This evening we all headed out to Lake Iowa (a state park about 3-4 miles west of our house) to do a little fishin'.On the second cast Doug (and Dallas) threw, they reeled in this whopper!
We started the long weekend by going to see Big Bud! In case you don't know Big Bud 747 is the world's largest tractor, and it is currently on display at Heartland Acres in Independence, IA.
A new grill has made it's home at our house. :) Doug and I spent Sunday afternoon (while the kiddos napped) assembling it. We are very satisfied with it thus far. We even gave it a test run last night with steaks and asparagus...yumm-o!

Look at all that grill space!
Doug nearly dropped Dallas and nearly pooped his pants! If it would have been me...there wouldn't be any "nearly" about the latter...I would just plain have.
We didn't do anything too special beside enjoy each other's company. Doug did borrow the neighbor's skid loader to finish smoothing out the new gravel in the driveway on Saturday.
Sunday started with church. After church, Doug and I went to a pancake breakfast honoring the seniors and first communicants (we were invited because I taught the high school class this year). Grandpa, Gram and Aunt Josie took the kiddos back to the house for us. We then spent the rest of the day playing games and taking tractor rides.
Once we got home from the doctor's office, Reba took a nap, and she is now playing in her jump swing and smiling!
If you can believe - it tastes even better than it looks
Dallas loves carrots - typically we cut his carrots into smaller pieces, but he grabbed the whole thing and went to town as soon as Doug was finished peeling it! (yes, he ate the entire thing)
Our big news of the week!!! This little lady can sit on her own!
Reba started sitting up about a week and a half ago. It is amazing how fast she went from the little "tri-pod" sit to fully supporting herself. Of course, she still looses her balance after a couple minutes, but it won't be long before she is a complete pro at it.
The "fort" is starting to take shape
Attaching the arm for the swings and trapeze bar
Dallas giving the swing a test
no- that swing didn't come with the set, it was one we already had...we didn't think Dallas was ready for the sling seat swing yet
There is a rock wall that will lead up to the fort deck and the slide will come off the other side. We didn't think we had the pieces to complete the rock wall, and we still need to water seal the set before attaching the slide.
Pap-paw and Aunt Katie held the slide so he could give it a real test ride
Reba loved the swing too
Both kiddos swinging together
On a bit of a sad note: Last night we had very high winds and the swing set blew over!
I guess that's why they send stakes... One board cracked, so I'm hoping that I can get a new one from the company (free)...we will see.