5th graders!!!!

It is hard to believe the kids are justing starting 5th Grade! They were looking forward to seeing their friends. I was looking forward to getting back to a routine. I am not looking forward to homework!! I took a look at their math book....it is going to be a hard year for me....thank goodness my cousin married a math teacher!!!

garden signs...

There is a lady in Knoxville, Iowa that makes these signs. They are iron stars and she cuts out the names with a special saw. I had a set made for my mom and dad with all the grandchildren names for their lake home. I also have a set with my kids names, and ordered one for my sister. They are look so cute in the front of our house!!

new friends...

These are some new friends of ours. Their mom is Mrs. McKay, Grants 3rd Grade teacher! Little Miss Camryn is my favorite, but don't tell the other two. She told Caroline that I "scare" her!!! Not sure what I did????

Camryn is 4!!

Emma is 6!!

Ava is 3!!

shopping addiction

I wanted to share a few new purchases I have made!!! I love to window shop and purchase shop!! This is something I have inherited from my mom!!!

This is one of the cutest necklaces I have ever owned. It is a chunky pendant. On one side is cheetah, and a crystal fleur-di-lie, and you flip it over and the other side is zebra with a crystal cross.

I LOVE polk-a-dots....great lake bag!

When I saw this, I had to have it. I bought it when I was at the lake. A perfect suitcase for a long weekend away. I am hoping to go to New Jersey in the fall to visit my friend Vancy. How cute would this be as I get off the plane!!!

I

quiet in the country...

An old friend of mine lives in the country. Her husband turned 60, so they had
a big Hoe Down! They have thirteen horses, one mule, dogs, and cats.
The kids had the best time. It was so peaceful. Jim asked me if I could
live in the country....not sure, I need to be close to The Mall, and Target etc......

My friends sister owns this horse, she said we could have it!!!! I don't think

our neighbors would like a horse in the backyard!

Here is the birthday boy putting a party hat on Otis!

Otis follows you around like a dog. Issy is taking him to the party!

Sometimes he sleeps in the garage!

We LOVE the ISF

Jim and the kids deciding what to eat next!

We bought two raffle tickets to win this horse! Not sure what we will do with it if we win, since we life in the city!

Just had a bath, so covering up to stay clean for the "show"!

The little calf was so cute, but then they grow up to be big!! This is where Caroline stepped in a big pile of cow poo!

Even as a kid, I have always loved the Iowa State Fair. I could spend hours, wondering around, and people watching Jim, and I and the kids met my brother, and his family Friday night. We had the best time!!! I am addicted to all the Infomercial products......I am embarrassed to say, that I purchased the "Swift" mop....my brother kept laughing at me...I used it for the first time today...I LOVED IT, I called my brother immediately and told him he must have one!!!

We are so lucky as a family that my parents bought a home at The Lake of the Ozarks about ten years ago. It is about a five hour drive from our home. Our kids love to go there and hang out. It was a little hot this time!! One day with the heat index it was 112!! We spent a lot of time in the water, but it began to feel like a hot bath!!! We are heading back for Labor Day to spend the weekend with my whole family, brothers, sister, and their families!

Here is a picture of the kids getting ready to go down the blow up slide my dad bought last year.

I see Grant and Isabelle.....hmm not sure where Caroline is??

The kids LOVE to go tubing!! I just watch from the boat!

Grant could tube all day....of course he had to go first!

You can see "sexy" Jim on the deck.....look real close!!!!

Isabelle, Grant and Caroline posing for a pic!

The day we left.....Miss Daisy also had a great time. We bought her a life jacket...the kids were so afraid she was going to drowned! She actually liked it!

108 degrees, but who is counting!!!!

we are at the lake of the ozarks......it is so hot, all you can do is bob in the water, and some spots are actually hot!!!!! i don't like to be hot, so i am inside right now in the air conditioning........went shopping today, enjoyed it for awhile, but then.......came home....too hot........my mom and dad leave tomorrow, and i would like to be in the car with them, but i guess i should stay with my family until they are ready to leave......i will add some pictures tonight or tomorrow. it is hell getting old.......

my dad starts chemo again on tuesday, and then will have his gold seeds implanted to begin the cyber knife treatments.........please continue praying for him.......