State Fair

Every year, the kids ask if we can go to the fair and every year, we think about it and then the time flies by and we never quite make it to the fair. This year, though, we finally did it. Dave and I are not really that big on the fair, but we actually had the best time this year of any of the times we have gone. Maybe it was more fun for us since Grant and Kate are older now and want to try so many things at the fair. It was fun watching them get so excited about everything.

We spent a lot of time looking at the animals and even watched 4H people show their goats. We thought the kids might get tired of it, but they were so intrigued with the whole thing. There is a building called, "The Miracle of Birth," where pregnant sheep or cows actually give birth right where you can watch, if you happen to be in there at the right time. We waited forever for a cow to give birth and finally pulled the kids away, but they did not want to go. They were just sitting there watching this cow walk around the pen. It would have been exciting to see the birth, but it could have been hours until that happened. We did get to see chicks hatching, which was exciting, too.

By evening we headed to the midway, where all the rides were lit up. The kids had ridden a few rides at the "kidway" earlier in the day, where the rides are more tame. This is the last time we will be able to do that, though, as Grant especially is ready for the real deal. Both Grant and Katie wanted to play some of the carnival games to try to win prizes, so we checked them all out and they chose the ones they wanted. Katie actually won a stuffed monkey at one game and a crown at another! She was thrilled. But, poor Grant. He played the same game over and over because he was sure he could win a guitar and burst into tears when it did not happen. For some reason, getting a free yardstick a little later soothed the wound of losing the guitar. (I do not quite understand how that works, but I think he just wanted something in his hands that he had "won!" :-) )

So, we had a good time and yes, we ate way too much, but isn't that part of the fair experience? :-)

Another Day at the Lake

We are trying to enjoy every last bit of summer before it ends and the school year begins, so we hit the lake again recently. This is such a quick and easy way to feel like you are on vacation. We usually get to the lake in the morning and and grab a spot along the beach with a grill. We grill burgers and hotdogs for lunch and dinner and hang out at the beach all day. It is so relaxing. Dave and I have had the chance to have some great conversations and the kids are happy campers because they can play in the water all day. So, it is becoming a favorite way for our family to spend a hot summer day! :-)

Football Practice

Football practices have been going pretty well. Grant seems to have adjusted to the schedule and enjoys the drills. He has his first game this weekend, so that will be fun to watch! :-)

Football Started!

Grant is so excited to play football this fall! Practices finally began this week. After two hours of football practice, he showers and is ready for bed! He gets quite a workout! :-) I guess I had better learn how the game is played so I can cheer properly when Grant's games start in a couple of weeks!

Day At The Lake

Sailing Through Summer

Well, summer is sailing along and we have settled into a more relaxed routine now that most of the scheduled activities are over. Grant's football practices will start in two weeks, but until then we have nothing on the calendar, which is kind of nice.

So, Grant and Katie have been playing outside with kids in the neighborhood quite a bit. They have a special spot by some trees that they have claimed as a "fort" and all kinds of pretending goes on with the upkeep and guarding of the fort. It is an ongoing game that is picked up every time they run outside to play. I'm glad they enjoy playing outside so much as opposed to wanting to watch T.V. all day!


We have also been taking some fun outings as a family, like to a park or a lake, and hope to do some more of that in the next couple of weeks. Before we know it, summer will be over and it will be time to start school again!

Winding Down

Grant and Katie recently played with their teams at the last event of the soccer season -- Super Soccer Saturday. All the teams played a few games and there were snacks, face painting and carnival-like games to keep busy with between soccer games. All the kids received trophies, too. Grant and Katie each had great coaches and teams, which made for a wonderful season. I think it was a great experience for them.

Now that soccer is over, our summer activities are winding down. It is kind of nice to have less of a schedule for the rest of the summer...that is until football starts up next month! :-)

American Girl Movie

There has been a lot of excitement around here recently in anticipation of the movie, "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" finally coming to theaters. Last week Kate and some of her friends finally got to go see the Kit movie and they brought their dolls along. The girls had a great time munching popcorn and watching the show together. :-)

We have read some of the American Girl books and we have listened to some of the stories on tape. We studied the American Revolution in history this year and the Felicity books were fun to listen to then. When we listened to the Addy stories, it led to some deeper conversations about slavery. Grant read those books before we listened to the tapes and he said, "Mom, those books are hard--not hard to read, but hard on your heart." And they were hard. But it was also a good way to begin talking about some of those difficult things. We had not read any of the Kit stories, but we will discuss the Great Depression next year in our history studies, so maybe we will read them, or listen to the tapes, then.

Cool Spray on a Hot Day

Wow, today was HOT!!! And the humidity made it seem even hotter. Grant and Katie love to cool off on hot days like today by playing on the slip-n-slide that Dave made with a long piece of plastic from Home Depot. :-)

Happy Independence Day!

He Can't Wait!

Grant is so excited for football to start! We finally agreed that he could play tackle this fall, after holding off last year because of the crazy schedule. We had heard that there were long practices four nights a week and games on weekends and we just weren't ready to commit to that kind of schedule for a young child's sport. But, this year we said yes. We realize how good sports are for Grant. He is a very high-energy kid and needs the outlet sports give him. Also, he is learning to respond to an authority figure, follow directions and be a team player. This is good because his natural tendency is to try to take the lead and do things his way. :-)

Kid Life

One thing I especially remember about my childhood is that I always seemed to have skinned up knees. My mom was always putting something that stung and made me yell on some skinned up part of me--usually my knees. So, the memories came flooding back when Katie wiped out on her bike a few days ago. Grant pulled her bike off of her and walked her into the house, where I washed her scrapes and put antiseptic and then a bandaid on each one. She braved it all and then ran back outside to play. :-)

Soccer Days

Grant and Kate are both on soccer teams and we are at the soccer field four nights a week. They love it and they are getting exercise and learning how to be team players. As for me, as I shuttle them to and from their games and practices in my minivan, I am truly living the soccer mom life. :-) (It's not so bad...especially since the soccer season ends in a couple of weeks! ;-) )

A Fun Visit

Twenty-two years ago I joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ to work with their high school ministry, Student Venture. My first assignment with Student Venture was in San Diego, California, where I met a high school sophomore named Michelle, who was in a Bible Study that I led. Michelle was in that study all through high school and we had lots of deep conversations and great experiences, like a mission trip to Mexico City, together. Michelle graduated and headed off to college and I was transferred to Boulder, Colorado. It was in Boulder that I met and married Dave.

Several years later, Michelle married Greg, a wonderful guy who just happens to be from Boulder! Together they have three adorable kiddos and they have been serving overseas as missionaries for the past seven years. Last week they were in town for a conference and we had the pleasure of having them stay with us. The kids all played together, the men talked and Michelle and I talked and talked. We stayed up until 2:30am two nights and until 4:00am the last night, and we STILL could have talked for hours more! I don't know how she managed to make it through her conference on so little sleep, and I definitely learned that I cannot stay up all night and still function the next day! But, it was so fun to catch up. :-)

Bowling

Yesterday the kids and I met some friends at the local bowling alley for free bowling! Yep, it was totally free. They have a summer program that allows kids to bowl a free game of bowling every day, all summer long! Isn't that amazing? We will certainly be bowling more this summer! :-)

Milestone Birthday

Dave had the big 4-0 birthday on Thursday! Woo-hoo! I'm glad he's finally in the 40's! :-)
(I am a few years older than Dave...shhh!)

Anyway, we had a small family celebration at home and then we all went to see the new Narnia movie: Prince Caspian. It was a low-key birthday celebration, but it was fun.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVE! Thanks for finally turning 40! Ha~ha! :-)

Time is Flying

Since I have been too busy to blog much, I thought this meme from Donna's blog would be a quick, easy and fun post today. If you do the meme, too, please leave your answers here so I can see them!:-)
Two-Word Meme
1. Where is your cell phone? On table
2. Where is your significant other? At work
3. Your hair? Straight, flat
4. Your mother? Animal lover
5. Your father? Social, laughing
6. Your favorite thing? Family times
7. Your dream last night? Crying, Chapmans
8. Your favorite drink? Coffee
9. Your dream/goal? Glorify God
11. Your hobby? Reading, dreaming
12. Your fear? Dishonor God
13. Where you want to be in 6 years? Paris vacation
14. Where were you last night? Soccer game
15. What you're not? In control
16. Muffins? Not really
17. One of your wish list items? Digital SLR Camera
18. Where you grew up? Des Moines
20. What are you wearing? Jeans, t-shirt
21. Your TV? Not often
22. Your pets? None now
23. Your computer? Dell laptop
24. Your life? Blessed, surprises
25. Your mood? Happy, expectant
26. Missing someone? Loved ones
27. Your car? Villager minivan
28. Something you're not wearing? Smaller sizes :-(
29. Favorite store? Pottery Barn
30. Your summer? Kid’s activities
31. Like someone? Most everyone
32. Your favorite color? Currently cranberry
33. When is the last time you laughed? This morning
34. Last time you cried? Wednesday, homegoing

Catching up...

Things are winding down for the summer. AWANA ended last week. Katie finished Sparkies and earned the Sparky plaque. She was a memorizing machine and also finished a workbook after completing her regular book. Go Katie! :-) Grant finished his book, too! Go, Grant! Next year both kids will be in TNT.

American Girl Party

Last Saturday, Kate went to an American Girl birthday party for her friend, Ellie. She was so excited and could hardly wait until it was time to go! All the girls brought their dolls and had fun playing with them. Ellie's mom even set up a little party table for the dolls, with real mini cupcakes! The girls thought that was pretty cool. Kate especially liked the craft time when each girl got to decorate a t-shirt for her doll. She had a great time at the party. :-)

Busy

We've been busy and I haven't gotten around to posting much, but here are a couple of shots of the kids before they went to "Crazy Hair Night" at AWANA the other night. We shaved Grant's hair in a zig-zag fashion because we were planning on shaving it off the next day anyway. He won a candy bar for having such crazy hair that night! :-) (He won't let me post a picture of the back, for some reason, but it had a zig-zag path straight down the back.)