The Lieslands

simply livin' it up

Neighborhood Kids

Colorado Getaway

After dropping Andrew off at college, Susan and I got to spend a couple of days in Colorado. We moved to Idaho Springs and hike to St. Mary’s Glacier on Thursday and then Mt. Flora on Friday.

At St. Mary’s Glacier
The view from Mt. Flora.

Taking Andrew to College

Today we (just Susan and I!) took Andrew to college! He will be attending Regis University in Denver. We left Des Moines yesterday around lunch time. It was a rough, emotional departure because the Reagen kids and our kids were all present to say goodbye. There were many tears and rumor has it that after we left everyone just sat in the living room for a while. We have had a great run here in Des Moines, raising our kids with the Reagens, and with Andrew and Ian headed to college it feels like a seismic shift.

Yesterday we drove to Denver and today we were up early for a hike and then took Andrew to get moved in. We got him settled into his room, met his roommate, and then said our goodbyes. He was really excited to start getting settled in on his own. That is about right.

Before move-in we went for a hike at Red Rocks Amphitheater
On a hike
Getting moved in!
When Andrew was little if Susan and I were ever sitting next to each other Andrew would always come in between us.

Susan and Reggie
Andrew and his roommate

Late Summer Happenings

Lucia’s first time going off the diving board.
Susan and Shelly in Shelly’s classic car.
We went to a Des Moines Menace playoff game. They lost on PKs.
We went to a car show.
We decorated the sidewalk.
We went for a walk along the Des Moines river while Mari was at soccer tryouts.
Making bracelets was a popular activity this summer.
I was a referee at Keeper Wars, a goalie competition.
The kids made our foam float into a slide for the pool.
The girls played in the creek on a walk with Susan.
We got a cool volleyball net for the pool.
We went for a hike at Greenwood Park.
Rose, Lucia, and I went to the state fair.
Andrew and Susan went to Eatery A for a final meal. College departure is close.
Boy Cousins. They had a final weekend together, spending the night and doing some fun activities.
Mari’s soccer season started, with a new club. She is in the white.
We got a new couch.
8/16 – We had the Liesses and Reagens over for one last dinner before Andrew and Ian head off to college.

Motion Sickness Glasses

I got these awesome glasses to help with my motion sickness.

Cincinnati Day 2

Today we went swimming again at Holly’s pool and then went to a very hot Reds game at night for Fireworks Friday.

Susan and Rachel
Rose, Leah, and Lucia
Holly, Des, and Alex
Rob, Susan, and I guess Jill
It was hot.

Cincinnati, Day 1

Yesterday we drove from St. Augustine to Cincinnati. Not much to say about the trip, except I had motion sickness and we had to stop in a Walmart parking lot in Knoxville, Tennessee, so I could rest for a bit and we could get some medicine.

Rose going off the diving board at Holly’s pool.

St. Augustine Day 5

Mari Surfing
Lucia, Andrew, and Rose
Us
Lucia, Rose, and our sand castle

St. Augustine Day 4

Pickleball Spectators
Us
Cousins
Susan, Erin, and Mary
out for dinner

St. Augustine Day 3

Water Aerobics
Hope and Mari
Spikeball
Rob and Lucia and Dole Whip
Mari, Hope, and Jana at the ice cream parlor in St. Augustine
Andrew, Ian, and Cam
Mari, Hope, and Susan
Walking the streets of St. Augustine

St. Augustine Day 2

Susan, Mary, Judith, and Erin
Rose running into the ocean.
Lucia Boogie Boarding
It must have been cold for a second.
Jana, Mari, Hope, Rose, and Lucia

St. Augustine Day 1

Susan
Andrew
Heading into the waves
Lounging
Andrew surfing
Pool time