So Much Boating!

Since Scott was not working a regular job this summer and most of our vacations, plans, and kids camps were canceled we spent a lot of time boating! The kids picked up all the watersports this summer so we took advantage of the smooth water available on the lake mid-week. Charlie mastered skiing and wakeboarding easily - she was very determined. Will liked kneeboarding. Evy also skied, kneeboarded, and wakeboarded. We even managed to get our Illinois cousins out on the lake once!

 

Weekend Getaway for Everyone

Will got to go to Illinois with Grandma and Papa to visit his cousins. The girls got to go to Guttenberg with Grammy and Papa and Kate. Scott and I got to go to the Ozarks with some friends. Fun for everyone!

Grandma Joan bought the boys matching shirts and headbands. 

Ready to head out to dinner.

Heading out for Saturday shenanigans in the Ozarks. 

Bubble tea in Guttenberg.

Ice cream in Guttenberg.

Returning to School

Iowa schools were required to submit "Return to Learn" plans to the state by July 1. They were to include plans that would address in-person learning, online learning or a hybrid model. Along with their plans the Iowa City Community School District announced that face coverings would be required for all staff and students if/when they return to in-person learning. On July 14 the ICCSD Board of Directors voted 7-0 to start the school year online - with no onsite learning until things are reevaluated on October 1. This decision came in part due to the increasing COVID cases being seen in Johnson County and the fact that social distancing in our already overcrowded schools would be virtually impossible. Of course, online learning creates an impossible situation for most families - kids will be home all day needing support to complete their learning. Who is supposed to do that when both parents are at work? Then on July 17 Governor Reynolds issued a proclamation directing all schools to resume face-to-face education when school starts. What? Up until July 17 there had been no indication that the state would mandate how schools would start in the fall. What a mess. Now everyone is scrambling to figure out what details are included in the mandate and how we can send kids back to school in a safe way while cases are increasing. Families are scrambling, looking for homeschool or private school options to keep their kids out of the classroom. Who knows how this is all going to unfold. 

Family Bike Ride

The kids, especially the girls, are spending way to much time on screens this summer. I decided we needed to load everybody up and head out on a family adventure. Only Will was excited about this! We took our bikes to a local trail and rode to Big Grove for lunch. The kids did great! When we got back to our starting point there was a dirt trail in the opposite direction that leads to a skills area. Will was the only person in the family who enjoyed the dirt path and the obstacles. I tried to go up one obstacle and fell off. This has set off a biking interest for Will. He's been biking the trails in the woods behind our house and has popped both of the tires on his bike! Yikes. 

A Summer with Limited Pool Access

Many city pools are closed for the summer. Others are open with restrictions. We have our Elks membership and the pool is open. The kids have gone one time with a babysitter. The city of Coralville is one of the few city pools open in the area - they allow only Coralville residents to enter the pool from Noon to 1:00 and after that, anyone can enter but admission is limited to 250 people. We've been to the Coralville pool twice. The admission cost is less than the Elks pool and the kids enjoy the waterslides. We are also spoiled by having friends who have a pool and who generously invite us over.  

Papa Jake's Birthday

My parents told us they would be coming through town on Papa's birthday and since the kids have been spending waaaaay to much time on screens I put them in charge of baking a cake! 

Will and Papa were going to golf but a storm blew in so they were only able to fit in some time at the driving range. 

We made homemade ice cream. 

Luckily we had a 6 and an 8 candle on hand!

The kids decorated the cake. Evy made a golf club, Charlie added the green grass and Will added the red. We're not sure what the red is supposed to be. 

Will starts t-ball

This is the first year I've signed Will up for T-ball. The season was supposed to start in April but got pushed back due to COVID. Instead, we started in July and will only have 5 games. Typically Will gets made when he learns that I've signed him up for an activity. I think he gets nervous so he gets mad and refuses to go. This happened for soccer, basketball, and track. It did not happen AT ALL for baseball. In fact, he packed his own bag complete with sunflower seeds and counted down the days until his first game. He is doing great - having some great hits and seems to really like it. 

4th of July

On the 4th of July we typically go to a parade and then go to the pool with a group of friends. This year the parade was canceled and going to a pool with a large crowd didn't seem like a good idea. So, we mixed things up. Our friends hosted a small pool party and then we watched the fireworks from another friend's driveway. But, don't worry. I made the "Wave Your Flag Cake" just like I do every year! 

Inventing Entertainment

Scott and I have been working a lot this summer. With us working from home while all 3 kids are always home things are interesting. The kids are often bored and we don't have time to provide constant entertainment. So, I've told them that they can do whatever they can come up with. One day that invention was a tarp waterslide complete with sponges taped to their feet and dish soap to make everything slick. Oh boy! 

My Salon Suite

Before the pandemic began Scott and a partner purchased a My Salon Suite franchise with the plan to open the business in Fall 2020. We have been working on marketing, leasing, and building the business this summer with plans to open the salon on October 1. This has been keeping us both busy as we work to fill the 26 salon suites.