July 2014

A fun visit to IOWA CITY

 

I have a problem supporting Nick's mask collection...

 

 

We meet Esperanza Spalding... I get a photo of my sis, she gets a video.  (haha)

 

 

 

A fun visit in Des Moines...we antiqued and skywalked..

 

 FOLLY BEACH-- with mom & dad & conn's...

first dip in the atlantic ocean

 

pictures from the road

(sleeper, serious 16 hr.driver, and how I stay sane)

They went crazy after being in the car all day...

These kids were great road trippers...

 

Pictures from our days on Folly...

  

  Cousin Ty & Lance take the kids for a jeep ride...

 

 

Our night out...

(found a hilarious photo bomb on my phone of our waiter)

 

 Charleston

Walk out to the Lighthouse...

 Family...

 

 Folly makes us happy

 

 SUPER MOON ON FOLLY BEACH

 

 

 

 Back in IOWA...
 This type of summer is what makes a hydrangea beautiful.  Rain & cool temps still need to go away.

61 degrees & dewey grass...hello, summer...what's up?! I'm telling ya, I have not forgotten this past winter & I am in need of some heat.

I could spend my whole life living a perfect summer day on a porch. This particular one is super sweet tonight. Rosanna Harris Seabold

 

She hikes in hot pink & I sent her ahead to scope things out. I'm scared. (not really, she just wanted to be independent)...First trip to Garrison Rock.

Horse Thief Cave with my explorer teammates. What an awesome day we had hiking for THREE hours at Garrison Rock!— with Sara Johnson and Gary Harris (my dad)

 

 

 

 AND we ended up with a snail as a pet from Garrison Rock.

 

 

Because, if you are a Midwesterner at this time of year, it's what you eat as an afternoon snack.

This was my posse for a few days...we had such a great time!

 

 

June 2014

Front porch is open for the summer...yay!!!!!

 

 

Message from Sara Johnson...
I walk into the cafeteria at school and get a big grin from my lovely little Finley who is taking a bite of a subway sandwich. I raise my eyebrow at her because I didn't send her with subway for lunch. She smiles even more and runs up to me and says, "I thought it was going to be mac and cheese for lunch but it is burrito. I don't like burrito and I started to cry, I couldn't find you in your room so Francesca Harris Djordjevich helped me by giving me a hug and buying me Subway so I don't have to starve!" I don't know if Finley knows how lucky she is to have a 2nd mom who cares about her so much! I am definitely grateful to have such wonderful people in our lives! Thanks Francesca!


Ava & I are doing our Farmer's Market happy dance...strawberries & French bread were our snack of choice.

We saw him perform last night, & he can make you laugh in ways you haven't done in years!
(bill cosby)

June 8--It's the final countdown...two more cold lunches to pack, then summer vacation can FINALLY begin! (dang snow days)


June 8-- Oh yeah, and 12 years of marriage gets lost in the shuffle today, but so much better than getting a self improvement book. . Love that guy of mine...



It took all I had to not cry that these two are done with kindergarten!
— with Sara Johnson.

 

 AWARDS...

 

Kindergarten is over~sigh~but the rain & cold didn't stop the kids from having fun at their end of the year pool party...seriously, it was 62 degrees & raining, but the kids seemed to enjoy it more than ever! I feel the need to blog about this school year, I hope I find time to write the memories.

It's officially summer vacation when the Barbie wedding season starts back up...lord help me.

 

Remember the Cicada's?  Well, if you love to be serenaded by bugs for dinner, here ya go...
VIDEO

Ava declared yesterday that today was going to be the best day ever!! Her & Finley have accomplished that, but also accomplished breaking out in an itchy rash after rolling down this hill. oopsiedoodle!! They were about to lose it until I convinced them to wash off under the water fountain...then it itched worse, then thank god it actually worked. WHEW.
Summer is all about rolling down hills at the park, swimming, eating ice cream, playing in bubbles, popcorn, blueberries with whip cream, playing dress up & putting on puppet shows, singing Let It Go loudly, changing clothes 100 times, & randomly screaming at the top of your lungs because you are so happy your BFF is with you.  I hear little voices through the house having a great time, & that makes me happy for Ava...well, now I hear more screaming. ha
VIDEO


Best lunch date of the year.

My little scientist hard at work...

Besides loving her bike riding get up...WE RODE BIKES TOGETHER for the first time!! woo hoo!! Loving this time together.

Sara Johnson...discussing Pete's status as a boy horse. It was painfully obvious & they giggled a lot.

Cherry Pie with Pâte Brisée crust is on the horizon.

They really want pie...they pick cherries, I sit, watch, & listen to Pink Martini radio, & maybe if they are super nice to me I'll make that pie.

Happy Summer Solstice! We are waiting out the long day under our favorite spot in the yard.

This rainy second day of summer has me down memory lane...I found some real nice band awards. 1st to be kicked out of band, being unfashionably late (that still applies to this day), jibber jabber (still applies & is an annoying personality trait to my husband & what got me kicked out of band), & gossiping. Such proud awards for my parents to brag about.

Richie Silvers, Kirkland, IL. . I don't remember him, but some lucky person is hopefully married to him.

Oh.My.Lord!!!!!! Guess who had to clean up the dead bat!!!! No one believed me that I knew another bat was in our house. Well, there you go. I hate to admit I was right. YUCK!

Presenting the broadway production of Frozen! Bailey as Oloaf, Ava J. as Ana, Ava D. as Elsa, Finley as Sven.
— with Francesca Harris Djordjevich.

Lavender...clearly a gift from the god's.

Why I love living in Amish Country...you need Douglas Fir to finish renovation project in a 108 year old home , they are kind, go the extra mile, & get you what you need.


Our porch conversations are getting more interesting each day. I like 6 year old Ava...

Front row seats!!  Ottumwa Balloon Races
— with Sara Johnson.

 
When I first opened my freezer I gasped, but then remembered there is a little girl in my house who would try to preserve a bird feather with my food. ‪#‎weirdsixyearoldquirks

We are about to get busy putting up flags. Adam Wolff got a hell of an escort into town, now we do the only thing we can to honor his sacrifice.

  With around 200 volunteers, we helped line flags along tomorrow's funeral route. It was an amazing experience with some great people...even though we spent most of the time walking in rain & thunder, it really was the least we could do. Extra happy we got to do this with my favorite family!
— with Sara Johnson.