Summer 2012

 The Summer of 2012 issued in a few more changes for our family.  The Jolly family was busy in Colorado with two toddlers, two twins and two dogs...a little too busy.  And Corrinn began to get worried that the lack of attention was making ol' Blue depressed.  He was losing weight and getting into trouble eating baby rags, etc.  So we bought a plane ticket for Blue and called it our baby gift to the Jollys, but honestly this guy was such a wonderful gift to our family.  

 He arrived to Des Moines on an air plane, which I still can't quite believe...I think he was very happy to get into our car.  

 He fit into the family almost immediately!

 We took him to the dog park in Iowa City quite a few times that summer.  He gets along with all dogs, and would always stay close even though he was off leash.   

I say he was a gift to us, because we had him for about a week before our Mabel passed away in June.  God knew we'd need a puppy to hug and dote on after losing Mabel, she was our first baby and such a huge part of our life.  Even after two years I still cry for that old girl.

Mary and Terry came down, and we got some fishing in.  

Aiden has Grandpa's fishing blood in him.  

 All three boys look pretty happy and content in this photo below, 

 and Blue is just happy to be out with his family.

 Summer 2012 was also the year we painted our old dark cabinets and ripped out the carpet in the kitchen.  What a change for the better that made!!  

  Blue absorbing all sorts of attention, always patient!!

 Computer time with Grandma, 

 and tractor rides with Dad. 

 I got a new bird house for Mother's day that year.  Aiden is such a helper and always enjoys being a part of any project around the house.  

 Planting the garden with Dad.  I think we planted about 40 tomato plants that year, and if we got a dozen good tomatoes I'd be surprised, but it was fun digging in the dirt for all three boys I think.  

 Lots of time out on the swing set...and this year they got a bit inventive with their pool location.  

 One of the boys' favorite things was to go to the splash pad.  Cedar Rapids had a nice one about 20 minutes from our house.  

 This 'bucket dumper' was what the 'cool' big kids would do at the splash pad, and so Aiden worked up the courage to give it a try.  The water would keep running, and when the bucket filled up it would dump over...on your head!  Always a good thrill.  

 Orange leaf yogurt shop was across the street from the splash pad, and was the boys favorite thing to do after running through the water.  It's one of those serve yourself places, which is just that much more fun when you get to run the ice cream machines!  Aiden loved the ice cream....Jude like to get the little fruit bead topping.  They were these little pink or orange jelly circles filled with fruit juice...and it was fun to squish them inside his mouth and feel them pop.  

 Saturday morning routine always included a trip to Iowa City with a Java House coffee and a couple of loaves of bread to feed the ducks at city park.  There was one mama duck that we fell in love with the first time we went out, and we'd always look for her every time we visited.  She got the most bread of course!  :)

 The Iowa City park has a small 5 ride carnival....it's been there for years, even when Corrinn and I were kids.  Rosie met us out there one Saturday morning and we all got to go on the rides!!

 This was also the summer of the HOT, HOT, HOT 4th of July antique sale.  Wes and Annie had a booth at the top of Main Street that year.  That was the year that will never be forgotten because of the terrible heat, and because of this little troopbelow.  Look at those pink, work worn cheeks!