Over the weekend...

We've had beautiful weather for the past several days and have been able to enjoy much of it outside!  The past week has involved a lot of activities.  Gracie and I did some back to school shopping, which she got bored with very quickly.  However, she did enjoy having all the attention on her.  Saturday was unseasonably cool and we went to the Christiansen Forest Reserve just outside of Huxley to do some hiking.  The kids found acorns, walnuts, berries, and lots of other neat things in nature.  They did really well and didn't even notice that we were out there hiking for over an hour and a half!
 
On Friday night, we went to get some used mats from ISU and Nick gave us a tour of the new football facility.  It's pretty awesome, but I think the kids just liked getting to run around a little bit.  We saw Coach Rhoads, the locker rooms, training rooms, weight room, and practice field.  Thanks Nick!
 
 
Gracie, Owen, and Sarah inside the ISU Bergstrom Football Complex
 
On Sunday, Gracie had a birthday party to go to and then we visited Nick's mom.  The weather was so nice that the kids got to go for a ride on the horses.  They were pretty excited and didn't want to stop.  They love to help Grandma and Dad in the barn and give the horses treats.  It was great to be down there and a perfect day!


Owen, Nick, and Gracie on Thunder
 

Owen riding by himself. "HO!" he says...very assertively
 

Nick leading Charm with Gracie riding by herself
 

Owen on Charm
 

Grandma Deb leading Gracie on Charm
 

Gracie found Tom and Rowdy to play with
 
When we finally left Sunday night, we were about half way home, thinking the kids were asleep.  Owen says, out of the blue, "Uh-oh!  Mom, Dad!  We forgot to bring the horses back with us!"  He was very sad that we had to leave them there.  Hopefully soon Owen.
 
We have a busy week ahead of us.  I am wrapping up summer school this week with my students and then I leave on Friday for Dallas for my second residency for my master's program.  It will be a full six days of face-to-face counseling. We're also trying to get Gracie and Owen to start going to bed earlier again, but it's hard when the weather is so nice.  We want to enjoy every bit of it.  I have a feeling the first week of school (in less than 3 weeks) will be rough for all of us.
 
When I get a chance, I'll post some more pictures of our recent activities.  We went to the Ledges State Park again, and we've been back to Grandma Jeanne's to visit and swim.  Owen has learned to ride his bike without training wheels, although he can't get going by himself yet.  I'm just impressed that he can keep going and stay balanced all by himself.  Gracie went to an I-Cubs game last week.  We went to a bridal shower for Nick's brother's fiance.  Gracie spent a few nights with Grandma Deb.  Owen and I went swimming a couple times while Gracie was with Grandma.  Nick was selected to coach the Iowa freestyle wrestling team and spent 4 nights in Fargo, ND. Gracie had her hair cut again.  I think we've been going nonstop since we got back from the Ozarks!  I can't believe how quickly this summer is going by!

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