Des Moines Arts Festival

Here are some pics of the Masterpieces created by Avery at the Des Moines Arts Festival 2008. She is so creative! I know these are priceless, at least to me :)

Ankeny Splash Park

Yesterday was our first trip to the Ankeny Splash Park this summer, and they have a new, awful, fire hose sprayer. Look at the delight on Avery's face when she saw it. Kids were spraying everyone with it and it sprays right near the baby area. Real smart, Ankeny Park & Rec. Lyla loves water, but was a little annoyed when some dared to spray near her face!

Baby Surgery

Lyla had her eye surgery to open her tear ducts today and everything went great! She was getting pretty hungry since she couldn't eat after midnight and her surgery wasn't until 9 AM. Seeing her waking up from the anesthesia was sad. She had blood coming from her little eyes and nose and she was so disoriented, and hungry. My poor little thing. But how adorable is she in the hospital issued surgery jammies and socks?

Fun at Ashby Park

Today Ashley, Carrie, Katie, Erin, and I took all the kids to Ashby Park wading pool. Keaton and Lyla were the only ones who could sit still long enough for pictures! They're not quite as mobile :) The big kids were having such a blast splashing, spraying, and "swimming" in the cold water!
Lyla & Keaton
Bikini baby!

Summer Fun!

Avery, Lyla and Kate playing in the splash pool out on our deck.

Des Moines Flood 2008

We are experiencing incredible flooding throughout Iowa and they just evacuated downtown Des Moines. Luckily we're in a North suburb and not near the river so we're safe. I took the girls downtown yesterday so Avery could see the river. She now understands what all the grown ups are talking about when we talk about the flood. The 5 bridges have been closed for days, and the water is almost over them now. The pics may not look like much unless you live here and know what these places usually look like, but I assure you it's a bad scene downtown.

Simon Estes Amphitheater & Bridge at typical river level


Simon Estes Amphitheater yesterday



Court Avenue Bridge yesterday. Typically you see boats passing under these archways and today I saw on the news that they are completely under water.

Our new babies!

We have 4 baby robins under our deck and they're so ugly that they're cute. They just hatched over the weekend and Avery has named them Baby Lyla, Avery, Chirpy Boy and Nick Jr. !

Dancing Queen

Avery's doing a summer dance program through the Park District and boy does she have some moves! The first class did not go well, she was the wildest one of the group, but this week was so much better! It's so cute to watch her learn that there is more to dancing than shaking her bootie, which she does quite well :)

Family Fun Night

Last night we went to Family fun night at Jordan Creek Town Center. Avery had a blast on the slide and bounce house and she even got to "fly" the Mercy One helicopter! She also got her face painted like a green kitty ~ Meeeow!
Mercy One Pilot
Green Kitty
Wheeee!

CRAZY CHICAGO WEEKEND!

I was lucky enough to get another weekend trip all to myself! Brian took the whole weekend off and got some real Daddy time with the girls and I had an amazing time with my friends in Chicago. Friday night at the Goose Island Pub, Saturday boating and a bachelorette party! One of the best Girls' Weekends ever.

Stacia & I at Goose Island

The Boating Babes & Captain John

Lake Michigan Ladies

Me & The Bachelorette, Kristi

Bachelorette Bash at Martini Park