More Fun!

We had a few more pictures that we wanted to share! This is Iowa Life at its very best, I think!

"Sounds Like Fun"

Teh 2007 Iowa State Fair in underway... and the good news is that for those of you reading this post BEFORE Aug 19... you still have time to go! If you've never been, let us just tell you that no matter WHERE you live, it's worth the trip!

Check it out at http://www.iowastatefair.com/

We were lucky enough to talk Grandma & Grandpa Mann into joining us for a few hours. They had a blast! Grandpa is not normally in a wheelchair, but we did way too much walking for him to make it all day. I'm sure that by the end of our visit, even Grandma and I would have taken a wheelchair ride!

Enjoy the pictorial tour. Believe me, the girls have stories if you want to ask them about it!

BEN, the wonder-dog

Just wanted to let everybody know that our little Wonder-Dog graduated from Puppy Kindergarten! In all honesty, we don't think this means a lot, but the good news is that WE are learning more and more! There's no question that we need to do more work with him.. he is an absolute sponge and loves learning new tricks! We really do love him... though there are days when we wonder if he's in his "forever" home. We think he'll probably be around for a good, long time!

The E-Hawk Men.... together again!

We hosted a wonderful, but all too brief reunion of three childhood friends from Emmetsburg, IA. Brian, Darin Johnson (who lives in Beaverdale) and Steve Neighbors (who was visiting from Boston, MA). We had a great night visiting and getting caught up. Let's do it again soon!

Go I-CUBS!

Take me out to the ball game... take me out with the crowd!

Reagan now loves baseball games (though she calls them soccer games!) and has learned almost all the words to the above mentioned song! We were the luck recipients of some tickets from our neighbors in the 2nd row right behind 3rd base... we could SMELL the sweat on the players, we were that close!

We had a blast, and might even try taking Reagan again!

Budding Entrepreneur

Our budding entrepreneur, Carlyn, fulfilled one of her summer dreams this week by setting up a Lemonade stand at the end of our driveway. She developed some new strategies for selling this year that she is quite proud to share.

Carlyn's Top Ten Tips for a Successful Lemonade Stand:

10. Have a pretty table... with a table cloth and a nice sign

9. Set up kind of close to the street

8. Serve good tasting Lemonade

7. Fill the cups really full

6. Serve fresh baked cookies, if you can talk your mom into making some

5. Let your cute little sister help you wave at the customers

4. Put fresh flowers on your table

3. Offer FREE Lemonade, but accept donations

2. Smile and Wave to all potential cusotmers

1. Be sure to say thank you to everyone... and give customers a HUGE thank you if they give you $5 for Lemonade. (yes, this happened to her on her second sale!)

Blunier Visit

I was very lucky to be able to sneak away from West Des Moines for a few days to go help out my friends Cathy & Mark. They just welcomed a precious little girl into their family... Audrey Ann. She is one of the best babies that I've ever met! So happy and so content... ALL THE TIME! What a darling!

Anyhow... Mark had heart surgery and Cathy needed to be with him in the hospital while he focused on recovering. So, I was lucky enough to be able to play "Nanny" for a couple of days. What a priveledge!

Thanks for having me, Cathy & Mark. It really seemed like a luxurious retreat! And I LOVE your new kitchen! It's awesome!!

Indianola Balloon Classic

While I was in Washburn, IL helping out my friends Cathy & Mark last weekend, Brian played the role of Super Dad and took the girls to the Balloon Classic in Indianola, IA. This is a really fun annual event (it's always hotter than blue blazes, but worth it) that we always try our best to get to each year.

Enjoy the pictures!