August's First Day of Preschool!

    I just dropped off August for his first day of Preschool. He wanted to do the drop-off line, so I did not walk him in. He was excited this morning when he was getting ready. I hope he has a wonderful day and I can't wait to hear about it when I pick him up! 

   It is already very quiet in the house and Nora is setting up a picnic for the myself and some dolls.

Rileys First Day of 2nd Grade

     Riley was really excited about her first day of 2nd grade and got ready quickly! She wanted to take her teacher a bouquet from the garden so we picked one and she carried it there herself. It is a beautiful cool morning and we have opened up the windows. I can't wait to hear about her day when she comes home

    August starts Preschool on September 3rd.

This and That

Marion: July 20 &21

 Summer is a fun time to get together with family.  We also really love going to the Cedar Rapids farmers market. It is fun to walk around and chat while eating freshly fried donuts and buying some fantastic BBQ sauce for later! 

   It is fun to see how our nieces and nephew are growing and to see everyone playing together. The time is going too fast! 

Ottumwa: August 5-7

  

We squeezed in another visit so we could all have some time together before school starts. The kids enjoyed playing in the kids pool and playing with some kittens that Stacy has right now. Riley has since asked for a kitten.

 At Home:

Riley lost both front teeth this summer!

Grandma Nancy Visits Ames: August 12-14

  We had a great visit just before the start of the school year.  We spent a morning at the zoo and had a picnic afterward.  We took the kids to the park on a nice cool morning and the kids played for a long time while Mom and I chatted on a bench.
 

 After this the kids visited with their other grandparents in Marion and Keenan and I had some couple time. It is always refreshing to just have time for the two of us to chat and enjoy each others company. It helped that I knew that the kids were having an amazing time!

The rest of the summer has gone so quickly! Earlier this year we had a great vacation in Colorado making memories together, visited the Aquatic Center, a baseball game ,and The Blank Park Zoo. I have enjoyed being in the garden, taking the kids to the park, and the library. I have watched them practice riding their bikes and tried to soak in the nice quiet mornings together. I am not ready for it to end...but school starts on Friday.

   The kids are excited to meet their teachers and make new friends. I have bought the supplies and entered the school calendar into our personal one. Riley is starting 1st grade soon and August is going to 4 year old preschool.

July 2019

Ottumwa Visit: July 3-6
  
    The kids and I had a nice visit to Ottumwa; Keenan had to stay in Ames and work. Olivia turned 6 on July 3rd, so Stacy and I took all the kids to a cheap movie (Beethoven) and then Stacy, Jason, Liam, and Olivia enjoyed a special birthday lunch.  I got to catch up with a friend that evening over dinner while everyone else had a fire pit night.
    July 4th the kids played in the pool for a bit then our kids took a long nap, so they could stay up and enjoy the fireworks. They all seemed to have a good time; it was August and Nora's first time going and they are still talking about it.
    July 5th the kids spent a lot of time in the pool and Stacy and I chatted in the shade. Then I helped her to prep food and tidy the mess of grass the kids carried in before the birthday party the next day. Each evening after the kids went to bed we had a little time just to ourselves! I savor getting to have time with just her.
   July 6th was Olivia's 6th Birthday party, a Wonder Woman theme. The kids had fun playing, cake was had and presents were opened!  Then we went back to Ames, most of our kids were asleep before we made it to the highway. Riley always misses Olivia and looks forward to the next visit. 

Mom got the girls the matching dresses

 Pool Time

July 4th

 Down time around the house

Making crafts together

Playing quietly before the other kids woke up

Nora and Olivia playing Zingo

Liam, Mom and Vader playing Zingo

Olivia and Riley playing War

 Olivia's 6th Birthday Party

I used Stacy's camera the day of the party and got a really good picture of Olivia blowing out the candle that I will edit in later.

We always forget to get a picture of ourselves

Back in Ames
   Here are some pictures of the kids just being silly or having fun around the house. Riley and I love to make bouquets with flowers from the garden! This was our latest creation. Nora asked me to take this picture of her and Punky then she called Punky over to her!

 

Riley's favorite quiet time activity

August wanted his picture taken

Riley's zinnia patch is doing great and has started to bloom now!

Some art Riley made outside

Riley and Punky snuggling

The vegetable garden is doing really well. I just picked our first round of cucumbers and another round of snap peas. There are a lot of tomatoes on the vine; I am just waiting for them to turn red. We have picked a few of the orange cherry tomatoes. The purple pole beans are covered in flowers and just starting to produce beans so I should have a lot of those soon if it continues to do well. I love gardening season!