Our summer

This summer is already half over and I simply can't believe it!  It's flown by so fast!  It feels like it should still be Easter and we should still be looking forward to spring concerts and the last day of school.

With that being said we've accomplished a lot this summer and had a lot of fun. We started out the summer with VBS at our church. I volunteered to be one of the preschool leaders. Both Drew and Kate were supposed to be in my class but since we had an abundance of kids and the kindergarten had so few, he joined the kindergarten and did a great job and had a wonderful time.  

After VBS we traveled to the Wisconsin Dells for Brendan's business meeting.  The kids were so excited for the big, huge, enormous waterpark we were going to. We stayed at Kalahari and it was a great place for families.  It has both an indoor and outdoor waterpark, an indoor theme park and tons of activities around the area for families.  

We went to the Tommy Bartlett water ski show and the kids loved the skiers.  The one place I would highly recommend eating if you have any train enthusiasts in your house is Buffalo Phil's.  The train brings you your food and drinks and keeps the kids entertain for your entire stay.   It was a hit with our kids. 

We took the Duck Boat Tour while in the Dells and it was a fun tour.  The tour guide was pretty funny and Drew rode shotgun.  The whole tour lasts about an hour and was well worth the admission fee.

After we got back from the Dells, Drew and I turned around and left for Disney the very next evening.  Once we got back   from our little trip it was time to relax and enjoy our backyard and nice weather. We've been enjoying our big blow up pool this year.  The kids have insisted on taking their floats in the 2 feet of water.

The kids started swim lessons with Drew's teacher from last summer.  I say kids as in Drew has a lesson, Kate wears her suit and eats a snack on the edge of the pool and claims to want a lesson.  When it's her turn she cries like I'm the worst mother in the world.  So she has the fashion part down, swimming, not so much.  

Drew went fishing at a local fishing Derby in June and caught his first fish!  He was so proud!  Geez, he looks way too grown up!

We headed to Brendan's hometown for the 4th of July and spent some time with his family. Drew and Kate love playing with their cousins and this year was no different.  They loved the parade, Drew danced the whole time and got a ton a goodies handed to him for his slick dance moves. 

Brendan met up with some friends to watch the World Cup and I took the kids to the carnival in downtown Clear Lake. The kids decided they wanted to ride the train.  I tried my best to bribe them with cookies not to but I couldn't talk them out of it.  I'm not a fan of rides that are taken down and set up week after week but this one was a tiny little thing so I wasn't sick to my stomach. No roller coasters at fairs for my kids.  Their mom is crazy and thinks the ride will fall apart.

Lastly, Brendan took me on a day date to celebrate me turning 32 years old on July 8th.  

We had a great day shopping, having lunch and and just enjoying each other's company.  That evening we got together with my mom, stepdad, my older sister and her brood. We had ice cream sundaes and played our favorite family pastime, SPUD. I had a wonderful birthday and felt very loved and celebrated.

This summer is half way over and we've accomplished quite a lot.  We've had a great time enjoying our travels and time here at home.  We are looking forward to the rest of the summer and the memories that it has to offer. 

Life lately

We've had quite a few celebrations at our house over the past few weeks and the kids now think balloons and streamers are permanent decor in the living room.  We arrived home from Mexico and we hosted the kids joint Mexican Fiesta, and then the next week Drew celebrated his 4th birthday at preschool.  I didn't realize how big of a deal this was.  Drew informed me that this was HIS day at school, he was the line leader. So we took snacks, Brendan and I went in for the little celebration and Drew introduced us to his class and they sang him his favorite song "Happy Birthday".

Up next was Kate's 2nd birthday on Good Friday.  Kate woke up to balloons in her room that she was not at all impressed with.  She then opened her presents with help from Drew of course.  The weather wasn't all that great so we took the kids to a local wildlife refuge to see the buffalo and then to the best little diner to eat tenderloins and ice cream.  

We explored all the habitats of the local animals here in Iowa. 

Kate kept calling all of the buffalo, elephants. 

The tenderloins and ice cream were delicious.  Kate of course put on a show for everyone in the diner. 

After the diner we took the kids to the park to blow bubbles and fly a kite.  This was Kate's request, she had been asking to blow bubbles all day. We stopped by our house and picked up Ruby on the way to the park.  

We headed home and celebrated our birthday girl one last time.  

That weekend we celebrated Easter.  The kids loved their Easter baskets and tore through them like crazy circus monkeys.  We then headed to church with my parents before enjoying Easter dinner.

Thankfully this past week things have slowed down a bit.  This weekend we are working on our landscaping and planting.  Hopefully it's going to be warm enough we can finally put away our winter coats and get out our gardening gloves.

Drew and Kate's Mexican fiesta

This past weekend we hosted about 30 friends and family for Drew and Kate's joint Mexican fiesta.  The birthday boy and girl had an absolutely wonderful time playing with their friends and cousins, and crashed hard that evening.  This year I decided to do a joint party since their actual birthdays are just 22 days apart.  With Brendan's family being from out of town it makes it easier for them to travel just once.  

We started the party off with these invites from Etsy. 

After the house was decorated and the margaritas were mixed it was time to party!

I ordered shirts for both Drew and Kate from Right up your Ali.  Ali also did Kate's onesie last year and does such an awesome job I went back to her again this year.  She also made Kate's clip.  

Kate's tutu is from Kirra's Boutique on Etsy. 

The kids were so excited for their guests to arrive, they hung out by the front door for at least 25 minutes before the party started.  The kids were given mini sombreros, maracas and a cactus as favors.  

After the guests arrived the kids played pin the tail on the donkey and then broke the piñata. 

After games our guests enjoyed a taco and nacho bar along with margaritas and coronas.  After we ate it was time for presents and cake.  

Drew and Kate's highlight was their new bikes from my parents.  Drew does have a helmet, he just jumped on before I could run and get it.  Kate got a Radio Flyer pink trike that is perfect for her little legs and Drew's bike has his favorite characters from the movie Planes on it..  She can actually reach the pedals.  Both kids have enjoyed their bikes ever since and ask to ride them daily.  

Our local Hy-Vee grocery store made the cakes.  I showed the gal a picture I found and she just did her thing.  I was really happy how they turned out.  Drew requested "banilla cake" and Kate wanted chocolate.  

Overall the party was a huge success and the kids had a great time!  I would not hesitate doing another joint birthday party next year.  Please feel free to ask any questions.