I'm Dripping Wet All the Time...

I think for the first time in my life I am ready for fall! I am a summer LOVER, so this is unheard of for me; however, as I walk around stores and see the backpack and fresh spiral notebooks waiting to be used and I get SO excited for Maddix to start school. I know he is going to LOVE it, and I can't wait to have him tell me about his adventures; the only problem is just how much I'll miss him each day! 

Travis has very much loved this first rotation. He started with an Orthopedic rotation with nice 8am-5pm type hours, every other weekend off, and we're so sad to kiss those goodbye! He's a bit nervous to start IM next because he doesn't look forward to feeling like a fool:) Plus his hours jump to 6am-6pm (which is more like 7pm), six days a week; wish him luck. He's been able to play ball with the guys in the ward each Thursday, loves reading to the boys each night, and yesterday was sustained as the second counselor in the Elders Quorum. The Stake President who gave the blessing came to me after church and expressed what a special blessing he felt that was, and what an incredible person he senses Travis to be. He told me I picked very well and I should be very proud of the person my husband is and is becoming... things I knew, but his words touched my heart because they are so true! 

Lacey is up and down each day with loving our routine, and then wishing we had a few more things to do. I've downloaded a super cool app on my phone that helps you eat healthy and balanced meals, while I've also been working out at the gym Mon-Fri from 5:45am-7:00, and I'm so sad I've only got one more week of doing that. Since I can't go in the mornings, and because I was touched by a lesson at church, I've decided to do a better scripture study with a journal to write down my impressions from that study in hopes to better understand the scriptures. 

Maddix has hit that point you wait for your kids reach! Some mornings he wakes up and automatically does his chores, gets Aaron dressed, and then makes breakfast all before he even comes to my room to see if I'm awake. He has been saying incredibly cute prayers like "... bless all men, and kind..." and "... bless all missionaries that were stuck inside that bomb that they'll be healed and their legs will grow back." He has loved making new friends, participating in swim lessons, completed the reading challenge at the library, and loves end of night movie time where the boys snuggle in a blanket, split a snack, and watch a movie on my bed. 

Aaron is a little spitfire. He is such a different child than Maddix was. His eyes are so expressive and his voice is so squirrly! He makes us laugh each day with his funny personality and has earned his nick name, "little goof." He LOVED swim lessons and bonded with his teacher. Rides his bike very well to keep up with Maddix. And not to jinx it, but he is pretty much potty trained! He is currently making breakfast (oatmeal) and keeps saying, "I do it by myself mom, I'm big like buddy." :) 

With all our time outside lately, you'd think we'd be nice and tan! But here the sun doesn't seem to tan.. it just seems to boil the water in the air so you walk around like you're in a sauna all day. I kid you not that we just drip and have to change outfits twice a day because we are soaked. So instead of getting nice and tan this summer, we're just boiling and breaking out in acne from sweating so much! Safe to say Iowa might not see us at our finest! Hopefully we'll adjust! 

1st day of swim lessons ever for Aaron

Birthday Party for our friend, Jace

summer school activities

 Marbles

Lost at sea

Tub volcanoes after reading a book about volcanoes

Brother movie time

 Our River trail

camping and smores

 Ward Pioneer Day Party

 Visit to Rochester to stay with Vance and Alison

"We got the two cuter ones; we
hustled you!" 

"Yeah? Watch what I'll
teach your child, "Hi mr. crab!"

Stocked up for another month! 

 SOOoo tired from our quick little trip and staying up past midnight! 

 We rented Zootopia and ate themed food for a fun night together

The 4th, A-a-Ron's bday, Magicians, Fossil Digging, etc

My heart still feels achy for the ability to be back in New York; however, the Lord couldn't have thrown us a larger bone than he did by putting us in our current ward. We've made instant friends (including the boys), sincere members who want to do anything to help us out, and we've already been extending some callings... later on those :) 

Summers here are fun. The weather is temperate and humid (but I enjoy humidity). It typically rains and thunders at nights and leaves the days and nice and sunny. There's plenty of rolling clouds over the plains, and of course, endless corn fields as far as the eyes can see. And of course there are hidden gems all over the place. For instance, this week we stumbled upon a fossil Dig/Old Kiln/Log Cabin attraction just 20 mins from our house. It was so peaceful that as great as our week was, it became the highlight. we ate lunch in the field, dug for crustacean fossils, hiked, explored an old brick and tile factory, and visited the Winnebago River. 

Earlier in the week we had the opportunity to celebrate the 4th at a friends house with tons of other kids for the boys to play with. They caught lightening bugs, cooked smores, had a bubble and sparkler station, and then we watched the fireworks at the end of night. On the actual 4th we attended the parade in Clear Lake,barbecued in our own home and used or nets to catch more fire flies. 

The very next day we were lucky enough to have friends come over and celebrate Aaron's 3rd birthday with us; they swam and played out front, and then shared some Thomas the Train cupcakes. That night we also had a barbecue at the park with Trav's fellow residents in the program. 

On Thursday we went with our friends to the library, where we saw a Magician perform for all the kids; I loved watching Maddix laugh giant belly laughs. Aaron lost interest 1/2 way through... oh child. Afterward we played in the kids reading area and checked out a TON of books; Maddix has spend hours with his Where's Waldo book we found. The reading program ends next Friday and to accomplish the whole sheet you have to earn 50 stickers (you get one for everything 15mins you read). We came late and figured Maddix wouldn't make it all the way, but it would just be fun anyway... WELL he only needs 3 more stickers to finish!

Friday we were invited to East Park, a place where an Old train is stationed (one that used to deliver orphans from NY to Iowa back during the great depression). The boys love this park. We played on the sets and eventually decided to go feed the deer a short walk away. Along this adventure we also stumbled on a flock of geese walking in a straight line that chased us for food. And we found a stranded baby snapping turtle and saved his life. It was such a fun time! 

Last night we had a farewell party for one of our friends that took us to the Fox's home for pizza, treats, a movie for the kids/games for the adults, and just a nice night amongst friends:)

Today is rainy and consists of snuggling while watching Swiss Family Robinson and baking blueberry/banana bread and having soup for dinner. I love these lazy days. 

 (oh, also I've been to the gym each morning this week and on one of the mornings, I was minding my own business when in the blink of an eye something darted into the road and thumped under my car several times..... I looked in the mirror to see a baby deer laying in the road!!!! Oh my heavens, I felt horrible!!)

late night tears

Little Fossils everywhere

Old Kiln area