Swimming!

Megan is swimming! Liam still has a ways to go before he'll be independent in the water, but he still enjoys it (as long as the water isn't cold, that is!)

Fun Family Times In Okoboji, IA

Last week, we went to a family reunion in Okoboji, IA. The main purpose of the trip was to reunite my Grandma (who passed away in November) with my Grandpa (who passed away when I was a freshman in college). Family from all over the midwest would be attending the ceremony, so the family made a week of it. In addition to attending the service, we:

Caught our First Fish

We spent about an hour fishing "3-year-old-style." Dropping a line off the dock and watching the fish swarm around the worm. Both kids caught several of these tiny fish; sometimes they didn't even need the bait! It was great fun to see the kids so excited about catching these tiny fish. Needless to say, we threw them all back.

Hung out with cousins, new and old

Megan and Liam had a great time hanging out with their cousins, Jared, Holden, Jacob, and Lucy.

Exercised and took a few naps

While I didn't watch what I ate (AT ALL) I did manage to get in two medium length runs and do P90X twice also.

Spent some quality time with the family

Even though there were a lot of people to visit with and catch up with, we did manage to eek out a few moments for just the four of us. Treasure Village was a great place to take the kids to see a short musical version of Cinderella and a backdrop of corn is actually a really good place for a family photo.

Had a great time being a kid

I love these pictures of the two older cousins on the trampoline at Arnold's Park on the lake in Okoboji, IA. They really do capture the essence of what being a kid is all about. I had a great time in Iowa. Who would have thought that we'd spend a week there for two consecutive summers.

Oh yeah, and I remembered a few things about fitness and vacations too!

I See Dead People

The main reason for our trip to Iowa was to reunite Grandma Smith with Grandpa Smith in the family plot. On Friday the 13th, we congregated at the cemetery for a short graveside service. Liam was obsessed with the graves, dying, and what happened to Grandma Smith's bones?

While at the cemetery, we walked around and found the grave of Mac's great grandparents, William and Mabel Ketchen. I covered up the first three letters of William's name and asked Liam if he could say the rest of the letters.

He dutifully read them off,"L-I-A-M."

"Yeah! And what does that spell?" I encouraged.

Liam was quick with his answer: "Dead people."

Liam and Mamaw

Keeping Busy

So far, we have had a busy summer.

Mac took the kids to LA in early June.

Then we had 10 days at my parents centered around Western States. My sister's family and my brother were able to join us there for a family reunion 4th of July weekend.

Then my sister was here for a week for lots of cousin fun and chaos with Brooke and Luke.

Mac's sister, 3 week old baby Holden, and mom were up for four days as well.

Not to mention swim lessons, birthday parties, garden time and play dates! - Whew!

A busy life with lots to do means no spare time to blog about it, but I am hoping to catch up soon!

A New Cousin!

In mid July Auntie Kendall came up to visit with Mamaw and we got to meet three week old Cousin Holden!

Holdin' Holden

Auntie Ken was turning 31 two days after she left, so we had an early birthday celebration with a berry cobbler (putting all of our homegrown berries to good use!).

More Bogardi Fun

My sister and her kid's came up to Salem for a week in mid July. Lots of cousin fun, and LOTs of messes! Kids will be kids!

Mmmm...s'mores! But aren't you supposed to put them in your mouth and not on your face?

Megan, 5 1/2(almost!)

"I might not get a s'more, but I can still get dirty!" Luke-15 mo.

Easily entertained. Cousins and friend Kyle.

The kids all get along great, but that doesn't mean you can leave them unsupervised for very long, or this is what you may find:

These three all started in the kiddie pool, with bathing suits ON! This is what I came back to after only being gone for a few minutes. Let's call that Vitamin D therapy!

Sarah is now settled in Kentucky, which Megan points out is closer than Washington, D.C., but still not too good for frequent cousin visits. Too bad, as my yard is much more entertaining with naked pixies running around in it!