July 2021

  • Gray’s Lake
  • Lucia getting her ears pierce
  • Working on the deck
  • Clive Festival
  • Deck Stairs
  • Giant Waterslide
  • Giant Waterslide
  • Our pool is not the right color
  • Garden Vegetables
  • Fireworks at the Anhalt’s
  • Worlds of Fun
  • Froghopper
  • Dance Party
  • Mary, Mari, and Luke went on the giant swing.

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

Lucia’s 8th Birthday

Today is Lucia’s 8th birthday! We had the party earlier this week so today was fairly low-key. Lucia did wake up to some lovely yard decorations, which was fun. She also went to the zoo with Erin yesterday, as part of her birthday present.

Lucia at 8 is a lovely, smiley girl who loves to spend time with just about anyone. She is very social and gets along well and can carry on a conversation with anyone in our family and neighborhood. She and Rose are the best of friends and spend nearly 24 hours together every day – and have a blast. Also of note is that Lucia loves to spend time with our neighbor, Elsie. She is Lucia’s best friend outside of our house. Their relationship has been curtailed of late, because of the coronavirus, but they still like to spend time together when and as possible.

Lucia’s day usually begins around 8, I think when Rose wakes her up. They share a bedroom and stay on the same schedule. Lucia likes to eat waffles or a bagel for breakfast before doing a little school work. She is in second grade this year and was going to go to school, but because of the pandemic she and Rose are homeschooling another year. This year in school we are basically just covering language arts and math, with some other lessons added more recreationally. Lucia is making good progress and reading and does well at math, though she doesn’t always like it.

For lunch she likes mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, and pizza rolls (smart girl). She still prefers the basic foods but is starting to he more adventurous. She also has a milk allergy and rarely consumes straight cows milk or large amounts of ice cream.

She loves activities, including dance, tumbling, and soccer (probably in that order). She has been doing dance online this year and is taking a break from soccer, but has already made us promise she can play next year.

Every day for Lucia ends with reading, playing with Rose, and lights out between 9 and 10.

Favorite song: Moral of the Story
Favorite color: Teal
Favorite food: Walking tacos
Favorite band: Justin Bieber
Favorite book: Kaya
Favorite activity: Dance 
Favorite movie: Moana
Favorite subject: Science

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

Colorado Trip

My uncle Tom, who lives in Colorado Springs, has not been doing well. His mental and physical health have been declining and I had the opportunity to go visit with him for a few days at the end of last week. Susan stayed home on kid duty and I spent my days visiting with Tom, making time for a hike each day.

Susan playing at the creek with the kids.
Lucia chasing after Elliot.
I camped in Colorado. It felt like our RV trip to pull into the campground after dark and have to find my spot.
The view from my office. I worked on Eastern Time, so I had a couple of hours each day to get some work done before heading in to visit with Tom. I was fortunate that the weather was still warm.
My first good view of the mountains.
Uncle Tom, resting
Tom liked to hold hands and one of my primary responsibilities when I was there was to make sure I was available for that.
Meanwhile, life went on at home and Susan had to get all of the kids to their activities. here, Andrew is running in a XC meet , maybe at Southeast Polk.
My first hike in Colorado Springs was to Garden of the Gods. I tried to stay pretty close to town.
Susan also had to get up early with Oreo, who insists on waking us just a little earlier than we would like.
During this time, Mari also submitted her application to work at Coldstone Creamery. With soccer and XC winding down she will have more free time, and she is saving up for a new phone.
Soccer fans.
Red Rock Open Space in the foreground, with Garden of the Gods in the background.
Susan and the kids enjoying a fire.

Mountain Biking

No soccer games today, so Elliot and I took Lucia out for her first mountain biking. She was a little nervous, but had fun and said she wants to go again.

I forgot to get a picture on the trail, so this closing shot will have to do.

Lucia’s Dance Recital

Lucia took dance this past winter and spring, with everything online during the spring. There was no dance recital, so this evening the Reagens and the Liesses came over for her solo recital. Rose also got in on the action, as well as Mari and Hope, who requested that their video not be added to the blog.