Air Show

On a warm summer morning, grab your some of your best friends, hit farmers market for goodies and head to the air show for some fun and an amazing day, as you do. 

Parker did amazingly well with the planes and the noise. SO EXCITED!!! (And thankful for Sydney, his kindred spirit who spent most of the hanging with him). However, he did have a major meltdown at the F22 flew overhead as we walked to our car to leave. It was the longest walk. He even went to far as to yell at a 20-something year old airman who was helping us cross the street about letting such loud planes be there when he was and he needed to tell them not to do that again. Thankfully, we made it home in once piece and did not end up in jail on base. 98% win for the day...I'll take it. 

The 4th That Was

It was a great 4th...with parades, zoo time, dinner eaten outside on a nice patio (as you do) and some time at the lake. 

How do you know you live in Iowa and you've gone to a small town for a parade???...horses, tractors and you get popsicles thrown at you to cool off. And it was great. 

She's the only one that would let me take their picture with the statues at the zoo. He was to distracted holding on for dear life on the carousel to notice the picture. 

At the lake to wrap up the weekend. It was hot and sunny and the boat watching was pretty good. Payton is turning all golden from being outside. I started calling her my little baked potato which she isn't too sure about yet. 

Parker spent time digging in the sand but also he went into the water. Let me repeat...Parker went into the water. In. Up to his armpits. In water. (Victory!)

He was also overheard saying after a boy made a comment about his g-button "he doesn't know it's hard for me sometimes and I have to practice". (Victory!)

And for a minute, right before he had a meltdown, he did good. (You can't win them all)

Summer Nights

When everything is just as it should be on a summer night, it makes you happy and makes you feel like everything is just right. A warm summer night at a summer picnic with our friends from respite care - playing on a playground, running through the splash pad, eating, laughing, playing baseball, chasing beach balls - all worked perfectly to do this. And throwing in some cotton candy and snow cones always helps.

***Disclaimer*** Not every moment of the evening was wonderful...like the major meltdown Parker had that spiraled for a good chunk of the evening. But I refuse to let that ruin what was so close to being a perfect evening out surrounded by people that feel like home. #somedaysarejusthard

Summer swing

It is officially summer, and the twins are busy in it!

Playing in the park by the "big fountain" 

 Hanging by their new water table (the other one finally broke!)

Cutting up melon (they're just butter knives, I promise)

Lived through more than a couple big thunderstorms and spent some time in the basement

 Watched the deer that hang out in the yard

 Been to the summer arts festival and got faces painted

Helped at the dog wash...

...and stopped for a donut break

got our official pictures taken for Blastball - there's only one game left!

and even had a day at the beach for a little R&R

Hope the summer is off to a good start everywhere else too! More to come - follow-up from Parker's last procedure, our last Blastball game and a special picnic.