Iowa Children's Museum

Again, on another brutally, hot summer day.  We ventured to Iowa City to visit the Iowa Children's Museum and beat the heat!  Elise had a great time playing with the different things- mostly the babies and the trains.  She is obsessed with babies- loves to put them 'ni-night,' sleep with them, 'rock a bye-baby' them, and wrap them up in her blankies.  It is the sweetest thing-ever!

This picture has nothing to do with the museum, but she's too cute anyway!

Not everything she learns from her big brother is good :)

On the way to IC

             

2 passenger plane

                                                                  

Trying to figure out how the ball works

Whoa! Wind!

 

Baby Heaven!

Putting her baby to sleep!

 We had a great time at the museum.  As I was uploading pictures, it dawned on me that it looks like Braydon never goes anywhere with us!  Ha!  He is with us daily- and I do have pictures of him to come- it just seems the last two events he wasn't with us.  Poor guy!

4th of July

It was kind of weird having 4th of July in the middle of the week this year.  In years past, I have spent my 4th of Julys celebrating in Okoboji near the water with friends!  Because it was smack in the middle of the week (and WAY TOO HOT to do much), we didn't do anything too exciting- except dress E in a really cute red, white and blue dress!

After nap time we headed over to our friends' house- Phil and DeEtta Andersen.  They live in town and usually have a dinner with friends/family on the 4th of July with fireworks.  We stayed for a couple of hours and enjoyed their company- we didn't make it to the fireworks. 

Bed time>fire works!

             

We went to Target and E insisted that she hold my hand on the way there :)

 E played in the sprinklers before bed time.

Mississippi Fun

On July 1st, we headed up to Harper's Ferry, Iowa (just a few steps from Prairie Du Chein, Wisconsin) to visit our good friends- Andy & Mary Beth Maloney and their two kids- Ava- 6 and AJ-4!  I teach with Mary Beth and they just happen to live 2 houses behind us! Their parents own a cabin on the Mississippi, so they invited us for a fun day of boating, tubing, and relaxing.

 
 Elise, Ava, Braydon, and AJ ready for a tube ride.  Braydon's first ride!

Elise thought she was brave for about 10 seconds (notice we have barely left shore!)  She thought it was a better idea to stand up. :) 

Elise and Daddy

Adam and I enjoyed  getting whipped around by Andy.  I realized the next day I am WAY too old for that stuff- my back was killing me.

I talked E into going on the tube with me.  Still not digging it.  After about 30 seconds she was crying- throught all the bumps.  Poor girl!

 

This little girl has NO fear.  

            

Before we left to go boating, Elise decided she was ready for the water.  She climbed on in by herself.  Fearless!

 

Braydon had a great time on the trampoline with Ava and AJ

Can you tell she's tired?  She fell asleep sitting up while the boat was cruisin' along!  Precious!

Captain E

We pulled tried to pull the trampoline over to tie up with some friends.  We made it about 5 feet as we could only travel about 2 miles per hour with the kids riding on it.  That doesn't work in 100+ degree heat.  Adam ended up holding on to it on the boat while we sped over.  Whew!  It was fun while it lasted.

Yo!

                           

B is pretty stoked about being on the river. (It took a while!)

He really isn't scared- this is his new face! :)

              

Ava and Braydon ended the day trying to hook some fish- No Luck!

We had a wonderful time with the Maloney's.  After being on the river for nearly 4 hours we headed back to the cabin to get ready for some dinner and cool off in some AC!  We can't wait to go back for another trip!

My 26th Birthday (3+ months ago)

Cheese!

Uncle Al always causing racket!

For my 26th birthday, Alex met us in CR at Osaka- a Japanese grill.  After that, we headed to Orange Leaf to enjoy some frozen yogurt.

26 wasn't too crazy.  Adam, Elise, and Braydon gave me some 15 lb weights and a gift card for a massage- It was wonderful!



Binky Addict

Loving this!

And THIS is why she is officially, a binky ADDICT!

Although this picture was taken in March- this is a clear picture of how crazy Elise is was about her binkies until a week or so ago when we limited them to nap/bed time.  She still sleeps with 2- 1 in her hand and 1 in her mouth. LOVE HER!

Mr. Athletic

Braydon played football this spring in Cedar Rapids.  Check out the athlete below:

Team Picture

Yes, he's the one wearing football gloves.

Ready to go!

Braydon LOVES sports- of any kind really.  I'm sure I couldn't pay him to play with toys, wait- maybe I could.  BUT he has no interest in playing with any sort of toy.  He would much rather, and does, only play with baseballs, soccer balls, footballs, basketballs, etc.  You get the drift.  

Anyway, he's quite the athlete- he's quick and puts his heart into it.  Hopefully it continues to be a source of happiness for him in years to come!  GO B!

Dr. Ward (And our trip to Omaha)

I bought myself an IPAD for  my birthday last year.  Any teacher  who applied for an IPAD in our school also received one in May.  This makes 2 IPAD II for the Foster's.  They are fun- and a nice way to keep the kiddos entertained.  (At home AND in the classroom :)).  Braydon and Elise are obviously having a great time on our drive to Omaha.

We are notorious for hitting birds.  Anywhere we go- we hit a bird.  We hardly made it out of Des Moines on our way to Omaha and SMACK- another bird.  We think he just wanted a free ride- he made it all the way to Omaha without falling out.  In fact, my brother ended up digging it out with a stick!  Yuck!

Elise thought she could watch a movie with Braydon- but really- she is more entertained with wearing the headphones- she thinks it's great!

My nephew- Hendrix- after his t-ball game.

Hendrix, Cash, and Braydon

We were celebrating Kim's graduation at a brewery in Omaha.  We put them up on the ledge so they couldn't run away!

Cash, Hendrix, and Braydon playing with water guns.

Elise trying to join the fun.

She found Harper's mower instead.

The real reason for this post:  My sister-in-law Kim graduated with her Master's Degree- She is now a licensed Nurse Practitioner- Dr. Kimberly Ward! 

We headed down to help her celebrate for the weekend.  We didn't make it in time to go to the graduation ceremony, but we made it to help her celebrate with lunch and spend the evening/next day with her.  All of my siblings (minus Alex) made the trek- along with all of Kim's family.  The kids had a blast playing together.

Next stop in Omaha- HENDRY DOORLY ZOO!