, and Toni's dinner I need to go on a diet!! The picture is Carson saying grace...if you have not been privileged enough to see this you need to!!

Baking and the usual FUN!!

I have had so much zucchini that I have baked, fried, grilled, put it in salads etc... The kids however like the zucchini bread the best!! For those of you wondering I did not tell the kids what kind of bread it is ( FYI: Carson does not like zucchini)! The kid I babysit ate it up and he has yet to eat any kind of vegetable in the six months I have watched him.
Picking raspberries was fun! Even better the six individual homemade pies! Every time I turn around the kids are digging their hands in the pints of berries!! Carson ate his fill while picking! Connor practically filled all six of my pints (my little helper)! Yesterday we went down the trail near our house on the bikes! Carson, his friend, and Connor and I went two miles. I am proud of this...three kids under the age of six two miles...what's that I think I hear clapping? The older boys enjoyed the "secret trail" we found that had a ton of fun hills to ride on. The rest of the day was spent at the park. Today was PICTURE DAY at Carson's school. Carson has been practicing his smile for days and promises me that he did a great job today!! Looks like a rainy weekend so it's time to break out the games, build forts, movies, and popcorn!! You know you want to come over and play!!!!!

ANYONE ELSE NEED A BEER TODAY??
We are going to pick raspberries today!! They came in late this season out by me!! Hope you are all enjoying the last bits of produce Michigan will have for some time!! Bring on the sweet potatoes and winter squash!! My tomatoes were huge this year!! I froze about ten bags of them!

MICHIGAN RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL 08'

I go to the festival every year but this is the first year that the kids came with me!! This week was canned good week and if you brought 4 then it was BOGO TICKETS!! The kids are free 4 and under! To my surprise the boys loved people watching and all the rides!! I was kind of bummed that they were so good because I had the jail card in my back pocket the whole day!! For those of you who do not know the festival has a jail you can throw people in and the prisoners have to dance and sing with the jailer to get out!!
We went with Stephanie and Chad (Craig's cousin)! Carson fell in love with them and would not leave their side all day long!! If you are long time fan of the ren. fest. then you may have seen Chad dressed up in years past!! For those of you who do not know they are engaged to be married on 10-10-2010 in Mexico!!
It's not a trip to the festival without a visit with the "insulting tomato guys"!! Craig was called many unmentionables!
Carson was pumped to be able to throw tomatoes at people!! He actually hit the one guy in the head (the whole crowd clapped)!! They called Connor a redneck for having a tractor on his shirt and he frowned and handed over his share of the tomatoes for Carson to throw!!
The swings...All of the rides are people powered!!

Jousting for the kids. Put your kid on a horse with a stick and try

to get it through a ring while riding down a cable on a wooden horse!!
Connor was a bit nervous and decided to just ride rather than hold onto the sward!
I always feel like spraying down the back of these face things with some disinfectant before letting my little ones stick their head in the hole!! The back side was once painted white and now is brown/black!!
The harder you pull the rope the higher you go!! How much can we make the boys sweat?? It was world beer week at the festival so they were willing to do whatever we asked for a beer!! Stephanie and I were the beer wenches for the day!!
After all the rides we had soup in a bread bowl and headed off to Charlie and Cindy's for their annual labor day party full of good eats, volley ball, bonfire and smores!!

KINDERGARTEN!!

Carson's first day school was full of smiles, butterflies, and making sure he was prepared!!

He was so proud to be wearing his "sharp clothes" to school!! He goes to school two full days and one half day!! Yesterday while packing his lunch we went over how to open all the containers of food!! He is at a peanut free school (boooo)...no PB&J's!! In case you wanted to know that also includes nothing processed on equipment containing tree nuts, peanuts, or any other type of nut you can think of!!!! Today's lunch includes water, cheese, crackers, plum, kiwi, carrots, broccoli, dip, and a bread stick!!
He looks so little to be starting school!! I was not sad to send him off to school (for those of you wondering I DID NOT CRY)! I was more worried that I have prepared him enough for kindergarten! He is one of the youngest kids in his class turning 5 in October!!
Proud daddy took half a day off of work to see Carson off the school!!
Carson walked in and found his name and seat with ease!! He has 30 kids in his class and there are no paraprofessionals (fancy name for teacher's helpers). The budget would not allow for them for two years now! The school is pushing for parent volunteers!!
He looked a little nervous as we left... we will see how his day was when I pick him up around 4pm!!