Bluebird outings

Even now that Mike is working from home full time, and the boys are all home for summer break, we still find time for the occasional Gavin-mommy outing. Today Mike took the older boys to the YMCA to play raquetball and basketball, while Gavin accompanied me to check on my bluebird boxes and play a bit at the park.

Seeing the Kratt brothers in person!

This group is excited to see the Wild Kratt brothers at Hy-Vee hall for a 30 minute presentation on their first trip to the Amazon. We, and about 350 other families, are waiting for the show to start....

Soccer 2015

The boys had a great first season playing soccer on friend Nick's team in Urbandale.

Day #3 of childfree staycation

Fondue at the Cheese Shop

Fondue

Can you see that flame? 

Here's a closer view. She's lighting my Spanish Coffee on fire! That's when you know it's gonna be a good drink.

Visiting Creme dessert lounge for our final food outing. 

It turns out that I did not need the sampler to myself. We should've shared. We were so full after this. 

Then we walked across the street to Star Bar to hear our friend James Biehn play. It was a full, wonderful, relaxing three days of adult-only time. Ahhh. And the best news is that my parents said the kids were great, and they had a wonderful time having them up at Okoboji. This means we may get to look forward to this again next May-- woohoo!!

Day #2 of childfree anniversary celebrating

Still great! Started the day with haircuts and acupunture. Had lunch at Malo with old driend and roommate Suzi ( who I hadn't seen in 13 years!) and her partner. Then some reading and resting before our big anniversary dinner tonight at 801 Grand Chophouse.

Post lunch walk around the downtown sculpture garden

Happy 13th Anniversary to Us!

Best anniversary gift ever = my parents take the kids to Okoboji for 3.5 days. We are living life like adults who aren't responsible for anyone but ourselves (gasp). Had a late lunch on a rooftop, walked all around downtown, went Stand-Up Paddle-boarding at Gray's Lake, and are leisurely deciding on a dinner spot. Life is really nice right now.

And summer begins

With summer break now officially upon us (94 days and counting until the first day of school...) I'm working on typing up a list of both outdoor and indoor activities to have on hand for those days we really need something to do. At this point in the break I'm usually pretty excited to not have to be out the door at a certain time each day. But it doesn't take long to realize that wiling away our time at home leads to constant fighting. And I already dread grocery shopping with kids in tow..... So I'm hoping to be proactive in having ideas at the ready. I also want to make sure I carve out some space for stillness, so we're going to have daily reading time. 

I'm finding that my newest favorite spot for quiet time is our front porch. When we moved in, I was so in love with being near water that I figured I'd never be anywhere but in the back yard looking at the pond. But often the wind coming across the water and out of the North can be a challenge to reading or relaxing, so I've been working at creating an inviting space in the front. I now find that I look forward to having a cup of coffee and a quick magazine read on warm, weekend mornings in our front rocker more than anything else. A couple new hanging plants and wind chimes makes me especially happy to be on the porch. I'm hoping I can find a few minutes each day to sit out here and be still, even with all the boys at home for the next 93 days. (But who's counting?)

Preschool Graduation

After 6 straight years at St. Timothy's preschool, we said good-bye today as our last baby graduated from the Dynamic Dogs.

Summer Pie

In honor of only having 2 more days of school, and to brighten this unusually cold and rainy day, I made a summer (apple) pie:

Last Days of 1st and 2nd grade

Benji's 1st grade open house. They read Shel Silverstein poems in groups to all the families present. Benji's group read "Monster." Since then, he has checked out every Shel Silverstein poetry book he can find!

I chaperoned Jack's 2nd grade field trip to Saylorville. Unfortunately it was rainy and cold that day. But they had fun! Pictured here to the right of Jack is his current BFF, Oran.