summer

Summer is almost over.

I go back to work really soon.

Josh asked if I'm nervous...I'm really not (not yet at least).

I am more sad...summer has gone SO fast. And I am going to miss these 2 SO much.

On Friday morning, the weather was gorgeous...and we decided to go find a new park to play at...and I just enjoyed my kids. :) I tried not to think about all of life's "other things"...we just played...and it was perfect. :)

busy

Umm...we've been pretty busy this last week and a half...lots of things/activities have just added up.

Josh had last week off work...we did a lot of "stay-cationing"in Ames (heard someone use that term - ha!)...then Will ran a fever for a day...and then we traveled to Storm Lake/Okoboji for a few days.

Before we headed to SL, a yummy supper...complete with sweet corn, thoroughly enjoyed by Keatin and Will. :)

 

Josh snapped these next 2 on his phone...I kinda love them. :)

And before we left SL, Keatin and grandma needed a picture...complete with new dress and fuzzy crown from grandma. :)

 

We came back to Ames last Friday morning, and our wonderful friends - the Carlsons - came into town for the weekend on Friday night. Saturday morning, we all headed to The Berry Patch in Nevada to pick our own fresh blueberries and blackberries. It really is fun...and we left with 4 pounds of fresh fruit...but Trish and I decided we wouldn't want "fruit-pickin" to be our full-time job. :)

Lane and Will...Will would follow Lane around...it was cute. :)

 

This is what Will did during most of our picking session...ate the fruit. :)

Emerie and Keatin...a good team! (OK - not really, but a cute team.) :)

After our long weekend, I took these photos on Monday...after naps...after 3 hour naps! They had both napped with no clothes on...and were quite chipper when they woke up!

And can't quite remember when I snapped this picture, but this is a common position for Will...he is my boy that needs some "chill" time. :)

 

Oh...and on Wednesday, I decided to ride a little bit of RAGBRAI with my dad. We rode the last stretch of Day 4...about 22 miles. I had fun, despite the 102 degree heat! Josh keeps telling me I should do a whole day next year...I secretly think he kind of wants to do part of it...I think it would be fun if we did it together. :) Below are a few photos I snapped as we jumped on the RAGBRAI route just north of State Center!

We made it to Marshalltown! Yipee!

today

It is Monday...it is hot.

Josh had last week off work...and we have been pretty busy the last 5 days.

This is evident to me by the fact BOTH of my children napped for OVER 3 HOURS today. What????

And I really did nothing overly productive during that time...just read a little, dusted a little, ordered Keatin a birthday gift online, made a sweet cucumber salad, and tried to kill the ants that have taken up residence in my dishwasher. Eeww. I feel like I should have been working on my graduate class or preparing for the upcoming school year. Oops.

Oh well. Now, both my lovelies are up...both of them slept only in their underwear/diaper...and now they are following each other around the house with no clothes on...it is cute and makes me smile.

And boo to blogger...I have some fun pictures to share, but blogger is telling me I have reached my limit of uploaded photos??? What? I will fiddle with that more tonight...and try to get some new photos posted!

Stay cool - heat index of 102 degrees right now!!!

in the last week...

...we had a wonderful visit from our friends, the Wilshusens. They live in Norwalk and Megan, Troy, and Mia drove up one afternoon. We played outside, ate supper together, and then took baths/put on pajamas before they headed home...and Miss Keatin and Miss Mia happened to have the same pajamas...so pictures were, of course, needed. A cute group. :)

...Jack and Reid were back on Saturday morning. And, for a few glorious minutes, these 2 shared this car and played together...nicely...and no one cried...yipee!!!

...and today we headed to Big Creek State Park in Polk City. Josh's idea...he wanted all 4 of us to go out on a canoe, but it didn't happen this time...our Crimmy was along. But, we will go back sometime for the canoe ride! Today, we enjoyed the swimming beach, play equipment, and a nice picnic. It was a good day. :)