Summer fun!

We have been busy checking off our bucket list items! 

HENRY DOORLY ZOO!

In Mid June we took a mini vaca to Omaha. Yes, vacation in Omaha! We spent the night at the Ramada water park resort (I highly recommend it!) and then hit the Henry Doorly Zoo the next day!. 

 The men in deep discussion on the sky glider! 

 Here goaty goat goaty! 

 Desert Dome

ADVENTURELAND!!

 Raging River 1 Claire 0! 

4TH OF JULY!

This year the weather finally cooperated for the 4th of July! We hit up the local parade and activities at the park afterwards. Jeremy and the kids made their traditional homemade ice cream and we were able to watch 3 sets of fireworks from our corner.

 Carter vs his friend Duke

 Waiting for the parade!

 My sweet boys!

WATER FUN! 

Doesn't seem to matter what the attire, suit, no suit, clothes, pool, beach, sprinkler, wading pool, whatever, these kids love the water! Case is content to run the hose on himself, or find an older sibling to turn on the sprinkler for him.

MINI GOLF

So, the kids were bored one afternoon so we got out the list and all agreed to go mini golfing. Do you ever have days when you don't like your kids very much? I know that sounds awful, but they were awful the afternoon we played golf. It was full of complaining, arguing, fighting, crying, you name it! Ultra competitive Carter vs not a bone of competitive spirit in my body Claire made for a not so fun 18 holes. Claire was content just hitting the ball around and Carter was having a fit because she wasn't counting her strokes. Take in the fact it was about 100 degrees out, well let's just say I have had better days with these two! 

ICE CREAM, I-CUBS, AND MOVIES IN THE PARK

Now that Claire can keep up on her bike, we have hit up our local Ice Cream shoppe way too often! 

Do you notice Claire's new "excited" smile in all the photos?

Unity Point night at the I-Cubs

A few weeks ago at dusk, we enjoyed the movie Madagascar 3 at Centennial Park. The played the movie on a giant screen and offered popcorn and pop. I took the older two up (I didn't feel like chasing a toddler around in the dark) and we had a great time! We'll definitely hit the next one up in a couple of weeks! 

House progress!

Our new home is coming along nicely! Although we don't have a closing date yet (arggg) it appears??? it will be done the last week of July. We close on our house August 6th, but need to be out sooner than that for new carpet to be laid in our current house. I have new furniture arriving July 31st so I am praying it is done by then! Although it seems to be a little behind schedule due to the wet spring we had, the builder assures me that now it is all "closed" in, it will come together quickly. It is amazing how quick they can work when the weather cooperates. I drove by one afternoon after work and the roofers were there getting started, the next day we had a complete roof! The mechanicals are all in now, tubs and showers arrived last week. When I stopped by today, they were getting ready to drywall! 

Kids sitting in the garage! 

Back side of house

Front of house before and after siding and windows! 

 Great room with corner fireplace

Framework of kitchen

 Framework of walkout basement, when finished will have 2 bedrooms, family room, storage room, bathroom and game closet 

People keep asking me if it has been hard to pick things out for the house. Honestly, no! It really has been fairly easy. We have stayed within our budget for each area (flooring, cabinets, granite, etc) so that limits our choices and from those choices, we have been able to narrow things down to 2 pretty easily. The one thing I am totally STRUGGLING with picking is the paint colors! Here is my current sample stash! I almost wish we could have the painters come back after we close once we get a feel for the house, the lighting and the furniture before picking a color! No such luck! 

Meanwhile, I am starting to pack up what I can, collect boxes, continue to get rid of things we don't need or never use! I am still overwhelmed at the amount of stuff we have! 

Bye bye baby wheels!

After months of persistence (this girl is relentless!) on Claire's part, we finally agreed to take the training wheels off. She took off like she had been riding a two wheeler her whole life! 

Getting some last minute advice from dad

 Steady on the corner now! 

 And away she goes! 

Field day!

Carter's last day of 1st grade was May 24th! Seems way early, but I guess when you start the second week of August it is time to be done! The last day is a field day filled with super fun activities! He has a great class and a wonderful teacher! As we were leaving that day, they have a "clap out" for the 5th graders who will move on to junior high next year. Many tears were being shed for them. I soon realized this was our last day at Maple Grove as well and shed a tear myself. Very bittersweet to be leaving this great elementary school and all the wonderful friends Carter has made here. I know even though he will be at a different school next year, he has made some lifelong friends at Maple Grove that we will see again! 

 Tug o War boys vs girls! Girls actually won a couple! 

Marble pick up! Can't imagine what that water looked like after hundreds of sweaty feet were dipped in it! 

 Fireman relay

Carter and Ms. Miller

After school, we stuffed our faces at the new Cherry Berry in Waukee to celebrate his promotion to second grade! We have our summer bucket list made and 11 weeks to get it all done! Now if it would just warm up! 

My brave girl!

Claire has been saying for quite some time that she has wanted to cut her hair. I was not ready. I kept using the excuse that she had to have it long for her dance recital. Well, the recital is over and she has been persistent. So, after asking many times, are you sure? Do you understand it won't be long anymore? Once it is cut, it will be gone? Yes mom, yes mom, yes mom! So I made an appointment with our hairdresser and she measured her hair and she had plenty to donate to Locks of Love and STILL get it into a ponytail! After asking the round of questions one more time and even pausing with the scissors before she snipped it....SHE DID IT! I am so proud of her! It looks super cute on her, although it makes her look so old! She has been busy flipping it around and trying on different headbands and clips! She even got a stuffed teddy bear from Cheryl with the Locks of Love logo on it and her picture taken for the local paper. I am not sure she fully understands what she has done or where her hair is going, but no matter, I am very proud of her for being so brave to try something new and also to help another little girl have beautiful golden locks.