Swallowtails!

I love our new house!

It's not really new anymore. But I still love so much about it. I love the fact that the kids have real, lush grass to play in. I love that we have trees for shade and I love how our landscaping has all come together. Spending time outside is so enjoyable.  

As if the trees and flowers weren't enough of a treat, we have been able to watch so many different kinds of birds. We have a family of morning doves that nest in our trees. Our bird feeders bring robins, blue jays and other small swallows. But our very favorite... all of the butterflies in the spring and summer!

I was headed into the cat house the other day to fetch the mower and was pleasantly shocked to discover this beauty!

Clinging to the tire of the riding lawn mower, this swallowtail was still unable to fly. Trapped inside the shed, I was really glad we found him! A perfect "guys come look" moment, I ran to get the kids.

Very carefully we had him climb on to a paint stick so we could find him a tree outside.

He was HUGE! At least 5 inches across. 

We slowly carried him outside and placed him gingerly in a tree. I grabbed my phone and had to find out exactly what kind of butterfly it was.

Our new friend is a Two-tailed Swallowtail. 

The Two-tailed Swallowtail is a large swallowtail of western North America, one of several species that have yellow wings with black tiger striping. Each hindwing has several blue markings (top and bottom). Like other striped swallowtails, it has a small orange eyespot near the lower angle of each hindwing; the eyespots can fool predators into attacking the rear of the butterfly instead of the head, giving the butterfly a chance to escape. Amazing!

Hey Rah-Rah, did you know the Two-tailed Swallowtail is the state butterfly of Arizona?

Our new friend stayed on the same tree about thirty minutes before testing his wings. Once he could fly, he spent the rest of the afternoon fluttering around our yard. We saw him again the next day too. Joined by an equally beautiful companion!

Home on the 4th

Every year we spend the 4th of July at the family cabin in Grand Lake. This year we had just returned from Iowa and our Boji Man had to have surgery on the 2nd. Handy Man and I decided we should just stay close to home and have a quiet, laid back holiday weekend.

Every year the kids get to go watch a huge fireworks display. But they have never been able to light their own fireworks. Handy Man and I were reminiscing about our childhood 4th of July's where out parents lit fireworks in the street and we twirled sparklers in the air, one after another. With out any firework bans this year thanks to all the rain we have had, Handy Man and I took the kids to pick out some fire works.

We invited a couple friends over for slip-n-sliding, bike riding, moose steaks and fireworks!

It was hot! Perfect for the water slide!

Our Brown Eyed Girl decided to try her luck at two-wheels...

Almost had it a couple times but our dirt road cul-de-sac makes it a little more challenging with all of the lumps and bumps to balance.  But she's getting there!

This kid is becoming quite the ladies man this summer... I am waiting for the first phone call from a little girl that says, "Is Cole there?"

It must be those guns! Ever since we came home from Iowa, I can barely keep a shirt on this kid.

Of course we had to feed the horses some carrots.

We taught Jesse hot to play Hockey! His mom and dad are anticipating his Birthday and Christmas lists additions.  

After dinner, we grabbed our lawn chairs and headed to the driveway to get the show started!

The Master of Ceremonies got himself organized.

We warmed up with a few sparklers.

And then we headed up to the cul-de-sac for the show. The adults laughed and chatted while the kids let out joyous oohs and aahs!

Handy Man and I ticked the kids into bed that night and both agreed we were finally entering the really fun times in parenting.

So much to be thankful for!

Small Town Summer Fun

For the last fifteen years Handy Man and I primarily head back to Iowa to see Grandpop and Grandma Joan in the fall, over Thanksgiving. A tradition we started early on when Handy Man and I started dating. I like to pretend that Handy Man was simply interested in being a loving part of my family from the start, but the truth is he was just eagerly capitalizing on the mid-west hunting opportunities that came with dating a girl who's dad lived in Iowa and was an avid bird hunter.

The envy of all of his friends. I was (am) quite the catch!

A couple years ago I took the kids back to Iowa in May. It was such a different Iowa to experience. Sunshine, fishing, sitting out on the patio watching the kids play in the yard. So different from the blistery, November winter visits we were used to. Truth be told, that trip was one of my most memorable trips back to Iowa.

I was longing for another Iowa summer. A quiet, small town summer vacation where it was okay to sit back in the patio chair and let the world slow down while the sun shined on your face and kids played in the yard from sun up until sun down.

After the last few months, it was just what the doctor ordered.

Twelve and a half hours in the car and we finally arrived in Iowa. It took all of about 30 minutes before the neighbor kids came over to greet us with excitement and my Brown Eyed Girl and Mr Blue Eyes jump started their vacation that first night. Running in the grass, riding scooters and bikes, laughter echoed through the yards while I was catching up with Grandpop, Grandma Joan, Uncle Mat, and Rah-Rah. 

And then, in that twilight moment just as the sun is settling in for the night, magic happened.

The Fireflies came out and without knowing quite what he was doing, Mr Blue Eyes ran over to a glowing little bug - and caught him! The neighbor kids started cheering him on and my kids learned all about fireflies that night.

Grandma Joan set the kids up with a mason jar and a piece of tin foil with a couple holes poked in the top as a lid. 

We gathered around the mason jar watching the little bugs light their tails and cheered with joy as each new little bug was caught. 

We had big plans for fishing while back in Iowa. So after catching our fireflies, the kids moved on to hunting night crawlers.

My Brown Eyed Girl had experienced night crawler hunting that last May visit. However, this was an entirely new adventure for Mr Blue Eyes.  

And he loved it!

Mr Blue Eyes had two seasoned hunters to assist him with catching his bounty. I can't wait see these guys in about 5 years walking the fields while searching for pheasants. 

As night grew darker, the neighbor kids showed my Brown Eyed Girl and Mr Blue Eyes how to play night games like Ghost in the Graveyard. They frolicked though the two yards laughing loudly and running boldly. That carefree summer feeling pulsating in their veins. I found myself swallowed in a nostalgic glow of my own childhood memories playing with cousins during our family vacations to Iowa. My heart was happy.


If you asked Mr Blue Eyes what he wanted to do while we were in Iowa he would say, "Play golf, go fishing, play golf, go to the lake and play golf."

So, we played golf!

In the summers when I was a child, I loved heading out to that small town, 9 hole course with my Grandpa, dad and family. Rah-Rah and I learned to drive the golf carts and frolicked around the greens welcomed.

My kids were looking forward to getting to really hit balls on the course and not just on the driving range like they do at home. 

My Brown Eyed Girl took Golf Cart Drivers-Ed from Rah-Rah. I remembered the way Rah-Rah used to drive the cart when we were kids. I couldn't help but questioned her teaching ability. However, I decided to give Rah-Rah that one glorious teaching moment as she lives so far away. They were two peas in a pod with excitement as they enjoyed the afternoon bonding together.

I did have to wear a c-collar the rest of the day. I am thinking that my Brown Eyed Girl is going to need a few more lessons before they will issue her a license. Lord help our insurance rates when she is 16.

We had a great time playing 9 holes!

It may have taken us 3 hours to finish all 9... but we were making memories. 

That night we headed to Woodie's Pizza - a must stop when visiting. 

This trip was soon becoming all about new experiences. Grandpop taught the kids how to play Big Game Hunter.

Mr Blue Eyes kept getting the elk cows - which is against the rules. I wish he would teach his father how to hunt some elk cows...

The kids learned how to thumb wrestle from the king himself.

It doesn't help that Uncle Mat's thumbs are twice the size...

None the less, smiles, hugs and laughter all night long!

 

The next morning we were off to White's Pond with our night crawlers.

Grandpop set us all up with Poles and we started fishing.

You have to have a lot of patience sometimes when you are fishing.

And then a grown-up catches the first fish! But I am pretty sure Aunt Ashley was giddy as a kid to reel in her catch!

Fish are pretty cool. And slippery. And this one was pokey.

Later that night we headed back out to the golf course to celebrate Grandpop and Grandma Joan's 20th Wedding Anniversary. We let our hair down and kicked up our heels.

 

Who knew Mr Blue Eyes was such a ladies man?!?

It was a great night with family and friends.

One of the best parts of our visits was getting to FINALLY meet baby Mason and Maddie! My Brown Eyed Girl was over the moon to have more cousins.

Not to mention finally getting a girl on this side of the family! Six years apart but I am sure she will enjoy teaching Maddie all about make-up some day!

We also had the pleasure of getting to see Grandma Joan stay in her PJ's All. Day. Long. Too much partying the night before??? After 20 years of marriage to Grandpop, I am sure she more than earned it! She has had to put up with a LOT or EBS over the last 20 years.

And while Grandma Joan kicked back the kids played and played. From sun up to sun down my kids played with the neighbors. Several games of tag.

Scooter riding a-plenty

These two peas in a pod wore the batteries out on this 4-wheeler every day.

Mr Blue Eyes definitely found a new best buddy.

What a treasure of a family to live next door. They embrace the kids with open arms every time we visit and my kids loved every minute. We always try to go out to their farm when we visit to see the kids' 4-H animals. This time my Brown Eyed Girl got to give the 4-H pigs a bath!! What a hoot!

We made it to the lakes to do a little swimming!

Mr Blue Eyes rode a giant turtle.

Cousin Micha is getting so big! Finally, the cousins could play together!

Sidewalk chalk.

Everyday the yard and patio looked like this.

 

To some, this looks like a mess. To me... this is what fun looks like!

The last new experience on our agenda was to take he kids to Arnold's Park for the first time. We had ice cream on the dock and watched the Queen II pull away for a tour. 

The kids rode a roller coaster! Grandpop and I rode the big one together later. I think it was the first time I had been on a roller coaster with my Daddy in 25 years.

And flying fish with Micha.

They got tattoos...

Airbrushed of course.

My Brown Eyed Girl and I rode the Ferris Wheel.

These two rode the train 6,000 times

We played in the lake some more.

It was an amazing day!

We can't wait for next year!