A Weekend of Festivals

Our friends the Kies asked us to join them last night at the Hot Air Balloon Festival.  The temperature was a little cool but the rain held off and we were able to watch 20 hot air balloons launch into the sky.  It was a fun time.  Nana and Papa showed up too!

Nolan and Jason 

Maddox, Eric, Laura and Kennon

Me and my boys

Nolan

Nash

The next day while the Iowa Hawkeye football team was beating Louisiana-Monroe, we picked up our friends Leana and Manny and met Nana and Papa at the kite festival.

Nana, Papa, and Nolan 

Leana, Manny, and Nash

random people in my colorful picture

It's been a fun weekend so far.  We are trying to enjoy the weather because it is now officially "fall."

Post-it Notes

Just a little update on the boys...

Goofy guy wearing the inside of a hard hat and safety glasses

Nolan had his two upper eye teeth pop through in the last couple of weeks.  That brings the total to...I have no idea.  I've lost track.  We have transitioned him to one nap a day which is in the afternoon so both boys are asleep at the same time generally.  He REALLY loves reading books.  He is learning more words and loves to imitate his brother.  He is doing fairly well with the toddler bed transition but has his moments where getting out of the bed 7 or 8 times seems like a fun idea.

Nash goofing around at the park

Nash is loving preschool.  He asked me last week if he could go to preschool every day.  He gets excited about seeing his friends and is the first to tell me if he gets into trouble with his teacher (which doesn't happen very often thank goodness).  He says the funniest things.  We were at the mall and Jason was looking at sun glasses.  Nash was getting antsy to leave and said to me, "Mom, something tells me we need to leave this mall."  I thought the sun glasses sales guy was going to bust a gut.  Nash is always asking questions and wanting to learn about things.  "Why?"

15 Year High School Reunion

It doesn't seem possible but I did the math several times and it's true.  I graduated from HS 15 years ago.  Our class created a float for the homecoming parade.  I walked beside the float and my boys thought it was pretty cool to see Mommy in a parade.  On Saturday night we had a banquet.  We had dinner and our entertainment was Comedy Sportz.  It was a fun time and so good to see so many of my classmates again.

Jason and I in the car waiting for Andrea and Woody 

Representing Grand Mound:  Elias, Tavia, Duane, Andrea, Brent, Me and Curtis (we are missing a few)

Me and Andrea Manderscheid

Me and Andrea Young

My friend Jessica Volkman could not make it this year because she is busy kicking breast cancer's A$$!  She had her last round of chemo last Wednesday and is scheduled to have major surgery next month.  She made cute pink bracelets for us to sell so she can raise money to participate in The Three Day Race for breast cancer research.  This crazy girl is going to walk 60 miles in 3 days.  Luckily she has some friends who are going to race beside her because the race is likely only going to be a few weeks after her surgery.  What a woman!  Wish I could be there with you Jess but I'm looking forward to seeing you in December.
I designated myself the official photographer and took pictures of each table so Jess could see who was there.  It was a fun night.

Grama Jo's Visit

Grama Jo arrived on September 10th from California.  We had so much fun while she was here.  We relaxed some but mostly stayed busy.  Here is a glimpse of some of the fun we had.

We went to the park

We had a dance party 

Our wine and cheese party

Grama Jo and Nana 

We spent some time outside

Sidewalk art

 OK, I have to explain this one.  I drew a frog and asked Nash to draw him some flies to eat.  So he drew some flies and a tongue.  Next thing I know he's smearing yellow all over the flies.  When I asked him what it was he said, "butter."  I had no idea frogs liked butter on their flies.

Grama Jo read a bazillion books to the boys.

Grama Jo brought her "Grama Bag" stocked with books, toys animals, and trucks.  We also had our traditional "Faux Thanksgiving dinner" complete with sweet potatoes and cornish hens.  YUM!

Jason surprised Grama and took her to the Hawkeye football game against Pitt last Saturday.  It was an awesome game and she had such a great time.  She even got to ride the Hawkeye Bus on the way to the game.  They rushed home after the game so Jason and I could go to my 15 year high school reunion banquet.

Grama  Jo flew back to California on the 20th.  The good news is we will see her again in less than three months when we make the trip to the west coast.  See you soon Julie!

Labor Day Bike Ride Marathon

When Jason and I decided to rejoin the YMCA several weeks ago, we decided we would go every Monday and Thursday.  This has been working out really well so far.  This past Monday, however, was Labor Day and the gym was closed.  I had this great idea to barrow our friends' bike trailers and hit the bike path with the boys.  The weather was nice and cool.

We parked the truck and Jason and I each had a kid in tow.  We rode through a wooded area then it broke out into the open and the path went right along the river.  It was so pretty.  It felt really nice to be outside with my family while getting exercise at the same time.  We went quite a ways and in the back of my head I kept thinking, "OK, remember we still have to make it back to the truck."  My legs felt good so I wasn't really worried.

The boys having a goldfish cracker snack

Me and my boys watching the geese

We eventually came upon a playground area and the boys REALLY wanted to get out and play.  But we realized there was a group taking family pictures and decided they probably didn't want us in them.  The boys were a little upset but I told them we would stop at the next one.  Well, that was a little further away than I thought it would be.  In fact, we never did come to one.  We started to get into a business area so we finally turned around.  This is when I quickly realized that we had been blessed with a gentle tailwind so far which had now turned into a hellacious HEADWIND!  UGH.  We eventually made it back to the playground where I was so happy to take a break for a while.

Nash

Nolan

Nash ready for take off

The boys climbing through the rope web

I had packed a few snacks and I think I ate 75 percent of it and shared the other 25 percent with Jason and the boys.  Apparently biking makes me hungry.  This is where it gets really embarrassing.  Jason had to pull both boys in his trailer leaving me with an empty trailer because I couldn't handle the extra weight.  He told me they would lead so he could block the wind for me.  When they got about a quarter of a mile ahead of me, I realized I wasn't really getting the advantage I had hoped for.  I think twice I got off my bike and walked because I thought my quadriceps were going to spontaneously start on fire!  It was brutal.  At one point Jason and the boys turned around and biked back to me.  Nash yells out to me, "Mom!  What's the problem?"  I was able to work up a laugh despite feeling like I might throw up.  I seriously was not sure I could make it back to the truck.  There were no gears low enough on the bike to make my legs feel better while pedaling.  Eventually we made it out of the wind and things started looking up.  When we finally made it back to the parking lot, he boys wanted to spend some time at the playground.

Noley Bear

Nash Tiger

Super Nolan

I tried to follow them around to take some pictures but the stairs were a killer on my burnt out legs.  I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get out of bed the next day.  Surprisingly my legs felt fine but my saddle was a little sore.  Next time I will check the direction of the wind first.  A tailwind on the second half of the ride would be very beneficial!

Soggy Football Fans

Jason and the other Hawkeye bus owners deemed the first day of the Iowa Hawkeye football season "Family Day" on the bus.  Nolan spent the day with Uncle Will and Aunt Daniele while we took Nash to the football game.  Nana and Papa came too.  The rain held off just long enough for us to tailgate for lunch then the rain started just before kick off.

Nash, Nana and Papa on the bus ride to the game

Nash, Jason and Me

The bus and a not so promising sky

Most of us had ponchos but ultimately we all ended up at least half soaked.  We endured the first downpour and enjoyed some great plays during the break in the rain. 

Pit Stop

On our way to the stadium

Daddy and son

Olivia and Nash cheering for the Hawks

 Then it really started coming down again.  Hard.  We all ran back to the bus at the end of the 3rd quarter.  They ended up delaying the 4th quarter for about 30 minutes. 

Nash watching post game traffic

 The good news is, the Hawks beat Tennessee Tech 34 to 7.  WOO HOO!

Birthday Bonanza!

My grandma celebrated her 91st birthday last week.  We all met her out for lunch last Sunday.  She just adores the boys, and vice versa.  Looking good Grandma Phyl!

Grandma pushing Nash on her walker

I also celebrated my birthday this week.  I turned 34 on Thursday.  Jason and I went out for dinner on Wednesday night.  I worked on Thursday, then the boys and Jason and I went to the gym.  We joined the gym again a couple of weeks ago and it has been really nice.  The boys go into the play room while we work out then we take them into the gym to run around and play basketball for a few minutes before we leave.  At first Nash didn't want us to leave him in the play room with the kids.  Now he says, "Can we go to the gym Mom?"  When we got home from the gym my mom and dad's vehicles were parked out front.  The house was decorated and the table was set for dinner.  Jason secretly stopped to get chinese take out on the way home and we all had dinner together.  For dessert?  A cake that Nash and Nana baked earlier and some Whitey's turtle pie. YUM!  I should have worked a little harder at the gym.  :0)

The boys helping me blow out the candles.

We did it!

Our little clan

I am one blessed birthday girl!

Sleeping Beauties

We ordered a bedrail for Nolan's toddler bed so he doesn't have to sleep in the pack n play any more.  Although I have to say, he didn't seem to mind it.  Friday afternoon was the first time he slept in it.  I think I had to put him back in it about 10 times before he finally stayed.  He kept giggling every time he opened the door and there I stood.  Friday night, same thing.  It took about 10 times again.  I say to him, "Nolan, go night night okay?"  He says, "K."  I say, "Stay in your bed, okay?"  He says, "K."  It's the cutest thing.  Last night it only took about 5 times and he stayed in his bed all night.  Such a big boy!!

Nash is doing better to.  If he falls asleep in his bed, he will usually sleep there until the early morning hours when he crawls into bed with us.