Iowa games was this past weekend. Ben tried a new sport of jump rope sprint. He needs a little practice, but he had fun.

The boys have been participating in Disc Golf for several years.

Ethan earned the silver metal, second behind our neighbor and his friend. Ben moved up age and competed against the high school kids as well.  It was a little more challenging for him.  

We had the opportunity to dog sit for a couple days.    Nadia loved to walk cookie.  

Unfortunately,  Nadia had a bad cough and low fever all week.   It turns out she had a bit of pneumonia.     Just 1 day of antibiotics and she was much better. 

The kids and I had our bi-annual dentist appointment this week.    While I truly appreciate the hygienist attempts at good conversation,  It is a little difficult when they have their tools in my mouth. 

Digital Scrapbooking has become the easiest way for me to get creative.   I still love all my paper supplies, but it just seems harder right now.     Here's my digital layouts from June

supplies used:
CVW_SupplyTracker
DHD blue print #12 Hexagons
Splendiferous by Erica Coombs
JTB-GrungeBrushes&Overlays-Set1 by EricaCoombs
Count your Blessings frame by EricaCoombs

Just a little tribute for Father's day.

CVW_SupplyTracker
CountYourMemories by EricaCoombs
Stamped Alphabet by Erica Coombs
biograffiti template

CVW_SupplyTracker
Jen Martakis simple starts 25
JenMartakis_2peas_HelloSpring

CVW_SupplyTracker
biograffiti_tens1_loveyou
jen matakis_DadsDay
Tiffany Tilman Template

A picnic in the park.    It was really hot this week.   We actually avoided spending to much time outside.    We actually spent a hour or so wondering around Bass Pro Shop before the Museum opened.    Why shop Bass Pro while on vacation and there is a store really close to home?    The Air conditioning!

We spent Sunday afternoon wondering around the art gallery.   I was impressed with the kid's stamina for the gallery.   The boys really enjoyed it. 

We only built a fire on a couple evening,  it was just to hot to sit by a fire.

Everyone takes turns with the dishes.   It was Ethan's turn.

Oceans of Fun on Monday.   It was the perfect place to be with the heat.    Andrew actually ended the day with a headache from the heat.   Thankfully he felt much better after some food.

We took a trip to the mall on Tuesday,   Our destination was the American Girl Doll Store.  We had promised Nadia,  and she had been asking all week.    She watched with eager expectation as they combed her dolls hair.  

In the afternoon,  we visited the WW1 museum.    We really could have spent more time here.    Ethan really enjoyed it.  

Wednesday we packed up our camp and headed back to Iowa, but made a quick stop at a fireworks stand for some evening entertainment. 

We spent the day at Grandma's house and the girls decided to play a couple holes of golf.  It was fun to spend the time together. 

Andrew headed home and back to work, but the kids and I stayed 1 more day.    We just hung out with Rachel and Sienna and took a walk to see Great-grandma. 

Back home on Thursday evening to clean-up from our short, hot vacation.

I don't understand how they can be so bored.   It's summer after all.    Freedom to explore to do, but alas they are.  

This really isn't that funny, but a sad reality of all the little fees we seem to pay.   What is funny, is that my sister was just complaining about her bank fees last week.  

We finally decided it was time to have the radon levels in our house mitigated.   We found out they were high when we moved 2 years ago, but we had lots of other things to spend our money on.   We still have lots of other things to spend our money on, but Ben is now sleeping in the basement.   I guess it was a $1,300 peace of mind.

Just a photo of my daisy that's blooming

The weather has been relentlessly hot.    So the kids and I headed to our "beach"   Peterson Pits.  Sometimes, it's just more fun to build a sand castle.  

This is what I mean by Hot.   The temperature reading in my car on Thursday. 

On Thursday, we went down to Altoona to spend the day with my sisters.    Grandma treated us all to ice cream after the afternoon of swimming.

Saturday we left Iowa and headed to Kansas City for a few days.    The Van is packed and ready to go.

A quick stop along the Iowa border to buy a new basket from the Amish in Southern Iowa.

My Uncle John lives in KC.   He joined us for dinner at a truly authentic KC BBQ.   It was delicious.

Here's great description from a website review:

Restaurant Details

Many purists consider L.C.’s the best place to eat authentic Kansas City-style barbecue: succulent slow-smoked ribs, meaty rib tips and hefty beef sandwiches on soft white bread. The L.C.’s pit crew also pulls homemade sausage, chicken wings, turkey and shrimp out of this tiny restaurant’s aromatic pit. The side dishes are almost as famous as the meats — the hearty, molasses-rich baked beans, mixed with so many pieces of tender beef, could make a satisfying meal on its own. Onion rings are fat and crunchy, and L.C.’s fabled French fries live up to their reputation — nearly as thick as a small tree branch, one crispy L.C.’s fry is equal to a small sack of the greasy fast-food variety. L.C.’s is tiny, with fewer than a dozen tables, and everything made here is served in disposable containers with paper towels and plastic flatware. But what the interior lacks in glamour, it more than makes up in the quality and consistency of its signature dishes.

LC, himself, has his office right in the small restaurant.   He has his table piled with papers that he is slowing filing in the cabinet behind him.  The KC Royals were playing on the TV with people commenting about the game.  A stray dog was wondering around the building.   The atmosphere was part of the experience.    It was worth the trip.
  

This week's funny comes after a few holes of golf with my sister's and my mom.     Yep,   I really need golf lessons if I am going to spend to much time out on the course.   

That's me in the sand!  

If you are a regular follower to my blog, you know that I have fallen way behind in my weekly updates.   So  I am starting from here and seeing how many weeks I can make-up along the way.    Since this week is not over until tomorrow,    I will not share a weekly update, but my favorite picture from this week. 

It is always a blessing to spent time with Great Grandma.   On Wednesday we spent a few hours playing scrabble with her and then spent some time with her in the morning on Thursday.   Everyone loves to visit Great Grandma at her assisted living home.   Why you might ask?   The Ice Cream,  of course!

Enjoying the ice cream

Nadia, Sienna and AnnaB pose with Great Grandma.