JUMP!!

The kids went to their friend Makenna's birthday party on Saturday. It was held a Waterloo Trampoline & Tumbling. Boy did they have fun bouncing on the trampolines & trying their skills on the rings, ropes & other things. Allie is determined to start taking classes there in the Fall. I may check into the class that her friends are in so we can carpool.

I am working on getting the kid's Fall activities in line. Jake is registered for flag football, soccer and Scouts. Allie is registered for ballet and Scouts. She is also begging to add tumbling and soccer as well. We'll see! I'm also looking into private swimming lessons for the kids...our favorite coach isn't doing lessons anymore so we'll see what happens.

I have been cleaning like crazy the past week or so. We have a huge Good Will pile, lots for a garage sale & so much trash that it didn't all fit in the garbage can today! Almost every closet, drawer & cupboard have been gone through & reorganized/purged. I even have an empty drawer in my kitchen & 1/2 of a shelf that is empty in my bathroom closet! We also cleaned out the garage (most of it), washed windows and power washed the house over the weekend. Today, I am tackling the basement...it shouldn't be THAT bad since we purged quite a bit in early June when we had water.

The kids and I went to the waterpark on Monday. It was a nice day. We will try to go tomorrow after Jake's ball game. It may be too hot....the kids prefer to go on lower heat/humidity days because it isn't so crowded. I agree! On Friday, we are meeting friends for lunch & then we will go to the College Hill Art Festival. The kids love to go into the kid's only tent and buy stuff. No adults are allowed. The theory is to let kids decide what THEY like without their parent's influence. It looks to be a quiet weekend. We have errands to run & a few outdoor chores to tackle. I am also going to work on some Teddy Bear Tea, Scout popcorn & Carnival stuff. Anything I can do now will help my stress level in September!

Have a great rest of the week!




Jake gets to the top of a rope. He has burns on his legs/feet from climbing.



Jordyn and Allie



My kids and Makenna, the b-day girl




The whole group

Allie doing a drop on the tramp

Jake jumping as high as he can!

Allie doing a flip on the rings

BALL GAMES & MORE

My mom came to visit us on Tuesday/Wednesday. She got to see both kids play ball. We had really nice time with her here.

Speaking of ball, Allie is done for the season. She did really well & was probably the best person on the team. Of course that is because Jake has worked with her in the back yard & quite often he just throws balls at her as hard as he can...she kind of had to learn to play to keep up!

Jake's team isn't very good this year. In fact, they are a bit like the Bad News Bears. There is even one kid on his team that REFUSES to run. His mom MAKES him get out on the field...it is a pity! Jake's team hasn't won a game yet & it makes Jake really mad. Jake tries his best & is doing pretty good. He certainly isn't afraid to field the ball & typically does well. I had to remind him that having fun is the most important part of the game...I'm not sure he is buying what I am saying. Jake still has 2 weeks left & I am definitely ready to be done!

The kids had playdates today. Jake went to Will & Sam's house to play. Allie had Renee over. They enjoyed themselves. We went to the Olive Garden for dinner & then came home. We are having family movie night & watching the 2nd Harry Potter movie as I type.

Tomorrow the kids have a b-day party to attend at a Trampoline place. They are pumped up about it. Not a lot on the agenda for next week. Jake has 2 ball games, we will go to the waterpark a couple of time & we are planning to go to a local art festival on Friday. I'm also hoping to get some cleaning done. I spent a lot of this week cleaning out closets, drawers, cupboards etc. I'd love to finish that project & finish up some deep cleaning as well. I want all of this done before school starts so that I don't have to think about it again until Christmas break!


Jake is up to bat.

Ready on 2nd base

Jake tries playing catcher...he says it is really hot!

FAVORITE FOTO FRIDAY

This weeks theme is "Fun In The Sun" (you will probably see different versions of this theme off & on)...




The kids playing in the hose at Nana's house in the summer of 2003

The kids enjoying the John Deere Gator in 2003

Last summer at the pool

Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines in 2005

In the wave pool at Lost Island in 2006

NANA & PAPA'S LITTLE FIRECRACKERS

Here are some photos from the photo shoot last week.

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!

We had another wonderful 4th of July & we can hardly wait to do it again next year! We went to Grand Mound to celebrate. Mom & Dad had a get together at their house with my siblings & their families, a couple of my aunts, several cousins & my neighbors from here in Cedar Falls. It was tons of fun.

We started the day out with the DeWitt parade. The kids enjoyed watching the floats, firetrucks and tractors go by. They loved getting candy too! After the parade we went back to my parent's house for lunch & to get ready for the water fight parade. The men filled water balloons for a couple of hours. The kids played with water guns & had a great time.

The water fight parade was a hoot as always & the kids had a great time. A couple of the kids that were in the parade are from Cedar Falls and on Jake's baseball team so it was really cool for them to see each other in Grand Mound (their grandparents are from Grand Mound).

After the water fight parade, the kids played whiffle ball, got ice cream from the ice cream truck, went to visit other friends in town, made a tent on the clothes line, grilled out & then went to see the fireworks. The fireworks were the best we had ever seen & Uncle Will was a part of setting them off. They were awesome!!

The tooth fairy made a visit to Nana & Papa's house for the first time in about 20 years! Allie lost her other front tooth. She quickly discovered that losing a tooth at Nana & Papa's is a big deal. Papa paid her $5 for the tooth AND the tooth fairy left her $1!!

On Saturday, the kids got to go to Main Street & jump in some big inflatable balloons. After that, we went to Michael & Kim's to spend the rest of the day & night. Drew had a tough night & was up a lot due to a tummy ache. Once morning hit, I took Drew so Kim & Michael could get some much needed rest. The poor little guy was all tuckered out & you could tell his little belly was bothering him. I hope the rest of the day went better for him (& his parents).

The kids, my mom & Will in the golf cart.
Ben, Emma, Maddie, Allie, Paul, Jake, Drew & Will (in the stroller in the back)
The kids playing with water guns
The kids waiting for the water fight parade

Here they are!

Front Row: Will P (my neighbor)

Middle Row: Will E (my cousin), Paul (my neighbor), Allie & Jake

Back Row: Allison E (my cousin), Mom, Emma (Kim's sister's daughter)

More of the water fight
Hanging in the back yard (Allison E, Will E, Mom, Annie (cousin), Allie, Julie (aunt) & Michelle (aunt)
Enjoying some ice cream from the ice cream truck (Will E, Will P, Allie)

Jake, Ben, Will & Paul in the tent on the clothes line
a firework
The kids wait for the fireworks to start

Jake, Maddie & Allie in one of the balloons

FAVORITE FOTO FRIDAY


Today's theme is 4th of July. Here are a few photos from years past. I couldn't locate 2 of my favorites from '02 & '04...maybe next year??

Jake in 2001, I think we were boating with Scott's family
Jake in 2001, he loves the snakes.
Allie in 2003 loving the snakes.
Sparklers were a hit in2005

The 1st year we participated in the GM waterfight on the 4th
Last year's waterfight crew

7 THINGS ABOUT ME THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW:


I was "tagged" by my friend Stacy to include this in my blog, so here goes (you can view her list I have a link on the left of my blog The Martens Family):

1. SURVIVOR: I hate to admit it, but I am a Survivor junkie. No joke. I make little time for TV, but I never miss Survivor. It is a guilty pleasure & I like it!!



2. VOLUNTEER-O-HOLIC: I have a problem, I can't say no to people who need a volunteer for something. Hence the reason I am in a pickle come this Fall. My inability to say no has me co-chairing the Hansen Carnival, co-chairing the Sartori Festival of Trees Teddy Bear Tea and serving as the Cub Scout popcorn co-chair. These events all take place during about a 4 week period & all involve a lot of time. This doesn't include the Cub Scout & Daisy Scout meetings that I lead or the Book Fair that I will volunteer for. This doesn't include the PTA meetings that I am the secretary for or the time that I will be in my kids' classrooms helping their teachers. If I fall off the face of the Earth from late September through Christmas...I'm sorry!



3. TEXTURE ISSUES: I have issues with certain textures. I don't like things that are really dry feeling. For example, I can't walk on my deck without shoes on. The dry wood feeling makes me cringe. Another example is my sister's silverware which isn't shiny...it feels dry to me & I don't like to touch it. I can't touch the dry metal counters at Old Navy...UGH!! I could go on & on. Also, I am constantly applying lotion to my hands to stop the dry feeling & Carmex is a good friend of mine. I can't wait to get my moisturizer on in the morning. I know it is odd, but I can't help it.



4. PIGTAILS: No one over the age of 2 should be be allowed to wear pigtails. I don't like them...no idea why...I just don't!



5. 4TH OF JULY: I LOVE the 4th of July...it ranks right after Christmas & someday may replace my love of Christmas. I love the fireworks. I love parades. I love cookouts. I love the red, white and blue clothes. I love the crowds in Grand Mound & watching the town grow as people arrive for the night's festivities. I love watching my kids participating in the big waterfight. I love the 4th.
   


6. INTERNET JUNKIE: My sister says that I am a junkie. Yes, I look up anything & everything on the internet. I blog. I read other people's blog (even strangers). I play Webkinz (the kids don't mind). I browse ebay for bargains (I rarely buy). I go to photo websites & create things. I could kill days just surfing for nothing. You can take away my TV, but leave my computer.
7. PERSONAL SPACE: stay out of mine. I need space between me & the people I'm with. I don't like close talkers or touchy people. I don't like hugs from very many people. My kids, Scott, my relatives & a few close friends are fine...anyone else please don't. It is nothing personal, I just don't like it. I also don't like massages or pedicures. Those require strangers to be in my space. I am not a fan of "the sign of peace" at church either...again it requires someone to invade my space. So, please don't be offended if I opt NOT to hug you when I see you...I just need my space.

So to sum it up, I have a lot of issues....but that is what makes me different (or many others words I am sure you can insert in there).

BROKE TOOTH FAIRY

Allie lost a tooth at lunch yesterday. She was done eating & was coloring when she exclaimed "I lost my tooth". The tooth fairy found her last night & left her $1 in her tooth pillow. She has another tooth hanging on by a thread & it should pop out really soon.

Jake was at his friend's house during Allie's ball game today & he lost a tooth, so the fairy will be stopping by again tonight. At this rate, the tooth fairy will be broke!

VISITORS

On Sunday night Mandy, Kim & their kids came to visit for a couple of days. We grilled out for dinner & invited Alishia, our sitter & Kim's cousin over for dinner.

Monday brought Allie's t-ball game. She liked having some fans around. After Al's game, we hung out here & ordered dinner in. The kids played & played all day long.

We got moving bright & early on Tuesday & took the kids to get their annual pictures taken for Nana & Papa. They turned out really cute & the 5 grandkids cooperated pretty well. We dressed them in red, white & blue for the 4th! We all went for lunch & then Mandy, Kim & the kids took off for home. Jake had baseball practice Tuesday afternoon so Allie & I ran errands, we needed a few things for the 4th. Once we got home, the kids played outside with Paul & he ended up sleeping over.

Allie had a t-ball game this morning & she did really well again. We went to the waterpark right after ball & had a great time. I got a call this morning that my grandmother was taken by ambulance to the hospital with chest pains. She is still in & having some tests done to see what is wrong. Hopefully, all will be fine.

We are all looking forward to the 4th of July...it is one of our favorite times of the year!

The 5 cousins
Maddie & Jake
Jake, Maddie, Ben, Allie & Drew
Jake & Drew
Ben, Allie & Drew
Jake & Drew

STURGIS FALLS

We had a nice time at Sturgis Falls this year. We went to the parade on Saturday morning & enjoyed hanging out with friends. Allie got her face painted after the parade & loved her new look. Allie ended up spending the night with her friend Jordyn after we hung out at Sturgis.

Jake & Scott ran the 5k for Sturgis. Their time was 31:42. It was quicker than they thought. Jake is ready to run another 5k when the opportunity arises.

Jordyn, Allie, Makenna, Jake, Paul & Nicholas at the parade.
My runners at the start of the race
My runners finishing the race
My boys after the race. Allie & Jordyn with their faces painted.