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

A visit to Denmark

Hey, everybody!

The highlight of this past week was a trip to Denmark to see Grandma Kathy and Papa. Dad also had his annual Okoboji golf trip so Tuesday night the family went out to eat and say our goodbyes. Mom had a great idea to get breakfast for dinner so off to the Drake Diner we went. Pancakes? Yep!

Thursday Mom broke me out of school after lunch and we headed off. It was a good drive and it was nice to see the farm again. Friday morning Grandma Kathy and I made everyone chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. (If you haven't figured it out by now I really like pancakes.)

The highlight of the day was watching work progress on the addition Grandma Kathy and Papa are putting on their house. I had a great seat in air-conditioned comfort to watch three cement trucks as well as a bunch of workers. They were really nice and I even got to put my hand prints in the cement in the basement.

See!

The day continued with a picnic next to the mighty Mississippi River. There were boats, the bridge swung open to let a barge through, a helicopter flew overhead and 3 trains went by.. It was just too much for a 3.5 year old to take!

After eating we walked and checked out a very pretty park.

I even got to see a memorial to those who served our county. My Great Grandpa Harley Houston's name was on the stone. Mom and Grandma Kathy told me that he was a Marine when he was a young man. It sounded like a very important job and I was glad I got to hear about it.   

Papa was busy spraying so Grandma Kathy and I took a spin on the four wheeler later that afternoon to pass the time. I also spent a long time in the barn inspecting Papa's tractors and making sure everything was okay.

Saturday we visited Clayton and I Grandma Kathy took Mom and me out to eat. I got to choose the restaurant and, they weren't surprised at all when I picked McDonald's.

When we got home Papa and I worked on my digging skills. I showed him how I thought the guys should have done his basement. He humored me and we had a good time.

Later that evening we went on a drive and stopped at the river. He told me all about it and I admit, I'm drawn to the water. (It helped that we had a lot of fun throwing rocks.)  We guys had a lot of fun, but mom kept telling us to be careful.  She did the same thing when she was young, but can't stop worrying about me!

What a great visit. Thanks Grandma Kathy and Papa! Dad, Mom and I all got home about the same time Sunday and went to bed really early. Everyone was tired.  Here is a picture of the Okoboji crew. It was their 14th year and, by all accounts, Dad's trip was a big success.

That's it for the week.

Until next time!

Pierce