Summing up the summer so far...kind of...



 Exploring Wildwood Park like only a Japanese tourist would.

  Lots of ice cream with Dad (hazy from the heat!), and a trip to the farmer's market in style.

 Hates fireworks...and days later, still hates fireworks going off in the neighborhood.

 Lots of time in the pool...it's been HOT!

 I really have no idea.

 Some fun with cousins!

 CUBS!!!  lose of course.

 John Deere celebrates 100 years.

 Carnival and silliness

And what would a summer be without a trip or two to the waterpark.

These remind me to do our annual SIGN's screening with my sister.  Gosh, I LOVE Iowa right now! 

There's much more to share, but these I like, and luckily there is still  more summer to go. Could we possibly have anymore fun.  HECK YEAH!! Hope everyone is having as much fun as we are.

"I'm going on a trip. Wanna come too?"

Yes, my daughter did all of that.  I was cooking dinner, Dejan was doing some work on the computer, and this is what she came up with.  "Interesting" is about all I could come up with.  Fun, creative, and messy all came to mind later.  Ava's creativeness is great fun to watch, but annoying to clean up.  We rode an airplane, watched TV (on a clock), read Tom Sawyer and James Harriet (per toddler's perspective), was told the phone was there "in case we need to call someone", then landed at the beach/beach pool.  We swam, ran from the waves, and of course ate ice cream.  Great fun for a three year old is really quite cheap.

My next "want to do this project"...

http://www.designsponge.com/2011/06/before-after-lamp-globe-birdfeeders.html

I am certain these would never survive a Midwestern hail storm or those greedy squirrels, but I am willing to take them down as needed.  I am also thinking these could be used for trailing plants, tea lights, etc.  Someone else may have already thought of that, but I feel the need to shop around for these globe lamps and decide later what to do with them.

Why I Love Three Years Old



Summer has kicked off, and I am happy to say we may be under that umbrella most of the summer enjoying ourselves.  She is watching a movie on my IPad as I prepare dinner.  I LOVE THREE!!

Our trip to the beach was much different then last year's, but we had fun. She was much more eager to stay with my Aunt this time when we went out by ourselves one night.  I LOVE THREE!!

"Mom, I'm ok.  Just go clean out the shed."  I LOVE THREE!! 

'Raise a Kid Who Gives'

I read a great article today in PARENT magazine that got me thinking.  Am I teaching my daughter the gratification that comes from giving to others, and how much contact are we having in the real world?  I agree we are all headed down a road where community no longer involves actually helping real people, it involves how may friends you have on Facebook or followers on Twitter, clicking "like", or texting instead of having actual face time.  "Empathy, the primary emotion that inspires people to help others, doesn't develop through electronic media."  I wish everyone would realize this!  Their studies show kids who volunteer do better in school and are less likely to try drugs, good enough for me.  It shows kids are healthier and doing volunteer work that involves personal contact makes people feel better, builds confidence and self-worth.  Even better!  The buck stops here.  We are going to get more involved in some way.  My parents taught me to give, help, and have empathy, but somewhere along the electronic era, I am guilty of becoming out of touch.  I am so close to removing myself from Facebook and the blog world.  I love the contact with people I haven't seen in years and love to keep up on every ones lives, BUT we forget to actually get involved with our friends, family, and community.

I'm not saying we will volunteer or give every week, but if we could start somewhere and show Ava how good it feels to help other's, even this early in life, can build a character in her that may not other wise surface.  It's easy to spoil your only daughter, especially one you waited 5 years for, but life is not all about giving to ourselves.  It can be easy.  They suggest praising your child for sharing with other kids, picking up trash at the local park, visiting elderly neighbors, visiting an animal shelter and donating supplies, making birthday cards, and actually calling or stopping by to visit friends and family.  I feel good we do these things, so I will take it a step further and pick a kid friendly cause.  GenerationOn.Org.  That's where I will pick a charity, and hopefully find a local spot with similar needs.

It's time for this family to stop focusing on what the world can do for us and instead find the smile that comes from feeling so good about giving back.

Even your kids will eat this kale

It's true!  My entire family ate this dish up like crazy.  Make them tomorrow night, you won't regret it.

Chili-Sauce Kale Chips- Everyday Food Magazine
(I omitted the chili-sauce for serving to my toddler)

2 (20oz) bunches of curly kale, stems removed, leaves torn into 2 inch pieces
2 tbsp olive oil
5 tsp Sriracha sauce, or more if desired
course salt
Directions: 
Preheat oven to 300 with racks in upper and lower thirds. Wash and dry kale and place on a large rimmed baking sheet (kale will shrink as it bakes). In a small bowl, stir together oil and Sriracha. Drizzle over kale and season with salt. Using your hands, toss to coat. Bake until kale is crisp and just beginning to brown at edges; about 35 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes. Let cool on sheet on wire rack.
To store, keep in a large zip-top plastic bag at room temperature up to 3 days

108 year old stairs

This was a messy, but so worth it project.  Anyone who owns an older home knows it can be daunting and frustrating.  You just never know what you're going to find when you pull out carpet...or anything for that matter.  These stairs were so bad, but once I saw their beauty I had to put the nix on putting a runner.  Sand them, poly them, and bring them back to their original look.  We breathed in lots of dust and cleaned for three days after the crew left, but we are so happy.  This house is worth it.  I only wish my camera took better pictures.  (we have a front stair case and back stair case, or servants stairs...which I make my husband use-ha  just kidding)