Anniversary

 

Sunday the 29th was our 6 year wedding anniversary.

As with most major events and holidays that have happened this year, we just didn't really feel like celebrating. Things like that are hard when this is not really how you want your life to be and your whole family is not here to help you be happy. 

We have an annual tradition of thinking ahead to the future on our anniversaries but this year I think we are pretty content where we are. Getting through the days and weeks is hard enough....we'll get the years when they come to us.

To spentd thee all had a nice long afternoon nap and then Scott suggested we head down to Indianola to watch the balloons take off at the balloon rally. It was actually really perfect. We got there just in time to grab a quick dinner and then watch all the balloons launch.

 

 Michael had a great time. He liked how the air balloons went "up, up, up" and he called them "bayoons"...the Swedish version of balloon? It was a really fun evening.

Our weekend

This past week was RAGBRAI week, so I did my annual tradition of traipsing around the state to random places. Actually Scott only rode two days this year so it was pretty easy. I dropped him off in Cedar Rapids on Thursday night and then headed to his parents house for the night. I got to spend a few days with my niece and nephew and we did a little sightseeing along the way, too. 

We got up early on Friday morning and headed up to Cedar Rapids. Our first stop was at the Czech Cemetery where we visited Scott's grandparents' new marker. They were cremated and had their ashes spread, but I think it is still nice to have a place to visit. There are a few little family plots around and it was fun to hear the stories about all of them.

 

Our next stop was the Czech Village where we got delicious sandwiches (mine was on rye-yum!) at Sykora's Bakery. We also got a huge pile of kolaches to take home for breakfast the next morning...yummy. I think the folks at the bakery were still recovering from the two block long line out their door they had that morning from all the RAGBRAI riders! Scott texted me a picture of the kolaches he had that morning on the ride...I think he ended up with four of them! I'll have to share his pictures for instafriday this week. 

The cousins had a great time together and it is so much fun to see them with each other. Michael got into a bit of trouble because when he is around older kids sometimes he forgets that he is just a little guy and needs to listen to mommy but I'm sure these are growing pains any parent has. He just wants to be so independent but it is just not safe for him at times. 

  

We really wanted to visit the Czech museum but Michael was being way too wild and we couldn't fit the stroller in the car with all the bike gear so we decided to meet up with the bikers in Anamosa. It was a quick drive from Cedar Rapids and BEAUTIFUL scenery-- Grant Wood knew what he was doing when he painted the beauty of our state.

Anamosa wasn't too crazy and we found them right away. It is so fun to see all the bike and sag wagons rolling into town. It *almost* makes me want to ride next year....almost.

 
On Saturday I got to leave Michael with his grandma and I headed down to Keokuk for my friend Kelly's baby shower. It was so much fun and I had a great time- especially being able to catch up on hours worth of old Fresh Air podcasts. Kelly is due in September and I could not be happier for her. A new baby is just the best, best, best thing in the whole world.

 

I guess that is my weekend in a nutshell....happy Monday! :o)

Instafriday

Playing at Jester Park   |   Car time 

Story time fun!   |   More story time with BFF Grace

Testing beers at Boone Valley Breweing Co.   |    They are good!

Home made mojitos with mint from the garden for friends weekend  |    zumba time!

Early morning water    |   ready to visit the mosque as part of my Bosnian studies class

Field trip on a school bus...took it to all Bosnian places in DSM    |    I love mums! (for the wedding rehearsal)

Getting ready for the big wedding day!   |    So cute!!

Pretty Hydrangeas outside the Y   |   Double the cuteness!!

Ordinary Days

We are trying to have some ordinary days around here to get back into our routine. I finally went into school to do a few things and meet with my new administration and now it feels like things are really happening too fast. I don't want summer to be over yet, even though I know deep down that there is still really plenty of summer for us. Maybe I will make a bucket list of things we still need to accomplish?

Michael said he wanted pancakes for lunch. So I said, "okay!". We had just enough mix to make four little pancakes- two for today and two for tomorrow. I think its okay to have pancakes for lunch every now and then, right? I had zucchini, because it is coming out of my ears!! Good think I like it because this all zucchini diet is really working wonders. Kidding on that one. :o) 

I wish I could just soak these days up like a sponge or put them in a jar and seal them up forever. I know they are fleeting and that is the hardest part.

Babies and Boats

We got a special treat last night of having a very special baby (and her parents, of course) come join us for our weekly boat ride! Isn't she just as cute as can be?

Heading out to the water was a great way to beat the heat and it felt nice to not get too chilly cruising back into the dock at 9pm. Michael is such a big guy on the boat these days and we are so proud of him. After each run he would shout, "Good job, mom!" or "Jump big, mom!"...it was so cute to have a cheerleader on board. I did not jump big through, by the way---holding on to the handle is about all I can do. 

Baby Sophia did a great job on the boat too and was very content just to snooze the evening away. Thanks for coming out with us, guys! 

John & Meredith part 2

I just had to do one more post of photos from our big wedding weekend. These are the "outtakes" from the rehearsal and other weekend fun things. We just had the best time. 

 

 

How sweet are these? We met before the rehearsal to do some informal family portraits even though it was a bazillion degrees out. I just think the two kids are so cute!! 

I also had to include some of the actual rehearsal with the bride. I have a picture of me from my wedding where I look really similar and remember that I was about ready to burst into tears at any moment- it is so nerve wracking for the bride! (although Meredith was wonderful!)

 

 

My parents came to my house the day before the rehearsal so we could get things in order. My mom made all these sweet little mason jar vases with wire frogs inside so we could arrange flowers easily in them. I thought they turned out so cute! We ordered sturdy white and yellow mums from HyVee and then supplemented with yellow zinnias, black eyed susans, and Queen Anne's lace from my yard. They really perked the rehearsal dinner space up! 

The rehearsal dinner was held at the Junction in Delta and I had a great time. It was a nice big room with very friendly help who encouraged us to eat more from the buffet... my type of place!!

 

We had a few hours Saturday morning to goof off and try and wear Michael out so he could take a nap before the wedding so we hit up the local park. We had a blast and it was nice to spend time as a whole family playing. I so often forget that going to the park with Michael is something we do together most days but a treat for Scott. 

I was so lucky to get to have my aunt Karen come visit my home on Friday before we left for the wedding festivities. She is battling cancer and is a very strong woman and I am so proud of her. She looked really beautiful and of course took the requisite portrait with my kitty. I'm so glad we got to spend some time together.

It was such a good weekend overall of seeing family and friends and I have lots of happy memories. It was so lovely.