Fall

My iphone update messed up my Blogger app which has really thrown off my blogging. Ahh, first world, problems right. I have a whole season practically to catch up on so I'm going to just leave it to fall dump. The words fall and dump takes me back to our 2010 Squirrel Hunt...ahem, Mike Boyd. Nevertheless, enjoy~

You know you're home when there is an Ewolk tower, 9x13 cake pan, pie pans, & not 1 but 2 bundt pans in the sandbox.

Homemade playdoh and every cookie cutter under the sun is also a sign you're home.

Sam's first time shooting a real gun.

Sam reading "Sam and Papa".

He is reading The Little Red Hen to GG. GG knows this story well. ;-)

The Miss America Program from 1997 never gets old for Laura.

Our ninja & witch

Sam had a surprise donut on his sixth birthday!

Laura got her hair cut and styled. She suddenly looks 15.

At the recycling center Sam insisted on unpacking all of the cardboard himself. He's planning to apply at Fareway next week.

Making cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving

Laura saved Grandma a seat at Thanksgiving

Uncle Mark is so much fun and is always eager to play with the kids when he visits.

Laura likes to give you 6 sixes with the last kiss on the nose which feels like a dog licking your nose.

Grandma and the kids made a gingerbread turkey, the kids couldn't wait to eat it.

We went on an adventure to Ledges during Thanksgiving break.

Laura organized the pantry

We don't have many leaves in our yard so we went to a park with our rakes to make a giant leaf pile to play in.











Eric came prepared.





8

It's birthday party time at our house. We've celebrated Laura's 8th birthday with an art party with 8 wild girls. We painted an ice cream cone on canvas and I was doing my best to channel my inner Bob Ross, but he never showed. The masterpieces were definitely unique and it amazes me how different they all turned out despite receiving the same instructions. 

Laura was very specific this year about the cake so we watched some you-tube videos and bought the frosting from Hy-Vee's bakery. I'm pretty sure the girl in the bakery pulled a "Heidi" as I got a boat load of butter cream frosting for $3.99. Got to love those bakery and deli girls.

My girl is 8, wants a Fitbit for her birthday, loves to party plan and get her craft on. It's like she's been here forever, but at the same time it feels like she just arrived. How can that be?!

Summertime and the Living is...

I love the song Summertime by Ella Fitzgerald. Would I describe summer with two energetic kids as "easy" as Ella does in the song? That would be a hell no.

Here are some other adjectives to describe summertime.

Summertime and the living is adventurous.

Sam really wanted to pass the swim test at the pool to be able to go off the diving boards this year. So on the first day of summer break we went to the pool and made a bee-line to the swim test lap lane area. Last year Sam had to be rescued during a swim test, but he was determined to pass this year. It wasn't pretty, but he passed the swim test with flying colors. While heading to the diving board he told me he was going to do a flip off the board. I told him for the first time off, just do a regular jump to get a feel for the board and the water. He successfully jumped off the diving board and then headed straight for the high dive. When he reached the top of the ladder I saw the color drain from his face and he was no longer smiling. I had a feeling Sam was going to turn around and just stick with the low diving boards for the day. But my adventurous Sam walked slowly to the edge of the board and didn't jump...he flipped off the high dive! When thinking back about my words, I just told him to do a regular jump the first time off the diving board. Since this was his second time, I guess he figured he was good to go.

Summertime and the living is full of art projects.

Laura is in her element doing art projects. When we put together the gallery walls, you would have thought she was Joanna Gaines from Fixer Upper. She's so confident and really has an eye for detail. She's tough too. The notes she leaves next to her projects screams don't mess with this girl.

I also tackled a project that was on my to-do list for years. I refinished Grandma Claussen's china hutch. I didn't realize it at the time, but I officially finished this project on her 88th birthday. Everytime I look at it, I think of her and it sparks so much joy.

Summertime and the living is random.

I felt like I was constantly at the grocery store this summer. I have so many pictures on my phone of random items from the grocery store that L & S would say they wanted and my usual response was, "Let's take a picture to remember for your birthday."

Summertime and the living is full of family time.

The Strawberry Festival, Aunt Liz's Wedding, G.G. and Papa Camp, The Schulz Family Vacation, Reiman Gardens, & Molly's Birthday Party. We were lucky to see our families a lot this summer and the the kids absolutely can not get enough of them.

Summertime and the living is growing our minds, coordination, & bodies.

Sam learned how to rip stick, knee board, ride the flow rider at the pool, open up cans using a can opener, and tie his shoes this summer. The kids rode 10 miles on their bikes yesterday with no complaints.
Today was my official first day back at work and they kids went to Dana's house, our beloved babysitter for the past 7.5 years, for the last time. They both woke up to their alarm clocks and got themselves dressed on their own this morning. Seriously alarm clocks?! I just got rid of Sam's crib!!

Summertime and the living is definitely anything but easy, but I wouldn't have it any other way.