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! 

Spring 2012 Flash Back

As I'm looking back at photos that I took in both 2012 and 2013, I'm beginning to realize how busy we were those two years and why this blog kind of got put on the back burner for a bit.  I think this is about the time I started to go back to work at the office, rather than from home.  Still part time, may-be 30 hours, but it was a significant shift for our family and kept us all on our toes.  I will try to remember some of the stories, although likely the details will be a bit mushy.  A picture is worth a thousand words though right...and photos we do have!

 Spring of 2012, Grandma Barb headed west to Colorado.  Corrinn was stuck in bed, pregnant with twins and had two busy toddlers that didn't quite understand the concept of slow.  So, back in Iowa we celebrated Easter with Grandpa John, keeping him busy dying and hiding Easter eggs.  

The egg finding concept was not at all lost on these two boys that year.  Both had serious egg finding skills.  Jude's angle was to have Mom carry the egg bag so he could run faster!  If I remember correctly, I think Grandma found an egg the following summer out in the garden with a bit of questionable looking chocolate in it.  

I forgot about this ham that Wes made that year.  Definitely the real deal there...eat your heart out Martha Stewart!  :)

 Aiden also had Aiden's kindergarten circus performance that spring.  It was in the middle school gym, and was quite the event.  Love Bear's little hands on his knees below!

 Aiden's role was popcorn sales man.  So in between each 'act' the 5 popcorn sellers would come out and have a funny line about selling popcorn, soda, etc.  

 It was almost more fun to watch the popcorn crew on the sidelines...it's not easy to sit and be patient while the others are performing.  The chicken dance started playing, and the urge to dance was apparently a bit too much to resist for Aiden and his classmate!  

This next photo was on my phone and what a little gem it is!!  No pants and sporting Daddy's shoes in a PJ shirt.  Classic   Isn't it wonderful when kiddos can surprise you with a good giggle from time to time.   :)

  Naura and Nayana arrived May 2nd, such cute little peanuts.

  The Colorado crew was just out this past summer back in Iowa, and I officially gifted my baby sweaters just a hair over two years late, thank-you very much.  

 Grandma was pleased as punch, how can you not be when you're holding two little sweethearts.  This brought her grand kid count up to 6, 3 boys and 3 girls!!

 Wyatt was thrilled with the babies as well,

but Navi....    

Ha, ha, actually she absolutely loved those babies too!  

This photo of her tops the charts for me, and I had to include it here.  Ankur took it of her and I forget what she was...let's say 'expressing her opinion' about.  The look is 100% Corrinn though, and I can guarantee that I probably hold the record for receiving this look from her mother over the years.