In a whirlwind weekend, the unthinkable happened.... Emma officially turned 16!! As most parents say, I'm not sure where the time has gone, but we do have a pretty amazing kid. And no, she is not driving yet - that's another story. Here is the birthday weekend in review:
Leave for Owatonna - Thursday, Sept. 1
Leaving only 45 minutes after the planned departure time (not bad), we have the minivan loaded with suitcases, swimsuits and 8 rabbits. Yes, 8.... Our destination - the Holiday Inn and Serengeti Water Park in Owatonna, MN. The trip is a success with only 1 emergency phone call to Aunt Katy and superstar Denise to locate Emma's ARBA card and state fair information. Katy located and delivered to Denise, who brought it to us on Saturday! We arrived at the hotel with time to get unloaded, situate the rabbits for the night in the van and relax.
Friday, Sept. 2
We started the morning with breakfast, then bunny chores and then off to Medford for some outlet store shopping! Great success at the Nike Shoe outlet and of course some great deals for Joelle at Carter's. Then back to the hotel for lunch and water park time! Emma and I headed to the water park while Bob and Joelle took naps. Emma and I anxiously awaited the arrival of the Eyre crew who made the afternoon that much more fun! (until the life guards blew the whistle for break...). Fun times Friday afternoon. Joelle also enjoyed the water park for awhile and going down the baby slide. We enjoyed a relaxing evening in our room before the craziness continued the next day.
Saturday, Sept. 3
 |
| Killing time at a rabbit show. |
The eve of Emma's birthday! Up way to early, everyone ready and off to the ARBA rabbit show at the fair grounds!
Things were much better once we found the correct building. Found our friend Denise, got situated and ate breakfast while getting rabbits registered for the show and looking at what everyone else had along! The first show wasn't great for us. Didn't care much for the judge who made a little girl cry for having her rabbit in the wrong class. Live and learn... But the day gets better!
 |
| Arm full of bunnies.. |
During the second show that afternoon, the Holland lops are judged by the current ARBA President. He had his eye on our senior doe AP from the moment Emma set her on the table. Loved her color, informed Emma it's rare to find a nice marked broken chocolate! Emma beamed and waited anxiously as she watched the judge move through the does. All the while, AP was in his top slot and the results are in! AP won 1st in her class! She then competed in best of breed and unfortunately didn't place there, but we were thrilled with her 1st in class!! A great addition to the birthday weekend.
Show is over and with overwhelming gratitude we loaded up the rabbits with Denise who brought them home for us so we could continue our trip! Thanks Denise!! We grabbed a few snacks and headed north on I35 to Apple Valley and the Carter crew! Kimber put together a fantastic meal of Emma's favorite - Cheeseburgers. Emma and niece Bella opened a few gifts and the girls showed Emma all of their toys, books, games and everything else they could think of. Time to hit the hay though so we could get up early to hit the State Fair!
 |
| Emma with Elizabeth and Bella ready to blow out candles! |
 |
| JoJo and Uncle Ted |
 |
| Lucille sizing up Uncle Bob's legs. |
 |
| Birthday girl Bella |
Sunday, Sept 4
Happy Birthday Emma!!!! Emma woke to find streamers hanging in the doorway thanks to Aunt Kimber! Great idea! Our family was up early to be on the road by 7:15 am and head to the fairgrounds. Needed to touch base with a few people and get the schedule for judging. Emma located her travel blanket set (her state fair trip project) and found out we needed to be at the Noon meeting and then get her judging time at that point. We met up with Ted and Kimber and the girls and saw some of the sights of the fair grounds as a crew. Joelle wasn't sure of the food, until we found frozen custard with berries! Emma had judging at 1:15 and finally 30 minutes later announced she earned a blue ribbon!!!!! What a way to celebrate her birthday. We continued the sights of the fair, took some pictures, observed the differences between what is there Labor Day weekend and what is there during 4H livestock encampment, and longed for those animals. And finally we decided enough was enough and headed back to Ted and Kimber's, who had called it quits at nearly the same time! Back home, relaxing, enjoying the company and then off for some rest.
Monday, Sept. 5
The day after... headed for home after a great weekend, knowing we had some work ahead of us to get ready for a family gathering at our home celebrating Emma's birthday. Glad I ordered sandwiches and salads ahead of time! Everything was set and ready for the party at 5 and Emma enjoyed celebrating with so many family members: Great-Grandma Hedlund, Grandpa Lundell, Grandma Lundell, Aunt Katy, Grandpa Carter, Grandma Carter, Great-Grandma Carter, Aunt Barb, Aunt Mary, Uncle Phil, Mark, Michelle and Kaylia! Phew! Good times were had and even some funky chair dancing was going on...
 |
| Great-Grandma Carter |
 |
| Great-Grandma Hedlund |
Off to bed for some good rests before the first day of Emma's sophomore year in high school. And I'm still in shock...
 |
| First Day of school |
We started the morning with breakfast, then bunny chores and then off to Medford for some outlet store shopping! Great success at the Nike Shoe outlet and of course some great deals for Joelle at Carter's. Then back to the hotel for lunch and water park time! Emma and I headed to the water park while Bob and Joelle took naps. Emma and I anxiously awaited the arrival of the Eyre crew who made the afternoon that much more fun! (until the life guards blew the whistle for break...). Fun times Friday afternoon. Joelle also enjoyed the water park for awhile and going down the baby slide. We enjoyed a relaxing evening in our room before the craziness continued the next day.
Happy Birthday Emma!!!! Emma woke to find streamers hanging in the doorway thanks to Aunt Kimber! Great idea! Our family was up early to be on the road by 7:15 am and head to the fairgrounds. Needed to touch base with a few people and get the schedule for judging. Emma located her travel blanket set (her state fair trip project) and found out we needed to be at the Noon meeting and then get her judging time at that point. We met up with Ted and Kimber and the girls and saw some of the sights of the fair grounds as a crew. Joelle wasn't sure of the food, until we found frozen custard with berries! Emma had judging at 1:15 and finally 30 minutes later announced she earned a blue ribbon!!!!! What a way to celebrate her birthday. We continued the sights of the fair, took some pictures, observed the differences between what is there Labor Day weekend and what is there during 4H livestock encampment, and longed for those animals. And finally we decided enough was enough and headed back to Ted and Kimber's, who had called it quits at nearly the same time! Back home, relaxing, enjoying the company and then off for some rest. 
Obviously I am a sap- but I just got choked up reading all about Emma's great accomplishments and then reading the word sophomore. Where did the time go. What a great girl you have along with her oh so cute little sister.
ReplyDelete