backyard fun

When the kids are away...the parents will do projects.  What was supposed to be a one-hour project took us closer to five (plus two trips to the hardware store!)  And thank goodness for nice neighbors who let you borrow tools!  The end result was definitely worth the five minutes the kids spent playing on it before they wanted to watch TV.  Gotta love them!

I quit trying to get any clear pictures of Becky because, as she said, she was going WAY too fast for me to get more than a blur!

our amazing parrot

Becky got to participate in a drama camp at the Civic Center this summer.  She had so much fun.  One Friday night, she got to perform as a parrot on the civic center stage.  She had a riot and did amazing!  Thanks to all the family that came to watch.  She was so excited to have you all here.  

Just in case you are having trouble finding here...she's second from the left with the green arms and orange body...and huge smile on her face!

Where did June go?

June sure was a busy month, and it seemed to fly by!  Al and I kept busy with work and meetings during the week...but we managed some fun on the weekends.  Here are some of the highlights!

I ran Dam to Dam with a good friend of mine from work.  We had beautiful weather for a run.....and we managed to smile afterward!

Becky had her last soccer game....where she got her very own medal for a season well played!

The Sullivans came to visit the weekend of the Autism Walk.

Colby in one of his favorite places - under the patio playing in the rocks.

At the Autism Walk

Becky and Sleeping Beauty

Spiderman!  Colby was so excited!

The kids has a blast at Vacation Bible School....and I managed to survive a week of being preschool leader!

Adventureland!

in the teacups

I love his serious 10 and 2 position!

taking a rest

the tilt-a-whirl.  My favorite!  Al rode it with us once, and then the kids and I got to stay on for another turn. Glad they can both stomach it like I can!!

Probably the last year Becky will be short enough to ride the boats with her brother.

About three seconds after I snapped this picture, Colby wanted off.  This ride was just too much for him.  Becky, however, got in line and went again.

The zoo again!  This time the African animals were out.

playing the drums

this time trip we spent some time at the petting zoo

feeding the fish

and the goats

and the cows

what zoo trip would be complete without a picture in the eggs?

posing by the dinosaur fossil

What a fun summer we've had so far!  I'm sure the rest of it will be just as fun packed and busy and fly by!

Memorial Day Weekend

Becky had her Olympics Day on May 24th.  I was able to take the day off work and go with her again this year.  She had a lot of fun playing games with her friends.  It's so fun to watch them!

Here they are playing Freeze Dance.  One of their favorites!

Tug of War!

On that Saturday, Becky had a friend come over for the day.  It wasn't that nice in Des Moines, but they spent most of the day playing outside together anyway and Colby took a 3 hour nap. The house was clean and everything was done, so Al had time to play some video games and I spent the afternoon making cards.  Something I don't get to do very often.  I think everyone enjoyed themselves that day!

On Sunday, we headed down to Mt. Ayr to spend some time with Dad and Patti.  It may have been raining in Des Moines, but it was gorgeous down there!  We spent the afternoon playing outside.  I even had to get out sunscreen!

The highlight of the afternoon for the kids was probably chasing the balloons around the yard.  So much fun!

Colby did find some animals almost as soon as he got down there, and he wouldn't let them out of his sight.  He even found a wagon to pull them around.

Colby showing off his animals.

Posing...and refusing to give me a smile

After our outside time, we headed to Dari Sweet for ice cream.  Yum!  (one of my favorite things to do in the summer when I go home to visit!) Then we went back to their house and played before the storms began.  Luckily it was just tornado warnings and no real activity down there.  The kids just played in the basement.  They really had no idea there was anything going on.


On Monday, we headed to Tingley to visit my Mom's Mom. She was providing the entertainment at the Tingly Meal Site. Other than the fact that Colby beat the average age by about 70 years....we had a good time visiting with Grandma, and I know she enjoyed showing us off.  That's what it's really about.  Becky even sang Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes in Chinese.  I'm not sure everyone could hear her, but she did a great job.  The best part was when we all said the Pledge of Allegiance, and Becky was the loudest one.  She did so good, and all the adults around were very impressed that she knew it.  Made me so proud!

The kids also got handed flags to wave around during one of the songs.  Who doesn't love to wave a flag?

first trip to the zoo

When Larry and Donna were in town visiting, we made it to the zoo Saturday afternoon.  Most of the animals were really active because it was cool.  So glad to be able to spend time at the zoo again!

checking out the geckos

posing by the waterfall

my very own joeys!

checking out the prairie dogs

what's a trip to our zoo without "driving" the truck in the cat house?

playing the drums at the new Africa addition

There was a lot of cool, new stuff that was added.  However, apparently it was too cold in Des Moines that day for the animals from Africa to be out...so we are still waiting to meet those rhinos!

Becky had a church music program on Mother's Day.  She did a great job.  So proud!

They sang Noah's Arky Arky.  Love that song!  Brings back good memories!

Here is our gorgeous peacock

And finally a family picture by the trees in our front yard.  They were so pretty and fragrant!

Thanks, Larry and Donna for spending time with us over Mother's Day weekend.  We had a great time.  The kids love having you visit us, and so do we!