The Vans Down By the River: June and July Update

I've been horrible at updating the family blog this summer. I've been trying to be more "in the moment" with the boys this summer, and I think I'm doing pretty well. Therefore there are less pictures to post, not less stories, but less for you to look at and more for you to read. And besides it's summer, leisure reading only. ;)

Playing hopscotch.

Making new discoveries.

Playing in the dirt. ;)

Becoming good buddies.

They've been pretty creative at coming up with their own games - like belly-bumping. They laughed and laughed. So funny!!

At the end of May we went down to Arkansas to see our good friends, Clint and Jess. It's about a 6-hour drive and we left on time in the morning so we were there by late afternoon. It's nice that that boys have become so great in the car. We didn't even need the DVD player on the way there (or the way back).

Clint and Asher getting a run-away frisbee.

Phin and Asher watching dad and Mr. Clint throw frisbee.

Eating spaghetti on the back patio.

When we were in Arkansas we took Asher and Phin for their first round of mini-golf. They played the first 9 holes without too much distraction, but then they just wandered around and that was fine. They liked the holes where the ball "disappears" and then comes out of a tube somewhere else. So fun to watch them. I can't remember who won, but Clint and I got the most holes in one!!

Before we left for the 6-hour drive back to Ames we had the boys run down the block and back. And as you can see, it worked like a charm. ;)

The first weekend of June Jonathan ran the Dam 2 Dam race from Sailorville Lake to downtown Des Moines. It's a 12.6 mile run and he ran in the rain almost the entire way. Even though it was pouring the boys and I sat in lawn chairs under our umbrellas and cheered on the runners. We were all so excited to see Jonathan running along. We yelled and yelled for him! It was only drizzling by the time Jonathan crossed the finish-line and then the sun came out. He did a great job!!

There are free concerts in the park on Thursday nights. We had a nice time taking the boys and watching them dance to orchestra music. I'd like to get a video up of Phin dancing at the concert. We wanted to get there early for the Steele Drum Band but just missed it. We had a nice time and the weather was gorgeous.

Jonathan was gone for my birthday, so my good friend Sue took me out. Since I decided that I want to have an adventurous 30th year (technically 31st year) we wanted to do things that I've never done before.

I had sangria at a garage sale.