Down, Set, Hike!

So football has started for my 5th grader.

TACKLE football.

Can't believe how big these boys look in their pads and how official they look with their helmets. All one of my friends could say (repeatedly) when she saw them was, "Now that's just cute."

Which they were, but I think when I am telling Drew this story I'll say she used the word "tough", or something along those lines ;)

Drew has been assigned to the position of center for offense, and for defense he is a middle linebacker. I think. I'll have to ask him...

First scrimmage of the season was this weekend and they had so much fun! Games start 2 weeks from today--Go Trojans!

Holy Hugeness!
Look at that center! (note TWO handed grip because his hands aren't quite big enough for a one handed grip)
defense
The snap!
Drew and buddy Ben taking a breather

Back To School!

Another summer gone by (too quickly, btw!), and now we are back at it! Drew started tackle football on Monday (I'll get a pic up later), and they all started school this morning.

All reported good first days and they all really like their teachers and classmates.

Off we go...

Waiting for the bus
...and away it goes!
running to the bus
Maddi
The best picture of Lars I could get
The best picture of Drew I could get--the boys obviously don't care about picture taking :)

Maddi Turns Six--Part 2

The second half of Maddi's birthday celebration was a little more low key--a party at home with family.

Still just as fun for Maddi, ands lots of cool stuff to open.

Happy Birthday Sweet Pea, Happy Birthday.

Maddi Turns Six--Part 1

the soccer cake
Maddi and Abby
party guests

Birthday Party at the Gymnest.

Lots of sweaty kids running around while Jamie and I sat and watched. Best party ever for a mom and a dad. Just show up, bring a cake, order some pizza-DONE!

Yep. It's that easy.

And the kids had a blast!

SugarBottom

We took Maddi on her first singletrack ride out at SugarBottom the other night.

And it went well.

Except for the bugs.

And the roots on the trail making it *bumpy*.

Oh, and the itty bitty fall into the leaves on the side of the trail.

But otherwise, she's a really big fan!

XTERRA

This year the XTERRA showed up at SugarBottom...a race that includes all facets of a triathlon, but has you mountain biking and trail running instead of doing them on the road. This particular race was a 1 mile swim, 16 mile bike on some amazing Iowa singletrack, and a 6 mile trail run with some *beautiful* rolling hills thrown in for good measure.

Never one to back down from a challenge, Jamie had his mind set on doing this race. After all, he does lots of tri's...right?

Well, yes. He does...

But never underestimate the difficulty of a race.

Or the presence of a fever. Yep, 102 to be exact. Not that he knew that before the race, but he did feel like crap, and did have a pretty bad cold.

4 hours later...the finish line was crossed, and Jamie's first ever XTERRA was complete.

Pass the ibuprofen please.

ready to swim
first leg complete
transition area
let the biking begin
pretty sure he has never been more glad to see a finish line...ever
all smiles, at least for now

Time To Relax

Just a fun day hiking out at Palisades/Kepler State Park on a lazy Sunday afternoon. We happened to stop by and see Grandpa on the way home and we were invited to dinner. Even better because I didn't have to cook or clean up afterwards!! Yippee!!

Jamie and I

Jamie climbing some boulders
love that sweet face
out on an adventure
water break!
smile!

20 Years!?!

Ok. So as much as I did not want to believe that I was old enough to be going to my TWENTY year high school reunion, the weekend came, and I went. And I was very pleasantly surprised at how much fun we all had, back together again, like time hadn't passed.

But time had passed. And I think it made us better.

Better because we now know *sort of* who we are. And are mostly happy with that. Or at least happier with that than 20 years ago.

Most of our lives are good. Great, even. Others have had a rough go. Yet somehow, for those few hours, we were able to be just a part of who we used to be, yet mix it in with who we are now, and it was good. And fun. And it made me happy to be a Fort Dodge Dodger, Class of 1990, for just one more night.

Erin, Me, & Clare
Christy, Me, Steph, Monica, & Brooke
David--our chick magnet. Ok, not really. But he was the smartest guy in our class, and one of the nicest. Is now a senior VP for google. Yes, google. Also, when he worked for Zeiss, he was one of 2 senior engineers that helped invent/develop one of the latest and greatest eye machines we currently have available in my eye geek world that I live in. Dave is my hero. :)
Christy and Clare. Two of my most favorite people. Ever.

My John Deere Ridin', Ice Cream Cone Eatin' Girl

Sunday evening at grandpa's house and this is the excitement of the night...it doesn't get any better than this!

Ready! Set! Shoot!

Finally, the project that was never going to end, has ended.

Almost.

I mean, at least it's usable now. No lines/designs on the court, some landscaping still needs to be touched up, but by golly, you can shoot a basket.

Well, I can't really. I'm not very good.

But my kids can, and the neighbor kids can, and my kids' friends can...

You know what I mean!

Ridin' a Two Wheeler

Maddi finally decided she was ready to ride her bike.On 2 wheels, even.
Because before, she wouldn't even ride it with training wheels.

Now look at her go!

Storm

Just a shot of the sky before a(nother!) storm came rolling in this summer.

Fourth of July Feet

Well what fun would the 4th of July be without all of the festivities like parades, parties, and fireworks?

Nothing.

Unless your name is Maddi and you have Fourth of July Feet!

Hope you all had a fun weekend!!

Phipps' Visit!

Our good friends from Colorado decided to make a detour over to Eastern Iowa on their way to a family reunion in South Dakota. We got lucky with FABULOUS weather, and packed in lots of fun stuff while they were here, including a baseball game of Drew's, swimming at the Coralville pool, a trip downtown for some pizza at the Airliner, playing on the ped mall, and ice cream at Whitey's! All this in 36 hours? You betcha!ending the night with ice cream
playing downtown

Lars' question of the day..."Does it hurt to be bald?"
The Phipps' and the Kains

walking around downtown
playing at the pool
boys being boys
Emma before her deep water test
The Toilet Bowl (aka The Hurricane)
Lars doing a *360 twist* off the board
Drew
Alek heading for a *flat on his back* landing