8.11.20

We celebrated our 13 year anniversary on Tuesday, August 11.  Roy kicked things off the night before with his delivery of a dozen red roses (he never forgets).  In the morning we enjoyed Panera bagels for breakfast, another wedding day tradition.    

After Ivy's nap we headed for Ames and had a picnic at a park.  

We love Cy!  

Then we spent a few hours at Reiman Gardens soaking up the beauty.  

We thought the LEGO exhibit was there for the summer but soon found out it left after the 4th of July.  The copper frogs were cool too, but not as impressive as the LEGO structures would have been.  

Ribbit!  

Dancing on the chimes, a Reiman Garden tradition.  

Greta likes to match Ivy by either wearing the same color or pattern.  Today it was yellow.  

So very thankful to spend the day in the town where we met and fell in love, Ames.  

 

Roy captured this beautiful picture of a butterfly.  

 

They say this is the world's largest concrete gnome.  

 

Snuggles in the shade.  

Trying on Daddy's sunglasses.  

 

We probably won't get to Jack Trice Stadium this fall for any football games so a picture will have to do.  

 

We made a stop for a family treat at Orange Leaf of Frozen Yogurt before leaving town.  It was a first time together together as a family in an eating establishment since February.  

After I put Ivy to bed for the night Nana stayed over and put the big kids to bed.  Roy and I enjoyed dinner out together for the first time in 2020.  So thankful for this wonderful man of mine.   

And closing out with a little throwback from 2007.  Thankful for all the sweet memories of our beautiful wedding day.  

Sweet Summer Days (continued)

Here is another batch of summer pics.  I am so thankful for these summer days and the sweetness of this season, however strange it is.   

Mrs. Kehoe (a friend from church who has been Hudson's Art Camp teacher over the years) invited the kids over to her house to paint canvasses.  Greta painted a unicorn...

and a silly cat.  

Hudson painted a sea horse.  

Ivy Rae was all smiles about her new sleep sack.  

My first time baking chocolate chip bars with a princess.  

Sitting up like a champ!  

We celebrated Hudson's half birthday (on August 3rd) with Scratch cupcakes.  

So big and so proud!  

Ivy has found a new love for tummy scooting and searching for crumbs on the kitchen floor.  

Greta went to play with her buddy Zachary for the morning.  

She helped water their garden. 

Hudson had been looking forward to attending Day Camp at Living History Farms since February (we signed up pre-Covid).  He used some of his own money to pay for it.  When we found out the week before camp that he had to wear a mask all day he was super disappointed, but he made the most of it and had a great week.  

I wanted to have a few special things for Greta while Hudson attended camp, which included another week of swimming lessons.  

Ivy and I enjoyed supervising in the shade.  

Snuggles and a selfie with my almost Kindergartener.  

Greta's teacher goes to college in the town where Bapa and Mimi live, which she thought was pretty cool.  The last five minutes of class was play time.    

Ivy likes to play with balls.  

Greta borrowed this giant giraffe from a friend and she insisted on sleeping with it.  

We make quick trips down to the park often, giving Ivy a chance to swing.  

Is she playing a guitar or helping me dust?  

Hudson was a grand prize winner at the Waukee Public Library's Summer Reading Program.  He put all his 12 tickets earned into a raffle for this Star Wars BB8 robot.  All of his reading really paid off!    

Uncle Ryan stopped by for a visit when he was in town.

Ivy's second time to church (in her entire life).  She did great and had big eyes (looking around) the whole time.   

A family picture to prove we all made it to church!  Hooray!  

Sister smiles!  

Sometimes I feel like I take pictures all the time and the next moment I feel like I'm not taking enough of her.  

Those hands must taste pretty good.  

Surrounded by toys, thanks to her siblings.  

Such a handsome smile :)  

Ready for their dental check up.  

Ivy has mastered picking up and smooshing puffs in her mouth.  

Sweet Summer Days

We have enjoyed lots of summer fun, yet had lots of time at home.  I am so incredibly thankful to spend my days with these three cuties.  I know I have my moments of frustration and exhaustion but the snuggles, smiles, laughter and sweet memories bring us together.  

Getting busy preparing food for her restaurant.  

Greta's first bites of sweet corn for the season.  

Sometimes they both crawl into this mini pool so they can play with Ivy.  I love how they adore being with her.  

Baby girl, enjoying time in the water.  

Mimi gave Hudson this bird feeder for his birthday.  The first several months we thought it was a bust, not a single bird stopped by.  But this summer has proved differently.  The kids joke that the birds in Urbandale talk about how its such a nice place to stop for a snack.  

Bedtime stories with big brother.  

Those sleepy faces, how I love them so.  

Helping Mommy make strawberry fruit cups.  Because they are her favorite I figured she should help make them.  

Sister snuggles before bed.  

Ivy's big grin is such a gift and people are often commenting about it.  

Checking out how things look with Mommy's sunglasses.  

Giving me her serious face.  

The kids did VBS online/at home this year.  Lutheran Church of Hope offered 5 fun filled mornings of crafts, singing, dancing, skits and Bible stories.  The kids really enjoyed it and it proved to be a good change of pace for them.  

Will they all fit next summer?  

Working on her sitting.  

I spy those two little bottom teeth.  

How did you celebrate National Ice Cream Day?  

Trying out her new chair.  Thanks Mimi!  

That little profile melts my heart (and her hair is still not really growing).  

Mommy's helpers to shuck the sweet corn.  

I never grow tired of snapping pictures of her sleeping in her car seat...those cheeks, those hands, the lines in her skin, that birth make, those bare arms.  She is precious in every way!    

Baby girl perfection!  

Toys are no longer interesting, the kitchen gadgets are so much more entertaining.  

Ivy got her first bites of peas from her big sister.  Have I mentioned that having older siblings is so incredibly helpful? 

On Sunday nights we make or order pizza and watch a family movie.  It's become a fun family tradition that we all look forward to.  Hudson had the idea to make our own chicken bacon ranch pizza.  We gave it a whirl, but we decided Pizza Ranch makes it so much better.