July 22, 2012: Vinton County Fair

 Chelsea, Tiffani, and Wes

 Chelsea with the 2011-2012 Vinton County Fair court

 Chelsea with the 2012 Jackson County Fair little princesses

 Dana, Tiffani, Chelsea, and the 2012 Vinton County Relay for Life Queen

 Tiffani and Chelsea

 Chelsea gives her speech and bids Tiffani farewell!

July 21, 2012

 Chelsea Meagan's belated birthday cake-- fit for a queen... or a princess :)

 Chelsea Meagan helped to pass out ribbons during 4-H clothing judging.

July 19-20, 2012: Happy 18th birthday, Chelsea Meagan!!

 July 19: Ellie-Kate jumps into the pool during swim lessons :)

 July 19: Chelsea Meagan helps with 4-H cake decorating judging

 After cake decorating, we headed to VA and visited with Wade in the hospital and also with Grandma P. at her house. On the next morning, Chelsea's birthday, we got up, and the girls enjoyed a southern breakfast with Grandma P before we headed to the hospital. Above, Chelsea makes Salem, the cat, hiss :) Below, the girls pose with Grandma P.

 When we arrived at the hospital, we were bummed that Wade was not available b/c they were doing a procedure. Chelsea said that she wanted to get her ears pierced for her birthday, and Britti said that she would treat her. Thus, with time on our hands, we headed for the mall where Britti put on an interesting disguise, and both girls got their ears pierced, and Grandma P. bought a lawn mower. We called the hospital, and Wade was still out of his room so we ate lunch at Olive Garden, fulfilling another one of Chelsea's birthday wishes.

 We got home around 11 p.m., and Chelsea opened her presents-- a great bag from Grandma B and an Ipod touch from "Mumzi" (yes, me!) and Roger.

July 18, 2012: An emotional roller coaster...

 Emmy and Coco were the only pair in Athens County to earn a Superior rating on their Pet Pal judging!

 Chelsea traveled to the Perry County Fair on the afternoon of July 18. We took Ellie-Kate with us, and she was excited to watch part of the hog show and to go on rides with her big sister :)

Although Pet Pal judging and the trip to Perry County Fair went well, the day was bittersweet. We had known for a few weeks that Wade (dad to Chelsea and Britti, Uncle Wade to Emmy and Ellie-Kate) was having some physical problems, but, on this day, we got the call that he was in the Intensive Care Unit of Roanoke Memorial. Britti was very upset, and we decided to travel to Roanoke on the next day, even though Chelsea's birthday was on Friday and clothing judging was on Saturday. I'm so glad that we did!! Britti, Chelsea, and I drove over on July 19 and visited with Wade in the hospital. Although he was attached to several tubes and looked a bit drained and bloated, he was able to talk with us, and the doctor said that he would likely be transferred to the regular floor on the next day and then home in the following week. Armed with that information, we drove home on July 20, Chelsea Meagan's 18th birthday.

July 16, 2012-- County Food Judging and Jackson County Fair

 Emmy wins first place and state fair representative in Sports Nutrition 2! Big sister, Athens County Junior Fair Chelsea Meagan, was on hand to pass out the ribbons :) Emmy earned a PERFECT score on her judging sheet!

 After food judging, Chelsea traveled over to Jackson for the Jackson County Fair luncheon. In this pic, she poses with Dana, Old Settler's Reunion Queen, and Tiffani, Vinton County Fair Queen.

 Tiffani, Madison, Ohio Fairs Queen, and Chelsea Meagan

All of the queens pose for a pic! Not quite as big of a crowd as London Strawberry Festival, but...

Murray City Miner's Festival-- July 16, 2012

 Wes, Chelsea, and Brandi get ready to ride in their last parade!

 Chelsea and Dana

Chelsea and the new Murray City Miner's Festival Little Miss

Well, this festival was interesting for a couple of reasons. First, it had been re-scheduled from an earlier date b/c of the big storm and massive power outages. Second, it came on the heels of an intense few days of travel, and Britti went to chaperone for the luncheon, and I joined her for the parade. Third, a girl who had been bothering Chelsea on the internet lived in Murray City, and we were a little nervous about any interactions between them. (The girl is with one of Chelsea's ex-boyfriends, and she was more than a little insecure about Chelsea re-entering the picture, despite Chelsea's assurance that she never planned to do so.) However, even though the girl *was* at the crowning, she didn't confront Chelsea or make any kind of a scene-- Praise God!

July 14, 2012-- Crooksville Pottery Festival and Franklin County Fair

Like the preceding one, this day was jam-packed with fair queen stuff. We started the day at the Crooksville-Roseville Pottery Festival. Ever since the Albany Independent Fair, I had been really friendly with the mom of the Junior Queen, Jordan,'s mom, and we knew that we had to say good-bye to Jordan and her mom, Amy, at their event. We attended the luncheon, but Chelsea left before the parade because she had promised the Franklin County Fair Queen, Kiersten, that she would travel to her dessert social and watch her give up her crown. At the Franklin County Fair, we walked around with Kiersten and the Ohio Fairs Queen Madison and the Champayne County Fair Queen Addi. (I had visited a good deal with Addi's mom at the Ohio Fairs Queen competition back in January.) It was a fun day, and I'm glad that we took in both events, even if it meant a long day of travel!