friday

This past Friday we ventured out to the Utah State Fair.

Will and Jake had fun at the Little Hands on the Farm exhibit.

Will was too short to go on the rides Ben and Jake wanted to go on,

so I took him on the ferris wheel where we got a wonderful view of our surroundings.

There are always strange animals to see, like this pigeon filling up its chest with air.

Love the tractors

But this is the real reason we came to the fair. In June Ben started an oil painting art class, and he recently finished his first painting. We missed the county fair, so with the nudging of my friend Jolee, who's daughter Ady is in Ben's class, we entered Ben's painting into the state fair. Ben's art teacher, Linda, told us that even to have your picture hanging on the wall at the state fair is a big honor, even if it doesn't win anything. Ben entered the junior amateur division, which is from ages 6-11, so we knew it would be tough competition.

We entered the fine arts building, and found his division in the back, and there was his painting of Point Bonita Lighthouse (near San Francisco)...with a second place ribbon!! Let me just say that Ben is amazing, and that he got absolutely ZERO art skills from either Daren or me, but my mom and brother, Darren, are great artists, so I guess it will be carried on through him. Congrats Ben!! Love you honey!
p.s. funny thing--I finally got my camera back right before the fair, but forgot to bring an sd card, so these pictures are still from my cell phone. Now I'm back in business!