Summer Fun!

Summer had flown by so fast!  We have had a great summer full of lots of activities!  Brody played baseball for the first time this summer which ran from June to July. We spent a lot of time at the pool this summer and both kids have become much stronger swimmers than years past. They are both jumping in the pool and Brody is swimming underwater.  They have been going off the diving board and tackling all the water slides.

We celebrated the 4th of July with the Bettendorf parade and watching fireworks downtown. We found a really close parking spot this year so the kids had a great seat for the fireworks show.

Both kids participated in the Junior Bix again this year. Brody ran a half mile and Briana ran 70 yards.  Brody runs on his own now that he is in the larger age group, but he ran with his cousin and a friend from school. Briana has a parent go with her, but told us this year she wanted to run on her own so Tim just followed behind her.

The kids both got their own library cards this summer. Brody has really taken off with his reading this summer and I can't keep enough books in the house!  I have started him on a few beginning chapter book series that he really enjoys. He is very into sports so we check out books about that too. Briana picks out picture books that we can read together.

We attended the $1 movies again this summer. There was a $1 movie each week, which we usually went to on Monday's. The kids love the overall movie experience so this is always fun for them!

We were a part of the free summer bowling program again this year. We could bowl two games a day with just paying the cost of shoes. We did this several times this summer and the kids loved it!

We spent a lot of time with all of our great friends from school this summer as well. We did picnics, play dates, lunch dates and swimming.

We went to a River Bandits Baseball game a few weeks ago. Brody is really into watching sports so he is beginning to understand the game. Briana likes to go for the snacks! :)

This year we attended our first ever Kids Day at Kinnick Stadium. This is a kids event where they can meet the Iowa Hawkeye football players, get autographs and watch a practice football game. The kids had an absolute blast and can't wait to go back next year!

Our end of the summer trip was going to Chicago this year with Grandma and Jackson. We went to the Shedd Aquarium, Lincoln Park Zoo and a waterpark hotel called Key Lime Cove. The kids had a blast and loved every minute of it!!

We are sad to see the summer go but both kids are excited for a great school year this year!