First Day of School

The kids started school last Wednesday. I think they had a good day. Matthew commented that "he survived", but also talked about all the friends he saw and had lunch with, so he seemed ok. Anna seems a bit more cranky since school started, but I think it is related to sleep and getting up at 6:30 in the morning! She seems to like school and is excited to go each day. Carolyn has a new teacher to our school, but not our district and we have heard rave reviews. She is all about the friends in her class, which worked out well this year. Joel has Mr. J (Carolyn's 3rd grade teacher) and is thrilled.

Canoe/Kayak Trip

While C.,J., A. and I were having fun at the zoo, Ken and Matthew were at Camp Winnebago. Matthew spent Saturday in a kayak and Ken in a canoe (with one of the younger scouts). They had wonderful weather and were happy to get one last trip in at Camp Winnebago as the BSA is having to sell this camp. There are other camps nearby and they can't afford to keep both open.

Matthew got to practice his Life-Saving skills learned at a different camp. (no he didn't have to save anyone....but all the boys who have completed Life-Saving training took turns watching over the pool) One has to guess that adult leaders were also watching. Plus they youngest scout in the Troop is in 6th grade - so no worries.

Zoo

I think this is the first time I have been to a zoo in 13 1/2 years without a stroller. Ken and Matthew were canoeing with scouts. The Blank Park Zoo has improved SOOO much since we moved here.

It was a perfect weather day and we had a great time!

Adventureland

We finally made it to Adventureland, which is the theme park that is about 20 minutes away. The kids had the time of their life, me not as much :0) I did have an overall good day, but made a bad initial decision: I chose to go on The Tornado as the first ride of the day. I reasoned that most rides were out because they spinned and I knew I had ridden the Tornado as a teenager. I also thought, "golly, if they let little kids like Anna on it, it much be somewhat tame". My 2nd mistake (after getting on the ride), was closing my eyes - which probably exacerbated the nausea. Here is the family before the big ride. Matthew and Ken thought it was fun and the others thought it was "ok". It was the last rollercoaster for all but Ken and Matthew.

Here are Matthew and Carolyn in front of Joel and me on the "ski gondola" ride. This wasn't a ride I would allow Anna to go on, since it was so high up.

Here is Joel, sitting next to me, high in the air. It did make me a bit anxious to be so high up, but I was as cool as a cucumber, so as not to pass on my fears to the next generation :)

I probably could have done this ride (Raging Waters), if it had preceded the Tornado, but I am glad that I could get some very nice pictures, since I was not feeling the best for the next 4-6 hours.

Here is a crazy ride that Matthew, Carolyn and Ken went on. Joel and Anna weren't tall enough, but I don't think they had interest anyway. Matthew and Ken are the real daredevils of the group.

We stayed all day and I think everyone will have great memories (even me!). I also learned a valuable lesson, so that I won't do something similar when we spend the big bucks in Florida (hopefully) next summer.

Popsicle Party!

We had a great time planning and attending the easiest party ever. The funny thing is - NO ONE else was at the park throughout the party! It was a lovely day, so I am not sure why no one else was there. We had 43 people at the party and probably ate 120 popsicles/ice cream bars.....maybe I exaggerate, because the adults didn't have more than one, but the kids were excited about the cooler full of treats. Carolyn's best buddies were able to come!

The newest third graders!

Anna's friends from Faith and Friendship!

We didn't invite Matthew's buddies, because age 13 might be a bit old for a popsicle party (but 43 years old is not :0)

This and that of the summer

We had a professional photo session this summer. I now take everyone's photo at one time and love the Target studio in Ankeny. I get individuals of everyone, everyone together, boys together and girls together - LOVED LOVED LOVED the results....Here is an "after" photo, in our backyard, since I had everyone matchy-matchy. I can't show you the best photo - since that will be my Christmas card photo and I don't want to spoil the surprise. This is the "can we do a funny one now mom" picture.

We had vacation Bible school early in the summer. Ken's folks were here on day one - I love the multi-generational photo!

Tomorrow we are having our first annual "McCleary Popsicle Party". We invited friends from church (Faith and Friendship (aka Mother to Mother in some parts of the world)), and the kid's buddies from school and the neighborhood. My current count is around 40 popsicle eaters. This is really an easy party - we bought a bunch of popsicles and ice-cream sandwiches and invited everyone to join us at a nearby park that isn't busy (often when we go there we are the only ones there, or just a couple kids). Strangers already at the park will be offered popsicles too. We are bringing a kickball and bases for my kid's favorite game, a race around the park (wagon ride for the younger kids), chalk for art work, basketballs and soccer balls....and of course the playground for fun. I love this idea because we wanted to have a little get together, but who to invite and how can I possibly get my house clean in time.....so on Tuesday we decided to do it, bought the treats, walked around to pass out invitations in the neighborhood and sent an email to Faith and Friendship.....tah dah - easy peasy party - hopefully this will be an annual event. I figure kids are pretty to easy to please....playground, sports, art and cold treats.

The day we headed North!

I had an errand to run for work in a little town called Nevada Iowa. It is near the fruit farm we like and Ames, home of Iowa State University, which is home of Reiman Gardens. Note - I think this day was voted "one of the best of the summer" and we didn't even go swimming :o) Berry picking isn't the best during a drought, but we got enough blackberries and blueberries to make a lovely fruit cobbler.

We asked the fruit farmer for a "unique" restaurant in Ames and he recommended Hickory Park. This place definitely had its own style and feel and we loved it.

More on Reiman Gardens later - it deserves a post of its own it was so great.

Youth Ministry

I haven't blogged much, because I was busy, got behind and then thought it would take too much brain energy to get things in order. Well - enough of order. Here is a fun picture of Matthew delivering 4577 back to school items to one of two charities in Des Moines (Children and Families of Iowa and Holy Name (inner city Catholic school)).

I love the youth ministry at our parish. It is for grades 6-12 and it is a wonderful way to get the kids involved with service, prayer and fun. Yesterday Carolyn, Matthew and I helped sort all the above mentioned items. (Carolyn was able to help because I went with her, she is going into 5th grade and is chomping at the bit to participate in youth ministry.)