THE SUMMER IS FLYING BY!

Where is the summer going. It seems like we just started break & it's already half way over. Here's what's happened over the past few weeks:

• Jake finished his UNI basketball camp. He got his "grades" and did really well. He just needs to work on his ball handling. Everything else was perfect.


• Allie finished Musicmania camp. They had a play on the last day. Allie was a moon & did a great job.


• The kids finished VBS with a pool party. Next year Jake can be a helper at VBS and is pretty excited about that.


• Jake had several ball games. They won 2. It's been a tough year to get any wins. Jake has improved a ton & still loves his team.


• Michael, Kim, Drew and Delaney came to visit us for a weekend. It was also Drew's birthday so we had a cake waiting for him.


• Michael, Kim, Drew & Allie went to the Falls pool for a swim. They had fun.


• Delaney & I went to see Jake's baseball tournament in Waverly. They had 3 games and won 1 of them. Jake looked really good. Delaney was a perfect little girl at the ball field all day.


• Michael & the kids got to watch Jake play ball too. He had a good game.


• I got sick the night Kim was here. Long story short, I spent the evening vomiting and had severe stomach pains. This was the 3rd time in about 6 months that I've had these same symptoms. The pains this time were so much worse. Kim made me go to the ER at around 9:30 am. By 4:00, I was in surgery having my gall bladder removed. It was quite inflammed and had stones in it, which was causing lots of pain. I'm feeling pretty good now, after about 3 weeks. I'm still not 100%, but that will come soon enough. I'm so grateful that Kim was with me in the ER to be my voice and push for tests. I'm not sure I would have gone to the ER if she wouldn't have been here. My gall bladder could have ruptured and that would have been a bad deal. Thanks so much Kimmy!!


• Allie spent several days with Kim, my mom & my sister while I was recovering from surgery. They went to the pool, saw movies, shopped & had tons of fun.


• Jake started a basketball camp sponsored by the high school it goes the rest of the summer and he loves it.


• Jake spent the night at his friend Adam's, Paul's & Nick's all in the week following my surgery. I have such wonderful friends that took Jake places & had him over so I could rest.


• My parents and sister both came up to help me out after my surgery. I'm lucky to have family that can help me out. My sister was also able to see Jake play ball.


• Sturgis Falls weekend was fun. Some friends of mine took the kids to the events on Friday night. On Saturday, Jake was in the parade. I went down to watch him & came right home to rest. The kids spent the rest of Saturday hanging out at the parks with friends. Sunday morning, Jake & Scott ran the 5k. Scott ran it in just over 20 mins and Jake ran it in 24:45. I was able to see the race. Later that day, we went downtown and let the kids ride some rides.


• Allie went to her friend Abbie's sleepover party. She also spent the night at her friend Lauryn's house. Allie had her friend Maddie sleep over here.


• Allie went to the pool with her friend Maddie. Jake went to the pool a couple of different times with friends Ben and Mason.


• I had a follow up appointment for my surgery. The doc says I'm recovering nicely & can start to exercise & lift as I feel up to it. I walked a mile after that appointment. I don't think I was quite ready for that!


• Allie is still going to tutoring twice a week.


• We went to the pool. Jake took Paul & Allie took Skylar.


• Scott and I attended a dinner at My Verona that honored Scott's boss for being a Nissen dealer for 35 years. It was a nice dinner.


• We went to see Cars 2. Jake went with Nick & Paul. Allie with Skylar.


• Allie & I got our hair cut & we look pretty good!


• I took Allie & her friend Lauryn out for a girl's day. We went to lunch downtown, then painted pottery. Next it was off to Scratch for cupcakes, finally we went to Claire's to buy some "bling".


• We spent the 4th of July weekend with my family. We attended baby Kylee's baptism and then had the annual Fischer party at my parent's house. The waterfight was fun as usual (we filled 1500 balloons) and the fireworks were amazing (thanks to my brother Will, who helps with the event).


• Jake still has baseball practice twice a week.


• Jake went to the orthodontist. He still has 8 baby teeth left and some molars that haven't come in. No braces yet. The orthodontist will see him next summer.


• Coming up...the kids and I are going to our friend's lake house to boat for a day, we have dentist and doctor appointments, tutoring, basketball camp, baseball practice & games, the midnight showing of Harry Potter (for Jake & I), College Hill Art Festival & much more!
  
  

Going for a ride in Uncle Will's golf cart.

Fischer cousins on the 4th.

Jake & friends on the 4th.

Fischer cousins at Kylee's Baptism.

Kylee, her parents & grandparents.

My sister & her kids.

My brother & his family

My lovely family.

Allie & Lauryn at Sturgis.

The big race.

The baseball boys after the parade.

Drew with his cake.

Allie & friends at Musicmania camp.

Some of the kids after the water fight.

Water fight.

ONLY A WEEK GONE BY! WOW!

Only a week has gone by since my last post. The joy of summer and free time! Here's what went on last week.

• I took Allie & her friend Maddie to see "Judy Moody" at the theatre. The kids loved it, I thought is was pretty boring and dozed a bit. Jake & friend Paul went to see "X Men" on their own. A big step!


• Allie spent the night at Maddie's house.


• Jake spent the night at his friend Christiano's house for his birthday. He said that they had fun and that his dad "made burgers that we as tender as melted butter."


• Jake had 2 ballgames. Both ended pretty bad with HUGE losses. Both were in the rain, which made it worse! In one of the games, one of our players got his in the elbow when he was up to bat & it broke his arm. Bummer! In the other game we were short 1 player, so it was rough.


• The kids went to their friend Makenna's birthday party.


• Jake started his first basketball camp of the summer at UNI. He loves it. Next week he starts his 2nd camp sponsored by CF schools.


• Allie has been going to Music Mania camp this week. They are singing, learning to play instruments, dancing and doing a few art projects. At the end of the week, they are putting on a play. Allie's role is "Moon 4" and playing the drums.


• Both kids have been going to VBS at their new church. They are having a great time. I volunteered one night at VBS.


• I went for drinks with my friends Karen & Cathi while the kids were at VBS. It was fun catching up with them. I also spent a morning (while the kids were at camp) shopping in downtown CF with my friend Kristin.


• We went to Drew & Delaney's birthday parties. Delaney was a hoot digging into her cupcake. Drew loved playing with Scott.


• Each day after basketball camp, Jake has hooked up with friends and played whiffle ball in a vacant lot nearby. I love our neighborhood and the fact that at any given time there are 2-15 boys around hanging out & staying active.


• Scott and I celebrated our 15 year anniversary! He surprised me with a BEAUTIFUL anniversary ring. He is getting a new laptop or iPad from me (he hasn't decided which he wants more).


• Next week: Jake has a ball tournament & several games, my brother & his family are coming to visit, Jake has basketball camp, Allie is going to spend several days with my family, Jake has a movie planned, I have drinks with friends planned, my sister & her kids are coming to visit for a couple of days, Jake has ball practice, Sturgis Falls weekend and Jake is running another 5k. Whew!

Delaney

Drew with his cake.

Kylee

Laney

Nana & her girls

Jake at bat

Jake pitching.

Jake & friends at Makenna's party

Makenna's party goers

Tug of War gone bad!

SUMMER IS FINALLY HERE!


Yep, that's right, school is out for the summer. YAY! I was ready, the kids were ready & now finally Mother Nature seems to be ready. Here's the latest and greatest from our home.

• Jake had Safety Patrol and was named one of the captains for next year. He has to be responsible & make the right decisions even when no one is watching. His teachers thought he met that description, so now he is a captain.


• Allie spent a week at Museum school. The entire 3rd grade toured the museums in the Cedar Valley & learned all about the history of our community.


• Jake's baseball team has won 2 games and lost 4. Jake is hitting well and fielding well too. The boys are having a lot of fun with their new coaches. They are a great group of boys.


• Allie finished up tutoring for the school year. We are giving her a couple of weeks off and then going 2 morning a week to keep her math skills fresh in her mind.


• Allie had 2 concerts for UNI Children's Choir. The first one was for parents and the 2nd one was at the Gold Star Teacher Awards, so lots of community members were there. They did great.


• I attended a carnival planning meeting for next Fall's carnival. I stepped down from the co-chair position and am now helping on the Silent Auction committee. What a relief to take that big task off of my plate.


• My dad had a hip replaced and the surgery went really well. I was able to go hang out with my mom and siblings while he was in surgery. He is recovering nicely, I hear.


• The school staff held a baby shower for co-workers Angie & Erica. Both are having boys this summer.


• Allie had her poetry fair. She did a great job and wrote some wonderful poetry.


• We had beach day at school. Allie dressed up and loved it. Jake was too cool.


• The kids practiced every week for the Talent Show. Both groups did a great job!


• Snow Cone Days was held at school. The kids were on a sugar high for 2 days.


• The kids ran the mile at school. Jake got 6:40 & Allie got around 10 mins. (I think).


• We spent Memorial Day building a new deck on our house. I even helped. It looks great and should be completely finished this weekend.


• I wrapped up chairing this year's Talent Show. I keep saying that I'll advise next year, but won't chair it. Why do I think that I'm mistaken on that?


• Allie had 2 Brownie meetings. She won several awards for selling the most cookies in her troop. She already has signed up for next year.


• The last day of school went well. I'll miss my kiddos a bunch. Jake told me that this was his FAVORITE year. He loved the kids in his class AND he loved his teacher...that doesn't always happen. Allie isn't sure how she will top this year. She had a great year.


• The final report cards are in and Jake got 3 A's and 2 B's. Allie ended with straight B's. We are pretty proud of them.


• We made our first trip to the pool. It was a 5th grade reunion for Jake. Seriously, about 20 kids from his grade were there. Allie bumped into several friends as well.


• Coming up Allie has music camp, Jake has basketball camp & both kids have vacation Bible school.
  
  Allie's class

Allie & friends Jordyn & Makenna

Teachers at the Gold Star Awards

Allie & friends Skylar, Morgan & Abbie

Jake's Class

Allie at Field Days

Allie singing at Gold Star

Allie on Beach Day

Allie at the Poetry Fair

Jake's ball team

Jake & buddies Nick, Adam, Paul & Ben

Allie & friends Abbie, Morgan, Caitlyn, Skylar & Katie

Jake's Talent Show group Ben, Makenna, Paul, Olivia & Sophie

Jordyn & Allie's Talent Show group (YMCA)

Baseball team at BWW after a big win.

ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER

I have to start out this post by announcing that Miss Kylee Kay Fischer made her way into our family on April 18th. She is perfect! Congrats to my baby brother & Tesha. I just love my growing family!

Now onto what the Grinstead's have been up to lately:

• Jake is still practicing baseball 2-3 times a week. He will be playing 1st base and right field as of now. He is pretty happy with those positions. He's also hitting the ball. Not to brag, but I pulled up at practice the other night just as he smacked one past the 3rd baseman...it rolled to the fence. Yay!


• Religious ed is over for the year. Next year, we are trying out a new church.


• Allie went to her friend Morgan's birthday party. They did lots of girly stuff.


• I went to an awards banquet (see previous post).


• Allie is still going to tutoring for math once a week.


• Allie is getting ready for a concert this weekend. She has worked hard all semester and I can't wait to hear how good her choir sounds.


• We spent Easter with my family. It was a great weekend! We got to meet our newest family member, Kylee. We celebrated Ben & Maddie's birthdays. I got to babysit Drew & Delaney. Scott & my brother golfed. Allie saw "Hop" with Maddie. We had a big supper with all of my siblings, their spouses, my parents & my nieces & nephews. I love it! We had an Easter egg hunt with my nieces and nephews. All in all a WONDERFUL weekend.


• Talent Show practice has begun. We are still looking for an idea for Allie & her friend.


• Allie had a Brownie meeting.


• We celebrated May Day. Allie delivered lots of May Day treats and had tons of fun. Jake's girlfriend brought him a special May basket with kisses and a Scratch cupcake. She even signed the note with a heart & her name!


• Allie & her class are spending the week at Museum School. They go to the local museums all day, every day this week. They learn about the history of our area & lots of other cool stuff. She loves it!


• Both of Scott's grandmothers recently fell. Charlotte is suffering from a brain bleed & has undergone surgery. Granny broke her hip & wrist and had surgery. We are hoping that both recover soon. Scott and I made a quick trip to Iowa City to visit them.


• My class went to the symphony.

Kylee
Maddie, Drew, Delaney, Allie & Ben having dinner.

Maddie blowing out her candles, with Drew's help.

Me & my newest niece.

Drew finds an egg in one of Nana's gardens.

Ben with his cake.

Jake with his Easter basket.

Allie with her basket.

The Fischer 7. Ben, Maddie, Delaney, Allie, Drew (sporting Papa's glasses), Jake & Kylee

Maddie finding eggs.

Allie with a carrot shaped egg

Delaney with some eggs.

Allie coloring eggs.