Good times this week!

Hey, gang!

It was another busy week. It was hot, too! Good thing I was able to go swimming.

Monday started off with a trip to the dentist. I chose grape toothpaste and got rave reviews for being a good patient. (It was good to have clean chompers.)

I also had swimming lessons then got a haircut at Becky's. (The shower I took that night let me use the pirate towel Grandma Maggy got me. Argh!!!)

Wednesday was a swimming lesson day. I loved swimming lessons this year and it's too bad they're over. However, I'm happy to report that I start tennis lessons tomorrow!

Friday Grandma Maggy picked me up at school and I spent the night at her house. There was a quick storm that came through as we were going to Grandma's house so I had lots of sticks to pick up once we arrived.

Saturday morning I got a genuine Grandma breakfast! (Those are the best.)

Dad picked me up and we ran some errands then got home in time to prepare for our guests, the Fletchers. Mom found a Play-Doh recipe online and I got to help whip up a couple of batches. It was surprisingly easy and fun!

Here is the red we made! (We also made blue.)

Mom wanted to keep Dad and me busy so she got out some toys and we tested how well the Play-Doh would keep a couple of guys occupied.

(Dad was a little too proud of the fact that he finally got to use the praying nun toast stamp and didn't want to put things away. I had to promise that he could watch TV to get him to help clean up.)

Once I got him settled I put my cleaning hat on and prepped for our guests.

Grant's here! Time for a concert.

And, to top off a really fun visit, Grant's Dad brought over their bouncy house. I actually got to have bouncy house fun in my own back yard! Thanks, Justin!

Once we wrapped up our bouncing it was time for Fourth of July fun. Mom brought out the "snakes" and sparklers.

Look at me, I'm sparkling! (Dad and the other adults said these weren't as good as the ones they had growing up but I think the were just jealous of our cool Fourth of July stuff.)

Double sparklers!

Today Mom, Dad, Grandma Maggy and I went to Chariton to see Papa Jack and Grandma Margaret. It had been a long since our last visit and I really liked seeing them again.

Grandma Margaret let me push her in her wheelchair.

Grandma Maggy brought pictures and flowers to share because it will be Grandma Margaret and Papa Jack's 70th wedding anniversary this week. Mom and Dad seemed to be pretty impressed and mentioned something about the two of them being married ten times longer than they were. Mom did the math and Dad would be 104 years old if they hit 70 years of marriage. (She giggled when she said that.)

Both Grandma Margaret and Papa Jack seemed to like the photos a lot.

We even did a video chat with Uncle Matt during our visit!

Towards the end of the visit Grandma Margaret and I played ball. It was a lot of fun and she seemed to enjoy herself, too. What a great visit!

Have a great week, everyone! Happy Fourth of July!



Life's a song and dance ...

Oh boy, where do I start this week. Well, last week included music, tractors and family. Not a bad week. This week was a good one, too. I had to do some work on my new bike so I spent time "wrenching" and did pretty well ... the thing runs like a champ. (A man can take a lot of pleasure from working with his hands.)

I started week one of my swimming lessons and am a lot better than I was last year. I go under water. I blow bubbles. I kick with the kickboard. I really, really am having fun!

Speaking of tractor shows I organized one in the basement this week. It was successful enough that I'm planning a second one so if anyone has any tractors they want to enter just let me know.

Mom and I had Vacation Bible School mornings this week. It was my very first time and I had a blast. She volunteered to help and it was nice to have her in my class. Today at church we did the program and I had fun. I'm right in the middle of this picture waiting for services to start.

We were all moving fast so Dad struggled to get a good shot but this was our first song and I danced and sang really well (again, in the middle of the shot).

After the service we had a party! There was an inflatable slide ...

... and a dunk tank where we got to dunk the teenagers who helped during the week. (I already put my name in the hat to sit in tank and am on the list for VBS 2025.)

This evening we met up with the Fletchers at Incredible Pizza to eat and play. Mom, Dad and I got there a bit early so I drove ...

... and played air hockey with Dad. (Who thinks Grandma Kathy and Papa need one of these in their basement.)

Once everyone arrived it was fun, fun, fun!

Look, we're in a spaceship!

I'm too short to ride the bumper cars so Mom took my place and rode with Grant. (She had a bit too much fun.)

Afterwards Grant and I rocked out on Guitar Hero. (KISS songs are surprisingly difficult. Who knew?!)

Watch out ... I'm a race car driver!

There weren't any photos taken of the event, but I wanted to let everyone know that Grant stepped up his game tonight and got me a rubber ball from one of the machines after Mom struggled. Thanks, bud ... I owe you one.

That's it for this week.

Later, gang!

Pierce

Shows

This week was a week of shows. Thursday Grandma Maggy, Mom and I went to the Des Moines Metro Opera's "Peanut Butter and Puccini" event. It was really cool! I was really close to the performers, watched a performance, explored the theater, went backstage and had lunch, too!

These musicians are really, really good! I'm going to have to practice a lot to be able to play with them.

Dad had meetings in Denver all week. Mom and I were really happy when he came home late Friday afternoon. I love going to the airport!

Uncle Eric came for a visit and went with us to pick up Dad. Since he was with us I made him play airplane with me. (He just had to provide the lift. I provided everything else.)

Dad's home! Here, let me get that bag for you...

My classmates and I made special Father's Day gifts at school this year. I was so excited to have Dad home that I gave him his gift Friday night.

He liked it! It was a book that listed my favorite things about my Dad, and my Dad was very happy to get it.

Saturday the crew loaded up and headed to the Amanas to an Allis-Chalmers tractor show. Grandma Kathy and Papa were there and there was a lot to see. As soon as we arrived Grandma tried to eat my ear. (She was very hungry.)

Here's a "G". It is a fun tractor like Grandma's, but this one has loader.

Sometimes, at an Allis-Chalmers tractor show guys like me get so excited we just have to run. WEEEEEE!!!!

Dad was getting into the excitement, too. He told me what little he knew about tractors.

It was really great to see Grandma Kathy and Papa and explore everything at the show.

After awhile the gang decided that lunch was in order. It was a great opportunity to give Papa his Father's Day gifts and eat some good food at the Ox Yoke Inn. (A bit of trivia ... the Ox Yoke Inn was where Mom and Dad first introduced the grandparents to each other back in 2004)

After eating we headed back to the tractor show and I got to ride my new bike! Thanks Grandma Kathy!

Before we left Dad and Uncle Eric helped me load it into Mom's car.

Uncle Eric and I were tired on the way home.

Once we got home Mom and Dad turned around and went to an event so Uncle Eric and I had the house to ourselves. This photo was taken just as Mom and Dad were leaving.

This photo was taken four hours later when they got home. (We had a pretty mellow night.)

Happy Father's Dad to Papa, Papa Jack and Dad as well as all the other dads out there.

Pierce

Sprinkle. Sprinkle. Little Star.

It was another busy week. School went well and I was able to enjoy lots of play time. The highlights of the week were helping Mom grill on Thursday after school ...

... and playing in the sprinkler today!

Mom and Dad were happy because the yard got some water and I was happy because I got to get all wet! The ball made a big splash when I kicked it ...

... and it was easy to chase Dad around. (Rarely have I seen him move that fast.)

After a bit of fun I realized that I really needed to concentrate and water things. I wanted to practice my farming and take care of things so I made sure the whole yard got a big drink.

Mom and Dad said I did a really good job and the grass was very happy to get a drink.

I felt pretty good about myself.

Have a great week, everyone!

Love, Pierce.

Outside!

The past few days I've been outside a lot. Now that I'm a Panda at school I'm outside more often for recess and we finally got some much needed rain last week which meant rubber boots (with tractors on them, of course) and big puddles!

Splish Splash!

This weekend was one big outdoor adventure. Saturday the family spent the day at Gray's Lake. We had a fun picnic and got to watch the boats on the lake.

What a great view of downtown!

It was a great day to eat outside.

It was a great day to go on a bike ride, too!

Once we got home Mom and Dad rested then I got to open a new toy, a tee ball set!

We also got my sandbox out and set-up. I did some major digging Saturday afternoon.

Today the family decided to golf. We loaded up the clubs and headed off.

It was my first time on a real golf course, but I wasn't nervous. In fact, I hit some nice shots, rode in the cart and generally had a fabulous time.

After golf we had a nice dinner out then it was home and bath. I wanted to document the day so I took this picture of Mom and Dad.

Have a great week, everyone!

Pierce