Hey, everyone! Hope you are all enjoying your summer. It's hard to believe it's almost over already! Things have been going well here. Olivia has kept me busy....I swear, the bigger she gets (and the bigger I get), the easier it is to wear me out! I hate to say it, but as I'm just about to enter my third trimester, I'm beginning to get verrrrry sleepy again. I always feel like I just can't get enough done, but need to take a nap so bad! If I take a nap on my day off I don't get done all that I feel I need to (baby clock is ticking) but if I don't my body is killing me by the end of the day. So either way, I lose! My mother keeps telling me, “slow down...relax...” Ahhh, I just need to take her advice!

We had a good 4th of July. We ate supper out at Steve's mom's and lit some sparklers. Unfortunately, Miss Livi-Pie didn't quite make it up for the fireworks. There's always next year...





It's been just scorching here in Iowa lately. With the heat index reaching 120 degrees the other day, we aren't able to make it outside as much as we'd like. However, on those not-so-humid 85 degree days, a dip in the pool sounds like heaven! Unfortunately, it wasn't so pleasant setting up this pool or taking it down! I swear, I spent a good 90 minutes wrestling with this thing in the heat. It was a pain to blow up all these different sections, put in the correct stoppers, and get all of the toys it included inflated as well. All with a toddler asking me every two minutes if it was done yet!..Taking it down was just as bad. You'd think it'd be easy to take it down, though. Nope. It was just as bad. I took out all the stoppers and still couldn't get it to deflate. You should have seen me out there rolling around on it, belly and all, trying to squeeze the air out! The manufacturers should be ashamed of themselves putting us poor parents through all of this! I think this pool will definitely be in my next garage sale. However, I will say, watching this little angel squeal with delight as she splashed in the water made every hair pulling moment worth the trouble!






Olivia had another special treat this week. Aunt Lisa invited us over to her school! Liv loves to talk about school and can't wait until she is big enough to go. So, during the summer when the kids aren't around we get to go enjoy the fun! First we played out back on the new play equipment.














After that, we ventured inside and hit up one of Olivia's favorite spots...The library! Olivia had a blast reading and playing with her pal, Clifford. She definitely didn't want to go home. The next day Aunt Lisa invited her and Gram back for a special surprise. Lisa had it set-up for Olivia to watch Mickey Mouse on the movie screen in the auditorium. She thought that was the coolest thing ever! Thanks Aunt Lisa!




We've also enjoyed some quiet time this summer. Just sitting in a big comfy chair with a good book. Ahhh, my favorite!


And...as we were in the basement folding clothes someone saw her old bouncer seat. Livi insisted on getting in it. I told her she was a big girl, but she informed me she was indeed still a baby and wouldn't give up until I let her in. Ha! What a BIG baby!


Well, keep enjoying your summer everyone. Don't forget the heart walk August 7th. If any of you are in the Vinton area, I will be having a donation lunch on Friday July 23rd from 11:30AM-1:00PM in the cafeteria at Virginia Gay Hospital. Sloppy Jo's, Maid Rites, and chips. Come enjoy lunch and donate for a good cause!