ALLIE'S FAMILY B-DAY PARTY

We held Allie's family birthday party a little early this year. We have friends coming to visit next weekend & so their visit moved her party up a week. The weather was great...not too hot & humid so we were able to be outside some, which was nice. Allie enjoyed herself yesterday & was pooped out by the end of the day. She fell asleep listening to her MP3 player (I loaded new songs from her new CD's from Aunt Kim & Uncle Michael).

Her Polly Pocket cake.
Allie with one of her new High School Musical Barbies (from Aunt Kelley & Uncle Mike).
Allie blowing out her candles (Ben helps).

Allie crashed with her MP3 player.

KIM & ALLIE'S VICTORY

We went to the waterpark on Saturday with Kim & Michael. The kids decided to assign point values to each slide & see if Kim & Allie or Michael & Jake could get more points. I knew going into the day that the girls would win. Jake has suddenly become fearful of some of the slides. He'd much rather play in the "lagoon" than be a daredevil & go down the big slides. Allie on the other hand has little fear & loves a challenge. SO, I was right...the girls kicked the boy's butts & tackled every slide in the park...the scarier the better was her motto.

The group goes down the "crater"...note the look of fear on Jake's face...this was the last of the "scary slides" that he attempted.

Allie goes down the "toilet bowl" alone. Allie hits the red drop slide...I have a hard time watching her go down this one.
Michael & Jake come off of the "Kiwi Coaster"

Allie & Kim come off of one of the blue slides.
Jake, me & Allie after a long day of slides & pools.

Kim, Michael & the kids.

RAGBRAI


My kids have found a new love...RAGBRAI (for those out of state...RAGBRAI a bike ride across Iowa). The riders spent the night here last night...all 10,000+!! Lance Armstrong even made an appearance in town (Jake kept looking for him). We spent about an hour on the course welcoming riders into town. The kids spent their time waving, getting "5's" from the riders & yelling "welcome to Cedar Falls". Later on in the evening, we walked to one of the campgrounds & checked out all of the tents...Jake couldn't get over how different his school's football field looked as it was transformed into a campsite.





The riders heading toward the Dome.
Jake gives out a high 5.
Allie waves on some bikers.
Here is a handful of the tents on Jake's school grounds.

Here is Allie being goofy on the campgrounds.

THIS & THAT

The kids and I spent Friday morning at Jake's baseball game. Scott was able to come and see it too, which thrilled Jake. After Jake's game, we met my friend Cathi & her 2 girls. They had been in NYC for 3 weeks so the we all had lots to catch up on. We had lunch and then went to a local art festival. The kids went into a "kids only" tent and got to purchase some of their own art. Allie came out with a mirror and Jake came out with earrings for Allie for her birthday. After the festival, we went to dinner with Scott & came home for some football in the back yard.

Saturday morning, we headed out to spend the rest of the weekend with my family. I dropped Scott off with my brother to golf & I headed up to visit my parents. We hung out all afternoon & then my parents watched the kids so that Scott & I could have dinner. We ended up going out with Michael too (Kim was working). I don't think that I have laughed as hard as I did during dinner & after as I did with Scott & Michael.

Sunday morning during Mass brought Maddie's Baptism. We were surprised to learn that it would be DURING Mass rather than AFTER Mass....so Will & Scott missed the whole thing. They weren't too heartbroken & they joined us for lunch out at Mandy & Mike's house.

Yesterday brought Jake's last baseball game. We have a few things on the calendar this week...hopefully several trips to the waterpark, seeing the Harry Potter movie...if I can get the 4th one watched here at home, RAGBRAI watching tomorrow & some errands before company starts arriving on Friday evening....

Allie & her friend Jordyn at the art festival.
The Godfather (Chad), the Godmother (me) & Maddie after Baptism.

HAIL, LOST TOOTH, SLEEPOVER & T-BALL

Monday night we had a hail storm here. Some of the hail in our yard was between the size of a golf ball and a baseball. Jake got caught in the storm on his way to a friend's house. He said that the hail kept smacking him in the head!! We were fortunate not to have any damage in our neighborhood.

Allie lost her first tooth yesterday while we were at the waterpark. My friend Kristin actually pulled it out for her. Allie had bumped it on something & it was bleeding, so Allie allowed Kristin to "look at it" & she yanked it out. It had been hanging by a thread for over a week.

Jake had his friend Paul sleepover last night. They were very excited about having the same boxers to sleep in. After Allie's t-ball game this morning, we went to the summer movie special...$2.50 admission & free popcorn...a good deal!!

Allie had her last t-ball game of the season. She did really well this season & barely whined. I think that she enjoyed herself too.

Our hail storm...
Allie's little gap!
DORKS!

Allie runs home!

ON THE GO!!!!

We've been on the go non-stop for the past 10 days or so. It amazes me how quickly time flies by!!

The weekend after the 4th kept us home, which was a nice change. Jake spent Saturday playing with his friend Paul & they ended up at the Transformers movie that afternoon. Allie & I stuck around the house & managed to get a lot of housework done. She is quite the little helper. On Sunday, Allie & I went shopping with our neighbor Kristin. We ended up at the outlet mall and found lots of bargains. I returned home to find that Scott & Jake has installed a new ceiling fan, new shutters, painted our front door & installed a new shower head in the kid's bathroom. It was a nice surprise.

Mandy, Kim, Ben & Maddie came to visit on Monday. They arrived in time to see Jake's baseball game. After the game, Mandy & Kim took my kids, Ben & our neighbor Paul to the waterpark while I stayed home and got to watch Miss Maddie. I was delighted to get some alone time with her (Kim tends to try to hog her). The kids had a great time with their Aunts at the waterpark.

Mom arrived on Tuesday morning in time for Allie's game. She had quite the cheering section with her aunts, cousins, Nana & her dad there! After the game, we took the kids over to Chuck E Cheese's to play. Ben seems to really enjoy that place!! After Chuck E Cheese's, Mandy, Kim, Ben & Maddie went home. Mom, Allie & I went shopping and came home in time for Scott to take all of us dinner.

On Wednesday, Mom came to Jake's ballgame and left shortly after it was over. The kids and I watched 2 of the Harry Potter movies in order to prep to see the new one in the theater (hopefully this week).

Thursday brought us a trip to the waterpark. Jake was SO excited because his friend Ben joined us. He could hardly wait to hang out with BOTH Paul & Ben at the waterpark. They had a good time & they were even nice to Allie!!!

Bright and early Friday morning, the kids and I headed out to meet Mandy & her kids to take our annual "grandkids" picture for my parents. This year we dressed the kids in UNI clothes. The picture turned out really cute. After pictures, we took the kids to the zoo. It was a great little zoo for the kids. The weather was perfect too!! We grilled out at Mom & Dad's that evening & we got to have our first taste of sweet corn this summer. Allie was really disappointed to learn that her loose tooth doesn't mix well with eating sweet corn. Thankfully, Nana came to the rescue and cut her corn off of the cob!

Yesterday, the girls in our family went to a bridal shower for my cousin's fiancee while the boys hung out at home. It was nice seeing all of my cousins & aunts. In just another short month we'll be together again for Jess & Tim's wedding. The kids and I trekked back home late yesterday afternoon.

Today was a productive day. Scott and I got almost all of our windows washed & we reorganized our basement. Tonight is rest time before another busy week. Allie finishes up t-ball this week and Jake still has another week left of baseball. We have some waterpark plans too & possibly going to see the new Harry Potter movie.

A nasty wasp that Nana killed before we arrived on Friday. Jake thought it was pretty neat.
Nana puts the kids to work drying dishes after supper. The crazy thing is that they all LOVE drying dishes!

Paul, Jake & Ben at the waterpark. They had just come off of the yellow slide.
Ben, Jake & Allie at the zoo. Note their matching purple & gold outfits...GO PANTHERS!!
Jake & Allie aka 2 monkeys!
Miss Maddie takes a snooze on the deck.

Allie, Jake & Ben were being silly & decided to make a band using Nana's Tupperware for instruments.

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!!

On Tuesday after Allie's t-ball game, the kids and I picked up Jake's friend Paul and headed back to my parent's house for the 4th. We stopped by Kim & Michael's house & picked up Kim, then met Mandy & Maddie at Chili's for lunch. We made a flying trip through Old Navy for 4th of July attire and then went to Mom & Dad's house. We met up with Will, Anne & Mike for dinner at Buzzy's. We got home from Buzzy's and began filling up water balloons for the parade on the 4th. Mom & I pooped out after filling about 100 or so balloons & it was getting dark, so we all went inside to head to bed. It stormed all night long & we awoke to find that about 5 inches of rain had fallen overnight. My parent's yard was like a swamp!! We got ready to go to the "traditional" 4th of July parade with floats & candy. The kids had a great time watching the parade & collecting candy. After the parade, we let the kids ride in Uncle Mike's convertible to Nana & Papa's house (his grandfather left it to him when he passed away this winter). We began filling more water balloons, squirt guns & super soaker guns for the "interactive" parade. We had a quick lunch & Uncle Michael gave the kids instructions on how to participate in the parade. The kids had a ball throwing balloons & squirting the parade participants with water. Everyone was soaked & a fun time was had by all. As soon as the parade was over, we loaded up our car & drove home. We got home about an hour before the party that we were throwing started! We had several families over for grilling, sparklers & fireworks. By about 11:30 I was exhausted!!

Paul & Jake wait for the parade to begin.
Ben & Mandy waiting for the parade.
Allie, Jake, Maddie & Ben after the parade. Ben was NOT happy about having his picture snapped!
Allie, Paul & Jake in Uncle Mike's convertible.

Here is one of our buckets of balloons.
Miss Maddie slept on Aunt Kim's lap during the water fight.
TJ & Ben sit back & watch the water fight.
This is one of the floats going by...note Dad & Michael attacking from across the street.
After the water fight they are soaked!

The boys eating dinner on the deck.
A couple of the girls having dinner on the swing set AWAY from the boys.
The whole gang front row: Brock, Allie, Abbie, Ashley, Easton & Paul. Back row: Jake, Carter & Mallorie.

A pretty firework.

NANA & PAPA'S

The kids spent a couple of days at my parent's house. They took the kids to see the movie Surf's Up, took them to several parks, to the Tastee Freeze for ice cream, to the zoo and on a picnic. I met them on Saturday at Kid's Day where we were in a parade, went bowling, rode on rides, played games, got tattoos, ate great food & played with friends. They enjoyed their time at Nana & Papa's house!!

Allie is on a float with some of our friend's kids.
Jake & Allie being silly.
Andrew (Gopher & Annette's son), Jake & Allie take a break for Kiddie Cocktails.
Grace (Amy & Johann's daughter), Jake & Ethan (Amy & Johann's son) belly up to the bar for free ice cream sandwiches.

This is the ride that Allie & Gopher rode on. She loved it!! Thanks Gopher!