Sneaky Snake

Laina's preschool took a field trip to Kent Park and Laina held this snake.

Another Day............................

Another Wedding!

Congratulations Bridget and Jeremy!

Laina: On Marigolds

Stage Fright!

Laina likes to perform on this stage, which is really just the ramp to our shed!

Duck Bath

On the Iowa River near the Levitt Center.

What to do on a Saturday Night?

Do you like roast beef and mashed potatoes?

Do you like corn and beans?

Do you like homemade salads and desserts?

Do you have $9?

Then you could come to our annual church supper fundraiser on Saturday 5-8 p.m.

Open Door Policy

Elsa can open the door from the deck to our dining room and often does if we forget to lock it. She jumps up and pushes down on the lever with her paw and the door pops open. I wouldn't really mind so much if she would close the door behind her. Occassionally I'll walk into the dining room and see a wide open door. Elsa strikes again.

It was a Pond and Park kinda Weekend!

Laina finding all kinds of amazing treasures at the pond.

More Treasures!

Picking Dandelions. She is still at the age when you think dandelions are beautiful flowers and not pesky weeds.

Laina at the pond in North Liberty.


Laina met up with her neighborhood friends Ella and Finn and here are Laina and Ella swinging.

More swinging.

Laina and her friends Ella and Finn.

What Are Little Boys Made Of?

Frogs and snails

And puppy-dogs' tails,

That's what little boys are made of.

A beautiful baby boy will be joining our family in August and we can't wait!

Wing Ding

Last Friday night we celebrated Tom's birthday at Buffalo Wild Wings. Laina ordered Mac & Cheese but ended up eating wings instead. Barry didn't want his picture taken while eating wings and the big girls didn't eat wings. But the rest of the gang is pictured below.

Rock Collection

Laina and I collected and sorted these rocks into an egg carton on Saturday. We tried to pick out the most special rocks--not ordinary ones. She first stored them in her pockets and then transferred them into her bike's backpack for the trip home and finally into the egg carton. She "decorated" the carton with dandelions and wrote "Mom Dad Laina Lola" on the carton because she said they belong to her family. She said she would share them with her friends because she can get more the next time she comes. And she can because we live a half a block from a school playground where there are about a million "special" rocks.

Easter Parade

We were guests at the North Liberty United Methodist Church on Sunday to see Laina perform in a childrens program. She was a purple flower. She is quite the loud singer! They have a fairly contemporary service with a live band.

When we walked into church this was a blank canvas. They had a teacher from Regina who is an artist painting during the whole service and this was the end product. They also released butterflies during the church service.

Each of the families that came to our house for an untraditional spaghetti lunch got a plant and a bag of jelly bellies.

Sarah and Laina made these delicious flower pot desserts that had 3 kids of ice cream and pound cake at the bottom. The "dirt" was crushed teddy grahams--a gummi worm and flower to top it off.