dysw: July Happenings

Another Branson family vacation at Stormy Point Village.

Bix 2013 Time: 58:59 Yeh!!

Matthew, Allison, Andrea, Jeff, Andrea's boyfriend and daughter, and I went to a guitar band concert when Ragbrai went through Des Moines. It featured Live, Everclear, Filter, and another band:) It was lots of fun being outside on the bridge, relaxing with a drink, and visiting with Matthew's sisters. We had so much to chat about we talked til after 2 in the morning!!

After an afternoon picnic at Twin Anchors, the kids went swimming. With Lanie in a life jacket they could both swim all the way out to the dock now! Amazing how many times they climbed up and down those stairs:)

Lanie had an awesome week at Story County Conservation Nature Camp! She was a Waterbug and went to camp from 9 - 11:30 everyday. She learned about soil and especially its importance in Iowa in relation to people, animals, and plants. Afterwards the party on Friday, we went to a Naturalists Lunchbox right outside the center. Heather is one of the amazing naturalists at Story County and she took a picture with the kids after they made their craft. Pantyhose, yogurt cup, dirt, and grass seed --easy peasy and fun to watch grow!

A wonderful Saturday afternoon with Aidan, Jeremy, and Carla in the pool.

Insect zoo at the Story County Fair

Park hopping and a picnic with the Cousins

It was Carter's turn for History Day Camp. He was all smiles when I came to pick him up, trying homemade on the fire cornbread and fried apples. He learned lots of great facts about

the first log cabin built in our town by acting out a short play. At the end he made a sling shot using a y shaped stick and a rubberband, something that entertains boys then and now for hours:)

On a beautiful Saturday in July, Matthew and I took the kids to Ledges State Park for an afternoon of picnicking, hiking, biking, and playing in the water. We try to go once every year and it seems that every year we enjoy it more and more with the kids! I think both kids could have hiked for hours without stopping, stairs are fun:) We finished the afternoon off with a yummy treat from DQ, our favorites, Mister Misties.

Carter's new bike!

Bar-b-que cook off at the Erickson's! Lots of fun in the pool, water balloons, and playing on the farm. The food was amazing too!

One really hot Tuesday night after work, Matthew and I took the kids to the Ames pool. Lanie had been waiting for this trip all summer because they have a water slide in the kid area that she can go on by herself. She went up and down that slide about 50 times in the two hours we were there. We also did the Lazy River about 5 times and Carter got his deep end pass so he could try out the platform diving board and the big slide. What a wonderful way to spend a night together as a family.