Homecoming

Andrew and Mari went to Valley High School’s homecoming dance today.

Mari
Mari, Leila, and Frankie
Claudia and Andrew
Andrew’s Group, including a lot of his friends and cross country runners
Group Selfie

August 2021

  • Working on the deck railing
  • Bike ride for Rob’s birthday
  • Patio planning
  • Andrew Senior Pictures
  • Andrew Senior Pictures
  • Senior Picture Moms
  • Ian and Andrew
  • Night Swimming
  • Coloring at Elsie’s
  • Mari and Hope
  • Ice Cream
  • Crushed rock for the patio
  • Mini Golf
  • Triathlon
  • Susan and Rob in the pool
  • State Fair
  • Working on the patio
  • Lemonade Stand
  • XC Campout
  • XC Camput
  • Elliot first day of school (9)
  • Mari first day of school (10)
  • Andrew first day of school (12)
  • Lucia and Rose first day of school (3,1)
  • At the bus stop
  • They got on the wrong bus the first day of school, and went to the wrong school
  • Andrew at first XC meet
  • Elliot at first XC meet

The rest of May

I have been woefully behind on the blog. I decided that to catch up I would just do a few posts that cover entire months. Here comes May. . .

Filling the pool with a sand foundation.
Spreading the sand
Susan, Mary, and Erin
Working on the liner
Working on the liner
Ian was the first one in the pool
Rose, Ian, and Lucia
Hope and Mari reffing
Going away party for our neighbor Vi
Generic pool shot
Lucia playing socer
Lucia’s Soccer Team
Rose’s Soccer Team
Elliot after band concert
Dew Tour
Rob Axe Throwing with Friends
Susan and Rob on anniversary date

3 Car Family

Feeling the pinch with all the kids’ activities ramping up this spring, we decided it is time to invest in a third car. Andrew is paying for part of it and he will be the primary driver.

On the lot
Andrew driving

Birthday Party

Today we celebrated Andrew and Lucia’s birthdays! Mimi, Papa, and the Reagens came over for walking tacos, with optional skyline taco meat, presents, and cake. With the nice weather we are still hosting outside when possible.

Birthday cakes, which were delicious. It was a bit windy outside so Andrew and Lucia were stationed just inside the house.
Andrew and Lucia’s view
The guests of honor

Happy Birthday, Andrew!

Picture from the future. . .

The party is planned for tomorrow, but today we had a simple celebration for Andrew’s birthday. Susan bought some cupcakes for us to enjoy for a light dessert before heading to Pumpkinville.

Let’s see. . . Andrew at 17. . .

  • Sleeps as late as possible, which is not usually very late because he usually has to get up for school or cross country. On Sundays he will sleep until 11.
  • Eats normal things.
  • Runs cross country.
  • Wants to work at Target when the cross country season is over.
  • Refs soccer.
  • Is doing online school this semester, which has him in front of the computer most of the day.
  • Has more homework than ever.
  • Is starting to think about where to go to college.
  • Usually goes to bed between 11 and midnight, unless he can sleep in the next day, in which case he will stay up until 1 or 2.

Favorite song:  none
Favorite color: Orange
Favorite food:  Chicken Nuggets
Favorite band:  none
Favorite book: none
Favorite sport: XC
Favorite movie: none
Favorite Subject: Computer Science

Pumpkinville

It is not very often that I post without pictures, but tonight we went to a pumpkin patch and corn maze in Mitchellville, just outside of Des Moines, and had a great time. We are celebrating Andrew’s birthday tomorrow night and we were looking for something to do on his actual birthday. The Reagens recommended the corn maze and we all met up just before the entrance closed at 8. We spent a little over an hour in the maze before sitting around a fire until a little after 10. When our cars were the last ones in the lot we felt it was probably time to leave. The funniest thing is that the boys group, Andrew, Ian, Cameron, and Elliot, spent a long time doing the corn maze blindfolded. It was a challenge under normal conditions and I am not sure how they did it.

Oh, and Happy Birthday, Andrew! More to come on that. . .