Yes ... I'm alive!!

Wow.... I know I've been neglecting the blog BIG TIME!! I've been called out on it by several people, so I figure it's time to do a quick update. It's not for lack of things to blog about, but we've been super busy, and with Katherine and Caleb not napping, my time to surf the net and blog is well ..... non-existent. However, with all that being said, I promise to do better!! So here's to regular blogging again! LOL.

** It's been crazy hot here the past few days. Since Andrew can't spend long periods of time outside and the other two love to swim, I bought this super cool water slide for the backyard. I ordered it around midnight last night, and it shipped out this morning. Oh man.... I can't wait to get this thing!! I think the kiddos are going to LOVE it. Here's to hoping it arrives before the pool party we're having for Rick and Danyel next Tuesday night!

** Andrew has been super close to crawling, but all of a sudden today, he took off. He's officially mobile, and it's so fun to watch him begin to explore his world. He's so adorable -- shuffling his little knees across the floor with his tongue sticking out and determination in his eyes. He's all about getting his hands on anything and everything in sight. Caleb had better watch out, because if Andrew can get anywhere near the train table, the tracks are his!!

** This past weekend we went back to LeMars and had a super fun time. My parents brought the kettle corn stuff up to Ice Cream Days and Isaac & Elizabeth also came and stayed and Matt's parents house with us. Isaac hasn't been back in 8 years (with the exception of 1 day) so it was quite the trip down memory lane. Isaac, Elizabeth and I drove around town and saw all the sights ..... I'm not sure if I told him, but that time was incredible. We spent a good amount of time driving around town, and reminiscing about old times -- some of which I had forgotten about. For example, I can't believe I had forgotten about the car accident in our front lawn!

** The parade in LeMars is unlike any we have in Des Moines. It seems like all the parades in Des Moines are nothing more than a ginormous rolling billboard -- insurance salesmen, cable companies, dance studios and politicians. The ice cream days parade was AMAZING!! Oh man... it had everything -- bands (there's a novel idea, huh??), unicyclists -- one of which was juggling, actual floats, even a man herding dressed-up geese. Don't ask. There are no words. Literally none. Elizabeth took a few pictures and as soon as she sends them to me, I'll post them. I couldn't believe it!!

** I have tons of pictures to upload and edit. Isaac graduated on 6/5 which was also Katherine's last day of school. I'll post them soon!!

I have so much more to blog about, but right now, I need to sleep! Katherine and Caleb are spending the night with Grammy and Pop-pops and I need to pick them up fairly early tomorrow -- it's off to the Science Center for a play date. We've gotta stay out of this heat!!