Silly times

As you can see - we never have a dull moment at home - Sierra and Clay are always entertaining us!! Sierra loves to "play" her guitar for us !! Clay found out that the coffee table had a drawer - so he had a blast with his farm animals.

Pictures- Harvest Time

Harvest Time

The harvest has begun !!! Dylan took some pictures of dad and Levi chopping corn silage . We pray for a safe season for our family and all the other farm families out there !! We are finished chopping and are now combining the corn . Enjoy the pictures .

Pictures from the Fiddle Contest

Here are some pictures from the SD Fiddle Contest - I hope you enjoy them -

article from the paper

Isaiah DeRuyter , age ten , competed in the South Dakota Fiddle Contest in Yankton this past weekend. Isaiah is the son of Rich and Stephanie DeRuyter. Isaiah lives south of Ruthton on a farm with his four siblings . Isaiah has many interests besides fiddling. He plays the piano , participates in the MACHEA Home school group , is an active 4-H and Western Heritage member. He started playing the violin in May 2006 and has continued to take lessons in Sioux Falls with Mary Jewell. He plays with the South Dakota Old Time Fiddlers on the weekends during the summer. He has performed in Lake Benton, Flandreau , Brandon , Pipestone and Sioux Falls . He was ask to compete in the fiddle contest and decided he was up for the challenge. Isaiah had to prepare two numbers , a waltz and a tune of choice. The fiddle contest started on Friday evenings with a fiddle jam session. A jam session is when a bunch of players get-together and play tunes , someone starts with a song and everyone else joins in . Isaiah was able to meet and play with some of the top fiddlers in the country. Saturday consisted of the contest -Isaiah competed in the JR-JR Division. Isaiah played "Amazing Grace" and "Boil Them Cabbage Down " . He placed 3rd in his division and was the youngest fiddler at the competition. The contest continued all day Saturday until the evening when it was time to hear the Invitational Fiddlers - Ten fiddlers in the country are invited to the contest to compete against each other- theses fiddlers are the best in the country!! They put on a great night of fiddle music. All the fiddlers ended up at the Fryin Pan restaurant in Yankton after the contest Saturday evening . They ended up having a another Jam Session right in the restaurant. Isaiah played two numbers there and ended up playing with one of the top youth fiddlers in the country. On Sunday morning the Fiddlers put on a Gospel Sing and church service ,Isaiah played "Amazing Grace" in memory of his great uncle Carl Petersen . Carl was a long time supporter of the SD Old Time Fiddlers and Isaiah plays Carl's fiddle . Isaiah had a great time and is already making plans for attending next year!! Isaiah has one more performance with the Old Time Fiddlers this year. They will be in Flandreau the end of Oct.

OFF TO THE FIDDLE CONTEST

We are leaving for the SD Fiddle Contest on Friday. Isaiah is competing and performing several times over the weekend !! He has been working hard the last two months to get ready for it . I will post pictures and information next week- we will get home Sunday evening !!

State Horse Show

We just got back home Sunday evening from the State Horse show - Dylan and Levi did a nice job . Levi finished 4Th in roping - He thinks he should of done better. I think he did an awesome job!! We were gone for 4 days. We had a great time and enjoyed having Brad with us for the weekend . He was a great help when it came to unloading and loading all our gear up!! Thanks a bunch Brad!! I will post a few pics - I have more coming this week !!

Recent trip with the Hick's family

Some of the Hick's family

GOOD FRIENDS!!

Go Isaiah go!!

Here are some pictures from a recent trip with the Hick's family!! Thank the Lord for Great friends!!

Summer is fading fast

Summer ..... it is starting to slow down around here .... The boys went to the MN State fair for their projects - they did a great job. Levi went back to the State Fair for Dairy Judging .. He placed 33 rd out of 88 ..so we were happy with that ...esp since it is his first year!! And Levi and Rich attended the State Shoot .. Levi was a little disappointed in his performance but he did good considering it was his first year. And now we are off tot the State Horse Show for 4 days ..Isaiah and Rich will stay home and keep everything under control on the home front. My parents, Levi , Dylan ,Sierra , Clay , Friend of Levi's and I will be leaving Thursday and returning Sunday !! They have a busy schedule this week .. but I am sure they will do fine and hopefully have alot of fun!! I will update everyone when we get home !! Oh also ..Isaiah is getting ready to perform at the SD fiddle contest Sept 21- 23 !!