Weekend in Iowa

We made it back up to Iowa for one last time before our weekends are full of cheer, football, and soccer! 

Ryder’s 1st Birthday (I know..crazy that he is already 1!!!) was on Saturday morning, then we headed to the Iowa State Fair!  Best fair in the world!!  And best food!!!

Eli eating his first corndog of the day…and he started with a footlong corndog!  He ate most of it…he shared a few bites with Ryder!

baby ostriches…they were so cute!

Eli  lookinng at the baby chicks

Audrey seeing what Eli is doing…he was putting his fingers through the cage to see what the chicks would do!

Audrey thought it was pretty funny!

Jocelyn looking at the baby pigs!

 

Jocelyn milking the cow!

And it was Eli’s turn to milk the cow.  He wasn’t so sure…he tried to do it with 2 fingers!  I wish I would have gotten a picture of his face!! 🙂

Eli in the ARMY truck.

Eli on one of the big tractors….

Jocelyn and Audrey in another big tractor! 

Uncle Mark was helping them!

Ryder had fun at the fair too!  He got to try lots of yummy foods!!

 

Jocelyn’s first Chiefs game

**So being the scrapbooker that I am…I am really kicking myself for this one!  **

I have no pictures of this!!!!!

Brian had 2 tickets to the Chiefs first preseason game a few weeks ago.  Since Eli went last time, it was Jocelyn’s turn.  She was so excited!  Even though it was pouring down rain for most of the game.  It wasn’t raining wehen they left the house, but we made sure they were prepared with their ponchos!

They stopped and got Subway on the way out there, so they could tailgate a little before heading into the game.  They went into the stadium a little early so Brian could look around the newly renovated (but form done!) Arrowhead stdium.  It is scheduled to be done by next season.

It rained on and off throughout the game.  Not just sprinkles either!  If you didn’t watch it on TV…it was pouring down rain!  Jocelyn said that everytime she out her hood up, it would stop raining and then she would put it down…and it would start raining! 

They got to the car after the game and had to dump the water from their tennis shoes!

BUT, when Jocelyn got home…she had the biggest grin on her face!  She had so much fun!

She has such a great daddy that takes them places like this!!

Pics from Craig & Melanie’s camera

Here are some summer pics that Melanie got to me. 

The first ones are from our week at Okoboji.

Roasting marshmellows to make yummy smores!

Me and my baby cuddling!  It was cold that night!

 

These next pics are from when Eli was up in Iowa for his week.  These are what he did the few days he was with Brian’s parents!

I know it is sideways…I am not sure how to fix that from an emailed picture??? 

Anyway, he is playing at the park!

Playing ladder golf with grandpa

Playing UNO attack…Eli LOVES this game!

They took Eli to the Sweet Corn Festival.  Free sweet corn!!

Eli and grandma eating sweet corn!

Eli had a great week up in Iowa.  I will get some pics from the rest of his week and get them posted too!

 

An official Kindergartener!!!

 

 

 

Brian, Audrey and I just got home from taking Eli to his first day of Kindergarten!  He did great.  He introduced himself to a few new friends and also recognized a few kids from Sneak Peak night.  Mrs.Sundermeyer had playdough at each of their spots to play with this morning.  He gave us all hugs and kisses and told us goodbye with a smile on his face!!  I am anxious to see him in a few hours to see what he thinks of kindergarten after the first day! 🙂

Eli in front of Sunnyside.

Audrey, Eli and Jocelyn!  Pretty good picture!!

Eli with Mrs. Sundermeyer

(Do you like his shirt?? We let him pick out his clothes today!  He chose this one!  Fits him well… a LOUD guitar with a volume button!!)

Eli at his table!  He was getting ready to make a snake with his playdough.  Mrs. Sundermeyer asked who could make the longest snake!  Make it competitive and he is all in!! 🙂

 

Jocelyn’s first day of school!

Today is Jocelyn’s first day of 3rd grade.  She only has a half day of school today.    She is so grown up! 

I will post more pics tomorrow on Eli’s first day of school  !Eli starts school tomorrow since he is in Kindergarten.

And I will let you know what Jocelyn thinks of 3rd grade so far!!

 

Audrey “bundling up” to go outside!

I told the kids to get their shoes on to go outside.  Jocelyn and Eli came from the shoe closet with shoes and Audrey told me she was ready like this…

She had the mittens on too, but when I grabbed the camera she pulled them off!

Love it!

 

Jami and Rdyer’s visit

Jami and Ryder came down for a few days.  We took the kids to the zoo on Monday (I forgot my camera, but I will get a some pics from Jami and post them later!) and then got the kids’ picture taken on Tuesday.   Here are a few of the pics from their photo session.

Ryder…so cute!!

Best picture we got.

I LOVE IT!!

 

Camping with Jocelyn

Over the weekend, Jocelyn and I went on a mother daughter campout and had a great time.  We stayed at the camp where Jocelyn could do resident camp next summer.  She was able to see what kinds of activities they do, what kind of food they eat, and she met the counselors that are there over the summer.  The weather was great and she even got to swim in the pool while we were there.  We went with one of our mom/daughter friends.  We got to decorate baseball hats, do arts and crafts, learn some new songs, play some games, we even played “the amazing race” on Saturday night before the bonfire.  We ended the night with smores!  YUMMY!  On Sunday morning, we went to the SPA at camp.  Oh yes, Jocelyn and I painted each others nails.  I am so glad we went.  I think that she feel more confident for summer camp next year.

 

Worlds of Fun

Last week, we surprised the kids and took them to Worlds of Fun for the day.  Brian took the day off work so we could go on a weekday.  We picked the perfect day.  It was about 80 degrees and sunny!  We were there from 10am – 10 pm. 

Jocelyn was tall enough to ride all but one roller coaster and Eli was tall enough to ride all but 2 rollercoasters.  They loved the roller coasters and Audrey had fun riding the log ride with all of us.

Brian, Jocelyn and Eli on the first ride of the day.

Jocelyn riding an airplane with Audrey.  She was trying to tell Audrey to pull the bar back so they could go up.  Audrey never did it!

The kids and I on the little roller coaster. 

Eli riding horses with Audrey

I don’t think Audrey had any idea what she was getting herself into when Jocelyn and Eli took her with them on this ride! 

It was fun to watch them!

Audrey riding the swings.

They loved this ride!

Brian, Jocelyn and Eli are in the 2nd car.

Me and Jocelyn and Eli

Fun day!  I can’t wait to go again!