Camping Out

This past weekend we went camping with some friends at Backbone State Park. The kids had a blast popping jiffy pop over the fire, roasting marshmallows over the fire, and just playing with the fire in general! We also took a nice long hike, played in the creek, and even got to go rock climbing. We were pretty exhausted when it was all said and done, but everyone had a great time.

Lars Takes on Kindergarten

Here we are, the first day of school in the Iowa City School District. Lars' big debut as a kindergartner has finally arrived and he is so excited to finally get to ride the bus with all the big guys in the neighborhood.

We are lucky in that the bus stop is right in front of our house, so every morning the kids are out playing while waiting for the bus. No exception today, except that this time when the big yellow bus makes it's way around the bend, Lars puts on his serious face and turns into all business. A little apprehension, a little excitement. He is so ready. Backpack on, he makes his way over to the door of the bus, turns around and gives me a slight grin, then steps into the bus like an old pro.

As the bus leaves, Jamie, Maddi, and I run to our van and pile in so we can meet the bus up at the school. I can't stand the thought that he might not know where to go or what to do when he gets off the bus. My husband reassures me with a sarcastic, "You know Laura, I'm sure they have never had to deal with first time kindergartners getting off the bus before." Oh well, I am still the mom so "just get busy and drive" is what is running through my head. When we get there, Lars has already found his place in his teacher's line and is ready to go inside. Score: Dad-1, Mom-0.

Ok, but we still have to get him inside and make sure that he gets all of his registration papers turned into his teacher and that the baby photo his teacher wanted brought in the first day of school is also handed in. (aren't I the good mom that I even remember this? I smugly smile as I wonder how many other moms forgot!) I am GENTLY barking orders at Lars, "no honey, your papers are in the other pouch of your backpack", and "Lars, let me put your lunchbox in your cubby", and other various comments that I can't even remember. Jamie is looking at me like I am crazy and politely but firmly says, "Let HIM do it. He has to learn. We won't be here every morning" things of that nature. The next comment he makes to me is, "If we were at home right now, you would be telling Lars to make his own breakfast, make his bed, brush his teeth, get dressed. I am pretty sure he can unzip his backpack with no help from you." Really? Bummer. Guess I gotta let go sometime. Score: Dad-2, Mom-0.

Overall, he had a great day and really likes his teacher. He's at least willing to go back tomorrow!

On a side note, Drew (my big 3rd grader) had overheard me say I was going to follow the bus and meet Lars in his room at school. Drew wanted to make sure I knew that I didn't need to go to HIS room this morning, so I told him, "Oh, I was just planning on walking by your classroom and blowing you goodbye kisses." This was promptly followed with a moderately loud "NO!" Score: Mom-1, Drew-0

(K)not Again!

As I walked past our bathroom the other day, I see my daughter standing at the sink messing with her hair. I ask if everything is ok and her response is "no" in an uncertain tone at best. I come a little closer and see a blue blob in the back of her hair, and suddenly gasp with horror...GUM!

Now, many of you may be asking, "What in the world is a 4 year old doing chewing gum", but you have to realize that this child has been successfully chewing gum since the age of 2. Not one accident, not one wad stuck anywhere to anything in or around my house, until now. Ugh!

I search my brain's rolodex for any previous knowledge of "gum removal" techniques, only to come up with ice cubes. (This is important because everyone who I've told the story to has instantly blurted out, "Did you try peanut butter?") To no avail, the ice cubes were ineffective at best, (it does work on clothes though) and I was left with only one option...SCISSORS.

I did my best and tried to remove as little hair as possible from my already hair deficient child's head. I must say it is hidden pretty well, but we have taken several steps back in terms of being anywhere near able to come up with some sort of functioning ponytail.

Someday, ahhh, someday......

Tomatoes

Here are my first tomatoes of the year! Some little roma tomatoes I planted in a pot on my back patio. Yum!!

Maddi's First Mani/Pedi

Once Upon a Time... a little peanut named Maddi was born! That was four years ago and so it is that this Saturday, she will be celebrating her 4th birthday. So hard to believe and yet at the same time, so fun to watch. To celebrate, she got to invite two of her friends to go to the nail place in the mall and get their toes and fingernails painted. What a time it was!

She picked a princess themed party, so when we picked up the two girls, they were all given "princess" sashes to wear. When we got to the nail place, they put the girls in the big comfy chairs and started painting away. They even got little decorations drawn on their big toes.

After the nail painting, we came back to our house to have a light lunch and some cake and ice cream. Maddi was thrilled that her friends could come to her party and it seems that a good time was had by all! Therefore, they all lived happily ever after...

The End

Fishing

Grandpa Jim had been wanting to get the grandkids on a pontoon boat for awhile, and last weekend we were finally able to make it happen. We were able to do some fishing, play on the beach at the lake, and just hang out and have good time. What a great way to spend a hot summer day!

Sprinkler

Last week, Drew had a couple of friends over to play for the afternoon. Being that it was 90+ degrees and lots of humidity, the sprinkler seemed like the perfect fix!

Green Gum

Don't ya just love gum!?

Race Day

Ok, so every year we go to Okoboji on the same weekend; race weekend. The third weekend in July plays host to a marathon, half-marathon, 10K, and triathalon. Jamie and his brother Brad always do the triathalon and I enter one of the running races. I ran the half-marathon last year (my first one), but decided my motivation factor was running on empty this year so I just did the 10K.

Being that I am a photo freak, (an inherited trait from the Johnson side of my family) I always have my camera with me for events like this. Well, last year when I got home and looked at the photos from my race, I noticed that there were no photos of me. In fact, one of the photos had two runners in it, neither of which were me, and another photo was of sky only. No people, not even a cloud, just the clear blue sky.

Now comes this year. I decide to joke with last year's "photographer" about their picture taking skills, and we agree that we will let someone else have the camera this year. So, after my race, I was all excited to see how the photos turned out. I had to crack up when I noticed that one of the pictures, again, wasn't even of me, and the other one was of my back. Must have been that I "zoomed" by, my immense speed not allowing for the "money shot".

Oh well, there is always next year....

Molecule in Action

More pics of the Molecule....

King of the Molecule

What in the world is the Molecule, you ask?? Well, it is the ridiculously large "water toy" my children conned their dad and I into before we left on our annual Okoboji trip. I must say, it did provide hours of entertainment and with kids our ages, (3-8), it offers a nice alternative than trying to water ski.

We discovered the molecule has many different uses--you can be pulled behind the boat at warp speed as Jamie and I did at Uncle Matt's amusement, you can tie it to the dock and simply lay out on it, (which I will NOT be showing pictures of), or you can watch the kids play King of the Mountain on it. Now when I say kids in this sentence, I actually mean Jamie and his two brothers. Sure, they let the little ones on there to make it LOOK like they were playing with them, but they were out for blood! (or at least bragging rights!)

Either way, we had another great year at the lake and the kids can't wait to go back again next year--

Sexy!!!

Here's the post I promised you Uncle Matt!!!

Aunt Diana's in Trouble

Maddi is definitely a girly girl, and she LOVES make-up. I am ok with lip gloss, and what little girl doesn't like having her toes and fingernails painted.

Enter Aunt Diana. Diana is probably the best aunt in the world, especially to a little girl who knows her parents won't let her wear make-up. These pics came about when Maddi came up to me and said, "Look mom, I have a-scara on!" As she batted her eyelashes at me, I figured out she meant mascara, applied by the ever popular Aunt Diana. She also got "sparkles" on her cheeks, AND glittery lip gloss.

Almost more than a little girl could bear---and for sure more than her dad could!!!

Packing (in the mind of a 3 year old)

As we were getting ready to go over to the Quad Cities to stay overnight with Uncle Brad and Aunt Penny, I had mentioned to each of the kids to go pack an overnight bag. This was Maddi's take on the whole "overnight" bag.

I found, laying in the middle of her floor, a suitcase filled with all of her dress-up clothes. Not one item in it was for her to actually wear or sleep in. Never mind that it didn't even all fit in the suitcase. She was bummed when I let her know we would have to "condense" a little. She was just sure she would need all of the things she had packed!

Happy 4th!

Ok, so it's not really the 4th anymore, actually it's the 6th--of August! Yikes. You'd think I would have learned from my last blog where I scrambled to post six times in one night. Tonight will be another one of those nights--just so I can get caught up.

Back to the 4th...for the past several years now a large group of us gather at one of the city parks for a 4th of July breakfast. We all bring various items and someone even fires up a grill to make pancakes, eggs, and even sausage and bacon. Our "breakfast spot" just also happens to be right by the parade route so it works out great--we eat, then watch the parade, then go home and collapse for a few hours before we all meet back up together again for pre-fireworks dinner and games, topped off, of course, by the fireworks. It's a long day but tons of fun!