Day 2 MN State Fair

Ben purchasing his Giant pickle from the Preferred Pickle stand inside the food building.

Ben on the train - It wouldn't be a complete day if Ben didn't ride a train!
Look at me Uncle Ryan!
Ben LOVING the bumper boats!
He was easy to spot in that hat!
Emily checking out the calf.

I literally had tears in my eyes as I took this photo! He is so brave now! He was so excited to go down this big slide by himself. At one point I thought he was stopping because he was scared and he wanted me to come with him but really he was just pointing to the train ride that he wanted to go on next!
This was his second time down this slide and he specifically requested to go down the red one, red is his current favorite color. Go badgers! (I had to get that in there since he is sporting his Gopher EAR hat and shirt!)

First time down the giant slide at the Kids midway.

Emily enjoying her Sweet Martha's cookie on the ride home! She was a chocolate mess!
The Gedney pickle car for Grandpa and Uncle Ryan.
Ben flying the bomber airplane.
Emily was not a big fan of the carousal.
Ben made me ride this pirate ship ride that had me turning shades of green! He of course thought it was GREAT!



Ben sharing his GIANT pickle with his sister.
August 22, 2008
Ben after all his purchases from the MN Gopher room. You can guess who we were at the State Fair with can't you?
Believe it or not Ben and I are in this picture coming down the slide on the right.
Ben and Emily getting ready to board the sky ride!

State Fair 2008 Photos

Ben and Julius
Dahlia, Ameya, and Julius "Best Darn Bird Anywhere!" I highly recommend the turkey sandwich you can find it next to the "All you can drink Milk for $1" and the poultry barn! (Seems cruel doesn't it?)
Ben and the bunnies.
Snow cones for everyone.

Mom and Ben on the sky ride! I can't believe the difference a year makes. Last year there was no way he would have gone on the sky ride or the GIANT Slide! As it turns out those where his favorites!
Birk loving his spaghetti. Props to Korie for letting him dig into that!
Anj and Meya with the pot of gold, I mean Sweet Martha's Cookies!

Ava, Dahlia, and Maddie sharing a strawberry smoothie!
Maddie driving a lawn mower.
Cindy, Ameya, and Evelyn
Ameya and Dahlia

Dahlia driving a tractor at Little Farm Hands
Farmer Barb, Cute little piggy Dahlia and Baba Sheep Ben
Ben gathering his eggs.
Ben planting a seed in the garden.
Ben milking the cow!
Ben selling his produce at market.

Obama 08 - starting them young!
Dahlia and Betsy
The kids made their own fun jumping off the wall.
Yippee Birk and Maddie are here and we are ready to go!
Cindy and Evelyn get the apron on to start their farm chores.

Minnesota State Fair Opening Day

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Originally uploaded by jendockerty

Ben and I went to the Minnesota State fair this past Thursday. We were there with several of the Mama's bookclub kids and their Mom's and Pat too! From left to right we have Cole (2), Lawrence (1), Ava (4), Dahlia (4), Julius (5), Ben (4), Ameya (4), Thomas (2), and Danny (4).

Not everyone was available for this photo. Maddie (4), and Birk (2) had not arrived yet and Evelyn (4) in not present. I will publish another entry with photos from our lovely day at the fair.

Happy First Birthday Jack!

Today is my best friend's first child's first birthday! We have enjoyed this past year watching Jack grow and watching our friends, Amy and Nick, learn all the joys and challenges of parenting! Congratulations on a beautiful year. Happy 1st Birthday Jack!

Photos from the Wheeler college send off party

Gary Wheeler has such a clean garage that Emily could have actually eaten off the floor. Here she is only reading a book. I guess I didn't really get good pictures of everyone. On the left you see Grandma Wheeler, Gary, Diane and Cindy Wheeler's back. Enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon with family and good food. Tim Wheeler is the one in the red shirt. He is one of the twins.
Todd Wheeler in the green shirt is the other twin. You see half of Peggy (we were at her house in Zumbrota, MN)

Emily napping peacefully in the car while her Mom reads her new favorite book, "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer.

Grandma Dockerty and Ben. Diane is holding a beautiful digital scrapbook that Kathy Wheeler put together for Carolyn's graduation. She scanned photos from all 18 years of Carolyn's life so far. It was beautifully put together. It will be a treasured keepsake for sure!
Grandpa Dockerty and Emily pondering which yummy food to eat next!
From left to right Carolyn Wheeler off to college at Luther, Karen Wheeler, Cathy Wheeler, Great Grandma Ruth Wheeler, Emily, and Annie Wheeler off to college at Madison.
Ben and more OLIVES!
Peggy Wheeler actually made fried cheese curds and onion rings, they were so good. And they even drove to Wisconsin to buy the cheese curds! I'm not even kidding.