Top 10 Events of July for the Kauf5

I have had an ongoing struggle to write in my blog more frequently. I try not to start my blogs with “I have been meaning to write, but” but here I am saying it. I wish I could write a little bit every other day or so, instead of now, looking back on everything that has happened so far this summer, and only having one or 2 blog posts to show for it. How I wish I could write often like friend’s blogs like Wallflower Wonderland or the Optimistic Mama. I guess I will just keep doing what I can.

So, for this post, I am going to focus on the Best of July. When I just uploaded my photos from July, I realized how much fun we had. There are times where both Neil and I are utterly exhausted or frustrated. But in between all of that hard stuff is lots of laughs and fun and that warm fuzzy feeling of being a parent, and of course, that is what we usually take pictures of… since they are more fun to look at!

Top 10 of July:

10. Danube Fun Days Parade: This was our first parade of the year, and it was fun to see Brody get into it -Total excitement about all the trucks and all the candy. And Fun Days overall is such a kid-friendly event with all the inflatables and kids games in the park.

9. RWF Water Park: I took the kids to the water park along with Peg and her kids. I was happy to have Peggy’s help because it allowed me to go down the BIG water slide with Mav, and also watch him jump off the diving board. He was so proud and would have done it about 20 more times if I let him. B just ran around and swam like a speed boat all day. And of course crashed on the way home.

8. Late nights in the Swing with CJ: When CJ has woken up in the beginning or middle of the night, I have enjoyed going outside and lounging on the swing with her. Hearing all the sounds of the outdoors, the darkness, the stars (or sometimes sunset) while everyone else is sleeping. I think she likes it just as much as I do. Some nights at the lake, I have done the same thing (going outside) without the convenience of the swing, but the added luxury of the sounds of the lake.

7. Water toys/water skiing on Diamond: During a couple trips to Grandma and Grandpas on Diamond, the kids got see Neil get up on water skis which they thought was pretty cool. Although they were concerned when he fell! Neil and M also got a cruise in the tube behind the pontoon. And for the record, yes, gpa’s pontoon CAN pull a skier!

6. CJ eating big girl food and new teeth: In July, CJ’s top 2 teeth started coming in. It was a tough couple weeks as they finally made there way thru her gums, but she seems so happy to eat more table foods now. She loves bananas, toast, cheese, cheerios, mashed potatoes, and soft fruits. She is also showing that sippy cup who is boss!

5. Fireworks and Fourth of July: All the boys (big and little) had fun with squirt guns and water balloons all 4th of July weekend.The kids have been talking about fireworks since the snow melted. Watching fireworks, making s’mores, staying up really late…all that stuff that makes the fourth magical. I love seeing their excitement at the colors and sounds, and how new and beautiful it is to them.

4. Mav’s Lemonade Stand: Weeks of talking about it, and then Corn Capital Days flew by. About 75 glasses of lemonade and a couple dozen bars resulted in over $50 made. We are going to give half to the local Boy Scouts thru a friend, Ryan, who is the district manager for the Boy Scouts (and M really looks up to).

3. Brod’s Potty Progress: Some long weekends and summer vacations gave B the time to be outside w/ undies and work on going potty like a big boy. He knows how to do it, and does it when he wants to do. The next biggest step is for him to TELL US when he has to go, instead of us asking him every couple hours. Proud of my big boys progress though. A few funny naked moments at the lake as he ran outside the cabin naked, or decided to do his business outside.

2. Jumping off the dock/swimming: Mav especially has gotten much more comfortable in the lake, jumping off the dock, getting thrown up in the air (Dad), going under water, and wanting to go all the way out to the buoy in the boat. We had some new swimming buddies when the Bahl’s came over for the day. Brody has gotten more comfortable in the water too, however ever since early in the season, he likes to get in the hot tub immeadietly after swimming in the lake to warm up. Early in the season when it was cooler, understandable. Now, in July and August, it is habit.

—-1. CJ crawling: Although she hit this milestone later then most, it does not make it any less exciting. She is now using her army crawl to scoot across the room, positioning herself behind the couch today. She tends to still keep her left leg straight, using her right leg more to get her moving. Speed lightening and all grown up.