Links 20 questions for 5 years old

1.  What's you favorite color? Blue

2. What's your favorite toy? Legos 

3. What's your favorite fruit?  Pears, watermelon, honeydew

4. What's your favorite movie? Frozen

5. What's your favorite show? Ninja go

6. What's your favorite thing to dress up in?  Link costume

7. What's your favorite game?  Lego avengers video game

8. What's your favorite food? Pizza (I'm a ninja turtle)

9. What's your favorite animal? Cat, kitty

10. What's your favorite song? Let it go

11. What's your favorite book?  Darth vader and son

12.  Who is your best friend? Thatcher and autumn

13.  Where's your favorite place to go? Lego store

14. What's your favorite thing to do outside? Swing set

15.  What's your favorite thing to drink?  Pop

16. What's your favorite holiday?  Christmas

17. What do you sleep with? Link or bunny 

18. What's your favorite thing to ride?  Horses (he has never riden)

19. What's your favorite number?  5

20. What do you want to do when you older? Be a ninja Jedi

July- first half

July started with two great art camps and some great connections.  Not only did the kids have fun but I made friends and now am meeting with some artist's regularly to have an art in the park celebration.

Here is Mary Harstad going through her origami creations

Somebody turned a half a year old.  WAYYYYY too fast.

Independence Day was great.  We spent the night at Dustin and Vahida's in Independence to be present at the parade which started at 9 AM!  It went right in front of their house so we had prime seating.  Throughout the day we listened to the bands playing, grilled out, the kids went and did the bouncy games.  Link and Diana went through the army challenge about 20 times.  But my favorite part was the fireworks.  Felix had been spooked all day by the practice shots so I took him up to the guest bedroom and we watched from the window.  He was mesmerized and the moment was so picturesque with the fireworks exactly framed in the window and Felix sitting at the window.

I was asked last minute to photograph a wedding in Elkader.  It was pretty simple so no special photos.  I did love that her maid of honor was her grandma (and my childhood neighbor) Ila Mae Rau.

I've a new obsession.  Scallops.  They are so quick and delicious.  Even Link loves them.

Cindy B taught a preservation class.  I am inspired to do more dehydrating and hot water bath can.  Still afraid of that pressure cooker.

We poured some more cement at our house, elongating our back patio.  Hopefully we will add a pergola sometime for shade.

My family rocks.

June

June started busy right away.

Week 1

 I had my first day camp at work, scratch game design.

The next day was city wide garage sales.  I wasn't really selling anything so I put Free on everything and it flew out the door.  Plus I made $50 which was enough.

We also had our 15 class reunion.  I was low in attendance but we mingled well.  Josh Lukins catered with his BBQ company, which was DELICIOUS.  There was an alumni football game which we missed and then a firemen's dance.  Bryce and I went with Dani/Todd and Liz/Lewis and got completely sloshed.  Crazy night.  We hung out with our local celeb, Chris, the Bachelor.  Todd took a great photo with him after all the girls.  Made me laugh so hard.

The next day we did our traditional Sam's birthday, followed by the Strawberry Day's parade.

Week 2

Musical practice started and the dancing is an absolute blast, even if I feel like an idiot.

Engineering camp in Calmar with ISU was a hit.

Link started swim lessons.  Our instructor laughed at Link when we did "ring around the roseies, we all put our noses in the water" etc it was always followed by Link's "no thanks."  We have been having them every Saturday and he is getting better and better.

Father's Day we didn't do much except we gave Bryce a joovy caboose stroller and took a walk to the park.  We also went to Charlotte's graduation and I had play practice.

Lots of berries and radishes in the backyard.

Week 3

Huge windstorms and rain made barns fall down and rivers rise.  Bryce went out and sandbagged one night but fortunately we crested below flooding.  

I spent most of the week at strengthening families training.  And took a much needed get away day to Dubuque with just Felix.  Got a bunch of d's for our wall.  We went to Crust which is starting to be my favorite place.

Week 4

Two robotics camps, one for girls and one for boys.

I hosted a passion party.  I'm trying to break out of my shell by letting people into my home.  I had a lot of fun.  Karin stayed until midnight which was an added bonus.

Elkader Celebrates was on Friday.  I'm on the Main Street board so I helped with the festivities. I also lined up my old friend, Beau Timmerman to play for Rhythm on the River and he had a great crowd.

On the weekend we went to Monet's grad party.  We mostly played bags and ate.  We stayed at this hotel that seemed decent until you realized you couldn't walk barefoot in your own room without sticky black filth covering your feet.  Disgusting.

Week 5

 Art camp for me with Kate, Jillian, and Mary.

Paint camp for Link.  His first all day day camp.  He cried at first, but did very well.  He also had bible school this week and the same thing again.

Felix update

Felix is adorable. He rolls and really wants to crawl.  He will soon.  He grabs everything and enjoys cups and bowls.  He loves the cats.  Can't say the feeling is mutual.

We struggle a little with getting to sleep.  He doesn't go down easily when being nursed.  Bryce usually swaddles and sways at night.  

He doesn't nurse that often but isn't eating solids quite yet.  I am having a hard time admitting to myself that he is that old already.  Seriously, where is my baby.