Apple picking

Up the road from our house there is a small apple orchard that has hay rides, you pick apples and a few other kid activities.  The kids took apple picking very seriously this year and were determined to sample the apples until they found the very best.  After apple picking and a lot of cutting we had yummy apple crisp.

Iowa City weekend

It had been awhile since we had visited Iowa City.  It was Ellie's first Hawkeye game.  The game was a little long for the kids, but they both agreed the popcorn was great!

Brady Starts Kindergarten

Brady was a little nervous and a little excited about starting kindergarten this year.  His teacher's name is Mrs. Robertson.  He has 20 kids in his class of which 13 are boys.  Oh my!  He was pretty excited to find out he has a locker!

Last Days of Summer

Trying to squeeze in some final summer fun.  We had a blast going to a Royals game, taking a friend to a Sporting match, swimming at Schlitterbahn , the kids museum in Des Moines and more pool time.

No Training Wheels

I have decided that teaching Brady to ride his bike was perhaps intended to teach me a parenting lesson.  I wanted Brady to ride his bike without training wheels SO bad, but his interest in no training wheels was comparable to my excitement about going to the dentist.  I love to see him learn new things, want him to be good at things and tend to have high expectations.  I was encouraging Brady to ride his bike because I knew he could do it and the more I pushed the less interest and more resistance he showed.  We hadn't pushed practicing riding the bike in awhile so decided to try again.  Several of the kids in the neighborhood recently learned which I think made him a little more interested.  This time he was willing to try and I am amazed at the difference a little motivation makes in learning a new skill.  Brady picked it up quick and is so excited to be riding without training wheels.

First video is on his small bike earlier in the week.

He's now confident on his bigger bike.  Yeah Brady!

Avengers Baseball 2014

Brady had lots of fun playing baseball this summer.  I am amazed at how much the team has grown over the past couple of years going from tee ball to machine pitch this season.  We capped off the season with a fun picnic at Shawnee Mission Park.  At the picnic one of the boys little sister found a blue tailed lizard.  Ellie thought it was pretty cool until we tried to have her hold it.   Brady has about a month off and then we will start Fall baseball.