A Family Affair

Okay, it’s a little late, but what can I say – 9 days in the hospital have been getting in the way.

The Pend Oreille county fair is like Christmas for the Driver family. Every August it’s a family affair. Kids showing their animals, sewing, cooking, & making crafts. Parents volunteering as 4-H leaders, and department superintendents in barns all across the fair. At one point my aunt Linda counted 34 Drivers on the fair grounds at one time – and there were probably more in other corners.

Avery fit right in! I hardly saw her. She was all over the fairgrounds, with cousins, aunts, uncles, and family friends. Almost everyone figured out who she was without an introduction, claiming that she looked just like me at that age. And I know what they mean -- I saw tons of kids I could ID by remembering their parents when we were kids.

Avery in her "kickers" during the rodeo warm-up. I thought she was SOOOOOO cute in her boots it was crazyUncle Jon Paul & his steer Jeff at the fat stock sale. Avery helping Randi & Jon Paul, pushing grandpa Gary's cow Pixie up the milking standAvery couldn't wait to give the animals a walk. Here she is with uncle Jon Paul & JeffGetting Jeff ready for the fat stock sale
Uncle Jon Paul's girlfriend Randi let Avery take her lamb for a walk before she went out to sell himAvery helped aunt Jessie bide the time waiting for her turn to in the arena at the fat stock saleAunt Jessie & Buddy at the fat stock saleHangin' out with uncle Jon Paul
Aunt Jessie showing her lamb, Buddy
Aunt Jessie & her pig during Fitting & ShowingI'm FREEEEEE!!!!! Jessie's pig went a little crazy, and was heading right back to the barn!Lots of fun things to do -- jumping, sliding, swinging, dancing, just to name a fewI loved these evening shots -- check out the shadowsBooty shakin'Grandpa Gary (farmer), Avery (pig), aunt Jessie (lamb), and grandma Kay (goat)
It's hard to tell that Avery was terrified of Smokey the Bear. She was looking over her shoulder all day on Saturday, and kept telling me that "Smokey the Bear is too big for her"
Jordan got to pet aunt Jessie's lamb, too. Of course, Buddy was more interested in eating part of the Kid Kart than getting petted.
Aunt Jessie in the pen with her lambs
Petting the sheep with her new friend Rachel (aunt Jessie's best friend)Avery's first attempt at "mutton bustin' "
Devon called these sheep the "Lance Armstrong" lambs
Getting royal treatment with grandpa Gary & his special cart, loaned to him for this year's fair. Sooooo sleepy after long days at the fair.