Dance Camp

Last week Ruby got to attend the Once Upon A Time Princess Dance Camp at Nolte Dance Academy with her friend, Clara.  The girls had a wonderful time and it was a great introduction to being away from mom (as preschool starts in about 6 weeks!).  It was two and a half hours Monday through Friday so that also gave me and Jace some quality bonding time as well.  This was Ruby's first dance experience but she's ready for more so we might have to look into that!

Day One: Elsa 

Day Two: Alice in Wonderland

Day Three: Angelina Ballerina

Day Four: Jasmine

 Day Five: Tinkerbell

Jace wasn't the most patient audience member but he survived ;)  

July 4th

I love the 4th of July!  And this year we had a great one!  Ruby and I started off the holiday by making a strawberry pie.

Paul had to work for part of the day but the kids and I, along with Papa and Grandma and several families from our church, attended the Coralville parade.  I had never been to this parade before and it was quite something!  People set up tents along some of the busiest roads on the parade route.  It looked like how the roads look when people tailgate for Iowa football!  The parade also lasted for an hour and a half!  Ruby has always loved parades.  This was Jace's first parade (outside of his sitting in his carseat anyway!) and oh. my. goodness.  He LOVED it!  Maybe even a tad more than his sissy which is really saying something!  He sat on the curb the entire hour and a half, which is also really saying something! It was a gorgeous day but we were sitting directly in the sun, so I reapplied the sunscreen three times!  Some highlights for Jace were seeing all the tractors and trucks and of course seeing Herky, the parade marshall!  

We then headed to Williamsburg were Jace got a much needed and well deserved nap!  And then we woke him up for parade #2!  Needless to say, the kids have enough candy to last a while!  

I can't get enough of these cuties ;)

We let the kids do some sparklers that evening at Papa and Grandma's house.  A little nerve-wracking ;)

 Paul met us in Williamsburg for supper, sparklers, and fireworks!

 Waiting for fireworks.  

 Around 9:00 Jace got pretty tired and just sat on Paul's lap... which is a rarity!  But he stayed awake and once the fireworks started, he was in awe.  He couldn't take his eyes off of them!  

The whole day must have really worn him out.  He fell asleep the instant we got on the road for home and I WOKE him up the next day at 11:20 AM!  Crazy boy!  

Indiana weekend

Last weekend, my good friend Jenny got married in Goshen, Indiana.  Jenny and I taught together at Lone Tree for four years.  We also coached cross country together.  We carpooled several days of each school year and spent a LOT of time together.  Paul and I were able to make the trip to Indiana to see her marry her best friend.  It was a beautiful wedding and she looked stunning!  

It was also wonderful to meet up with several of my other Lone Tree teacher friends! 

Meghan and I taught fourth grade together for two years.  

The Lone Tree crew ;)

Meanwhile...my parents stayed with Ruby and Jace!  The kids had a wonderful time with Grandpa Bill and Grandma LaDonn, and I'm pretty sure they were spoiled rotten.  ;)

They went to the Farmer's Market and got cinnamon rolls.  

And Ruby got a new dress.  

Ruby and Jace were very excited to show Grandpa and Grandma some Herky statues!

 Hugs for Grandma ;)

Thanks you mom and dad for staying with our kids!  

New Life Community Church

When we decided to move back to the Coralville/Iowa City area, I was sad to leave our church in Sioux Falls.  Community Reformed and Pastor Clyde are absolutely incredible and I worried we wouldn't find another church to fit our family.  We started attending New Life Community Church on a regular basis after trying out a handful of other churches.  We had actually been to New Life several times in the past as we have had lots of friends attend this church, as well as Jon and Stef.  It is a small church but very diverse and rich in community.  We joined an amazing small group who graciously included us and our children.  We love our new church and are so thankful we found such a good one!  

We became members in March.  

A couple weeks ago our church held Vacation Bible School.  I was able to help out mostly in the 5th/6th grade classroom as well as in the kitchen and 3rd/4th grade class.  I was super impressed by how amazing the week went!  The directors and organizers did a wonderful job and I'm pretty sure all 100 kids had a great week!  Ruby was part of the nursery group and had a blast as they got to do most of what the older kids got to do.  Jace spent two days with the nursery crew and then two days home with dad. 

Crazy hair day at VBS.  It's hard to tell, but Ruby has a mini mohawk.  :)

VBS concluded with a Friday night picnic at S.T. Morrison Park for all the families.