Mansfield, Ohio, August 10, 2010~

Hello there!  Bart Simpson writing!  Hope this finds you all well and happy!

I am off work today (work at Olive Garden), and am off from my other job, too, so I figured that while I have the chance, I will take my family to the county fair, which started two days ago.  I know the kids will enjoy the carnival rides!

They are having rising country star, David Nail, as the featured main entertainment at the main grandstand.  While I am not familiar with him, I am sure there are others who are.  I am somewhat disappointed:  up until a few years back, they used to have the big guns of country music perform.  I can remember them having people like George Jones, Garth Brooks, Mel Tillis, and Loretta Lynn perform.  Guess their ticket prices got too high, so they had to go for lesser-named entertainment.  It's kind of sad because I think people are missing out on some quality entertainment!

The kids are currently taking a nap, so they can rest up for the busy day that lies ahead of them (and me).  I will be waking them up within the hour and have them get dressed, so we can be out the door by four.  I just hope they are in a good moood when they get up; sometimes when it is hot out or they  have a nap, they can get pretty cranky, especially Katie-Bug, otherwise known as Katie-Joy! (She's four.)

And Jeremiah and Jack have been jumping on each other, punching each other, letting some pent-up steam out.  I don't mind the boys letting their energies out into the open, but I can do without all the biting, kicking, punching, and yelling!  They are all covered with bruises and bite marks; people are going to think that I abuse my sons!

I'm just glad that Kenneth (the oldest) is past that stage:  he's turned into a sweet, quiet, thoughtful young man with a loving personality.  Now what's to say what Kenny will be like in a few years?  I dread to think of the possibility of that one ...

The kids are all nut-brown from the sun.  They practically live outside, spending their days swimming in our overground pool, catching bugs (or, in Katie-Bug's case, butterflies), chasing the family dog, and playing games from near sunup until an hour the sun has set.  They are taking every advantage to squeeze in as much fun in what little is left of their summertime vacation!

Yesterday, I took the kids shopping for their school supplies.  They are now well armed, ready to start another school year.  I know they aren't happy about school starting up the day after Labor Day, but that will soon be forgotten when I get them to the fair!

Well, it's time to get the menagerie up and out the door, so we can go to the fair.  Hopefully none of them will get lost like Katie-Bug did last year; we couldn't find her for four hours, and I was frantic!  No need to worry about that this year:  I will have a leash on her; that way she won't get far from me.  Until next time I write, this is Bart Simpson saying so long! God bless!

Now it's time to go to the fair!!

~Your friend in Ohio, Bart.