Summer Fun 2018

The new semester begins this week, welcoming new rhythms all around.  Brian is enjoying a no-new-prep teaching load this fall, Isaac will start two mornings of pre-school just a couple blocks from our house, I'm excited for Drake volleyball games, and we're all looking forward to cooler temps and fall colors!

If you've got a spare eight minutes, here's a summer highlight reel for your viewing pleasure (complete with two of my favorite Jason Mraz songs).

We had a great summer as you'll see, including but not limited to:

• Hanging at Des Moines parks (including Gray's Lake)
• Drake Relays (complete with Griff, the bulldog)
• Isaac's First Professional Haircut
• Cruising the Grocery Store Aisles
• Driveway Construction (because we were getting water in our basement)
• 3rd Birthday Party (complete with slip and slide)
• Forest School
• Spray Ground, Splash Pads & Playgrounds
• Hanging with Friends (hugs, ice cream, popsicles galore)
• Swim Lessons at the Y
• 4th of July on the capital lawn
• John Deere tractor strolls
• Hotel swimming pool
• Family weekend on the lake (Michigan)
• Vacation Bible School 
• Dinner with a visiting Juneau friend
• First real dental cleaning
• GRANDMA & GRANDPA MOVED TO DES MOINES
• Welcoming Brian home after a 24-day work trip
• Iowa Cubs game (minor league baseball)
• Zoo Camp
• playing "massage" with Grandma
• Yummy sweet corn
• Iowa State Fair (complete with butter cow and acrobats)
• Train Land USA
• Family Bike Rides

...and lots and lots of cuteness, tantrums, meltdowns (mostly from Isaac) and snuggles.

Lots of Love to all of you who keep tabs on Isaac/us through this blog.  Our door in Des Moines is always open to you!

Chichaqua Park

We spent last Saturday morning meandering through Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt and having a picnic.  No mountains to be seen, but fun family time nonetheless.  We re-learning how to be midwesterners!  

Visiting Dad's Office

Sometimes Brian has to leave in the morning before Isaac wakes up.  If so, we'll just pay Dad a visit during his office hour or between classes.  It's so nice to be so close and let this be an easy occurrence.  And, his colleagues are always happy to see Isaac too.  For the record, I have no idea what the writing on Brian's white board means.  But I'm sure glad he does!

Some Flavors of Downtown Des Moines

 Lately I've tried to explore a little more of downtown Des Moines with Isaac during our days together.  It's been fun!

First, we went to Peace Tree Brewery and sampled some kombucha on tap:

Another day, we went to Molly's Cupcakes and sampled some sweet treats and sat on their swing seats at the cupcake bar (you can see them behind him in these pics):

Blank Park Zoo

We are zoo members at the Blank Park Zoo here in Des Moines.  It is a small, very kid-friendly zoo and Isaac always enjoys himself.  The new indoor giraffe barn was a highlight this last visit!  He was telling strangers all about it whenever he got the chance for days afterward.  

Ross the sea lion really wanted to play!

"Billy Goats Gruff" 

Backyard Play & Iowa Weather

Iowa weather patterns have been keeping us on our toes the past month.  Cold/Rainy/Sunny/Clear/Chilly/Warm/Hot/Snowy Again/Warm Again...and it goes on.  Here are just a few pics I've taken of Isaac in our backyard the past couple months to show.

Isaac's First Birthday Party Invitation

Isaac recently received his first birthday party invitation to celebrate his buddy Parker's 4th birthday.  Parker's dad, Sean, and Brian work together at Drake, and they also overlapped a year in grad school in Oregon.  

Isaac.  Loves.  Parker.  

The morning of the party, he announced he wanted to bake banana bread for Parker.  So we did!  

Parker's parents went all out with a really fun party, including face painting.  Isaac stood in line behind two boys who both had "Spiderman" faces painted, and I assumed Isaac would probably choose the same just because.  When it was his turn, though, he announced (of his own volition) that he wanted to look like a tiger!

After cake, he remained "in character" during the piñata line.  The other boy was spiderman, casting out webs of course.

When we left, Isaac went up to Parker and gave him a big hug, saying "I love you, Parker!"  It was adorable, and lots of fun to see him enjoy his first big birthday party.

Playing in the Snow

It's been so cold this winter that we haven't been able to do much playing in the snow.  Last week, though, the temps and the snow were just right for some snow angels and snow persons in our backyard and some skiing at a nearby ski hill.  Yes, skiing does exist in Iowa!

                                          

Seven Oaks Ski Hill is just under an hour drive away.  We got there and both said, "Oh, this is adorable!"  It ain't Juneau, but it'll do.  :)

                                         

Vacation Bible School

Isaac gets to participate in Vacation Bible School this summer.  This is exciting!

Last year he came with me while I volunteered, and was the only kid in the nursery each morning the whole week.  This year he gets to be with all the other kiddos since he'll be THREE and POTTY TRAINED.  Double WOOHOO!  The theme, as you can see, is "Rolling River Rampage" - he's already a fan of the raft.

Glimpses of Isaac

Here are a few cute pics of Isaac doing his thing...being wonderful.

Not quite sure how to caption this one.  Just one tiny glimpse into the toddler hilarity.

Isaac loves to watch the swimmers at the Y.  We go in every day and just sit and watch.  He'll eat a snack and truly just watch the people in the pool.  Then he'll walk a lap around the pool (just like the lifeguard) and sometimes cheer on the people swimming laps.  It's adorable and striking to me how drawn to the pool he is.  Who knows?  Maybe we have a swimmer on our hands?

When I asked Isaac what kind of special underwear he wanted from the store, he quickly replied: "John Deere!"  I laughed out loud and told him the store might not have John Deere, but we could look.  He is clearly settling into our Iowa life just fine!

Iowa boy!

Diaper Free is the Way to Be!

Isaac is a potty animal!  

He is diaper free during the day and more than not his diaper is completely dry in the morning.  We are so excited...and grateful for his Paw Patrol potty seat, which delights him like no other.  Whatever it takes.  

Isaac's tumbling class at the Y

A visit to Isaac's nail salon

Real men wear pink.  :)

Visiting the Dentist

Isaac had his second dentist appointment ever last week, and is excited about his new green & sparkly toothbrush!

Mama & Isaac's celebratory lunch date

A couple weeks ago I picked Isaac up from pre-school and his teacher told me he'd had his first accident-free day in undies.  Woohoo!  

This definitely called for an impromptu celebratory lunch date.  So, we went to a nearby cafe with our  clean, dry underwear on!

Chocolate chip cookie included!

Go Isaac!  What's also fun is some of the hilarious comments that have been a part of his potty-learning.  I'll spare you the photo (although it is pretty great) of the "V" that Isaac pooped in his potty chair.  When he stood up and looked at it, he said, "It looks like a letter!"  To which I replied, "Yes!  It's a V for Vander Naald!  And Victory!"  :)

The other morning he peed on the big toilet and as he flushed it down, he waved and said, "Bye-bye pee pee!  Have a nice flight!"  :)