August Endings

 August has been really great. Super hot and humid, but great. 

We've had fun family time, fun couple time. School has started. Plenty of ordinary ordinary. Which is how I live my best life. 

We had family pictures taken this past weekend. And I'll tell you what, spending time with my people and capturing our relationship is my favorite thing. I am so thankful to be able to take pictures with them. 

Today is my birthday, and we have plans for dinner, gifts and laughter. And we'll laugh ourselves into September. Fall is coming for real! 

Throwback Thursday

 Let's do a quick Throwback Thursday post... to Monday. 

Our school year is off and running. Third grade and first grade. And you know what? 4 days in, it's all so far so good! 

A Little Getaway

 On Saturday Husband and I celebrated 11 years of marriage. We celebrated by having some kid-free time. My parents took the kids for a few days and we did normal life at home but on Tuesday we took a little trip to the Iowa State Fair. 

I had never been before. On the drive there we passed the Wienermobile. As one does. 

Getting to the fair was straightforward and then once we were in we started exploring. We hit up the 4-H Building. This is usually my favorite place and while Iowa doesn't do "Arts In" the way Minnesota does, I still enjoyed the exhibits. 

Did you know Iowa is famous for its butter cow? (A cow carved out of a lot of butter.) I didn't really either and I live here. But I have now seen the butter cow live in person. I think that makes me an actual Iowan now. 

True story, the man sculpted out of butter is actually the grandfather of one of Husband's high school classmates. So that was an interesting little factoid. 

We saw the Budweiser Clydesdales. 

You might ask yourself... why am I making that face and this weird picture? Oh that's just me loitering outside of the grandstand during sound check. Because the real reason we went to the fair was that we had tickets to see Hanson and The Beach Boys. And Hanson's sound check was happening so I sat right down and got a preview. 

Husband got the Iowa "Barksdale Cookies" so we could compare and contrast them with Minnesota's Sweet Martha's Cookies. They're different but still good. (I mean, it's a cookie.) I learned that Minnesota has had Sweet Martha's since 1979. Iowa's cookies arrived in 1993. But this cute old man was passionate about it and built a permanent building for the cookies. It was supposed to open last year but COVID. Ironically, the concert was also supposed to be last year and we've had the tickets since before any shut downs. 

Once we got into the grandstand I almost cried. Because our seats that were not cheap (like same price range as front row) were pretty awful. And I'd had them for over a year. It turned out okay but I was still sad. 

Then Hanson showed up and all was right with the world. How many times do you think I can see them live and still appreciate them? 

So since Hanson opened for the Beach Boys, it was safe to say the bulk of the audience was NOT there to see them. We happened to sit next to another pair who also knew all the words and songs and we were up on our feet dancing the whole set. Not to say that Taylor in any way would remember me, but he for sure looked right at us, even as extreme as our angle was, and made notice of the fact that we were fans. 

Then it was time for the Beach Boys. (Or as my kids call them, The Beach Grandpas) And you know what, for being in their 80s, they were great. PLUS John Stamos was with them. And we love Full House and Fuller House. 

John Stamos didn't just come out and sing "Forever" either. (Though he did sing it and I got it on video for M who loves to watch Full House. Like for real.) He played the entire Beach Boys set. He played drums, guitar and he was really good. 

It was SO nice to have a getaway. Apparently the only time we get a hotel room and spend time away together without our kids is for Hanson. Lol. Oh well. Totally worth it!! 

Godparenting

 Guess who got themselves Godparented this past Sunday on the Feast of the Assumption? 

To say that I am beyond honored and thrilled to Godparent sweet little H is an understatement. 

Our friends asked us to Godparent their new baby girl! She has 4 older brothers and I couldn't love her more. 

Sweet girl was welcomed into the church which is so wonderful. We've known since well before she was born that she had a heart condition. Our prayers were answered because it's not nearly as bad as predicted but she will still need surgery sometime in the next 2-4 months. 

On the day she was born (she was induced so we knew she'd be on the way soon) I went to daily Mass at 6:30 AM. And after I lit a candle at the feet of Mary, and asked her to pray for sweet baby (I didn't know her name yet). Our big candles at church burn for a week. H did so well and was born so healthy that she was at Sunday Mass less than a week later while her candle was still lit. We weren't sure that she would even be able to come home before surgery. 

So to baptize her on the Feast of the Assumption was a special gift for us. Welcome to the church little girl! We are so lucky to know you and love you. 

Fun Summer Activities and Outings

Hello! I have been MIA because we have been eeking out all the fun we can have this summer. Between work and life... there hasn't been a ton of time for blogging. 

When C was in first grade, during the lockdown portion, his teacher dropped off an Earth Day kit for each student. With a cup of dirt and seeds to plant. C's grew, and bloomed. Then he saved the seeds and dried them, and planted them this year. So this is his second generation first grade sunflower!

We went to see Matilda the Musical. (Masks are now required in Illinois again.)

Husband and I painted our bedroom. This dark navy, called Fjord blue has made my room become my favorite place in the house even more now. 

My little strawberry girl has been having a good summer and is getting excited to be a grader! 

We've had park playdates with friends! 

We went to see Hairspray because one of our babysitters was Tracy. This is M's favorite musical and she definitely was singing along to most of the show. 

C got a snail. Which has not been without drama because we keep worrying the snail has died. But nope, still alive. And Waldo mostly leaves him alone. 

And that's what we've been up to!