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"a portrait of each of my children, once each week, in 2018."

Cruz: You started baseball last Monday, played with friends at the pool on Tuesday, stood on the very top of a tank on Wednesday, rode your bike up the big hill in our cul de sac on Thursday, and learned to kayak on Friday.  It's a summer of adventures and you are embracing every bit of it, kid.

Mila: You have turned into quite the fish this summer.  We tried a new pool on our small town adventure last week and you loved it.  You jumped into the three foot, learned to swim deep to get diving sticks, and taught us how to do a "flip turn".  My favorite part was the ballerina leg kick you throw in at the end!

Fourth of July, Part 2

We sandwiched our Fourth of July holiday with all the classic Americana fixings - a friends' get together at our house on the eve of the fourth, followed by sparklers, s'mores, and an outdoor movie just us the weekend after.  We had striped strawberries, striped drinks, and striped popsicles, the kids ran around in their swimsuits until dark, and Beau surprised Katie and I with the sprinklers while we were on the trampoline taking pictures of the kids!  We got him back later with a five gallon bucket over the deck!

The weekend after the 4th, I talked Beau into taking us to the fireworks in Shell Rock.  The kids put on their pjs, lit up some sparklers while we waited for it to get dark, then packed the car with blankets and drinks and took back roads to Butler County.  

It was such a perfect Iowa night.  We pulled up in a cornfield, pulled down the tailgate on the truck, then all climbed on and huddled up together.  It turns out we should have inched our way a bit closer to the action, but none of us cared.  The car ride, the cornfield, the sky full of stars, and our little crew all taking it in together was enough to make it a definite top night.  

Fourth of July, Part 1

This year's Fourth of July included a blistering hot day at the Shell Rock parade, five cousins dressed in their patriotic best, and bags full of candy, mostly thanks to Mayor Cruz and his catchy wave!  He got Mila on board this year, too, and she was happy to jump in if it meant more sugary goods would end up in her ziploc.  Beau and I even forced Cruz to run halfway down the block to snag a flyswatter from a guy handing them out.  We had a fly issue at our house and had broken our only two flyswatters the day before.  It was meant to be and Cruz was the man to make it happen. ;)

Afterwards, we stopped for our annual red barn backdrop pictures at Aunt Robi's house.  

And the rest of the day included water play and barbecue, naps under Mom's favorite tree, and all of us crowded in my parents' living room to watch Joey Chesnut score another title in the Nathan's hot dog eating contest.  We left just as the sky started to darken and traded plans for fireworks for pajamas and a cozy night on the couch.  And then our neighbors decided to surprise us with a show right from our back deck.