We are in the prime dog days of summer.  Working hard at riding a bike without training wheels (that would be Maxim.  The rest of the family has mastered this already.), staying up wayyyyyy too late (Nate had a sleep over Friday night), and enjoying some family fun at the United Way Celebration in Cedar Rapids at the Brucemore Historical Estate.

On Friday night, Nate had a friend sleep over and so naturally, I thought this would be a good time to teach Maxim how to ride a bike without the training wheels.  I can’t explain my thinking other than, Nate and Asher would be biking and making ramps so, I’d have time to do some first-class coaching with Maxim on how to ride a bike.

Well.  He’s doing pretty good.  We practiced for about 30 minutes or so.  Then, I got tired he was ready to hang the wheels up for the night.  But he can ride his bike about half a block.  I’d say that’s pretty good!

Maxim is getting the hang of riding a bike without training wheels!

Saturday, I took the boys to Target to get “Back-to-school” supplies.  One word.  OUCH.  Seriously, I can’t believe how much it costs to get school supplies.  I took out a small loan, so we’re good to go with all varieties of pencils, markers, erasers, and more.  But we had fun shopping for the unending list of supplies for our soon-to-be fourth grader and soon-to-be kindergartener.  Other than needing to find sheet protectors, we are good to go.  And, I don’t want to brag, but I did take advantage of the Tax Free Weekend.  Yes, we got the basics…new socks and new underwear.  Now, school can officially start.

Then, on Sunday, we went with Hubby to Brucemore, a historic estate in Cedar Rapids, for the United Way Celebration.  His company was being recognized as one of the pace-setters for United Way’s campaign and so the boys and I cheered for him while he was on stage.

Daddy and the boys

They had so many family-friendly activities.

Maxim enjoying the “dog days of summer”…literally.

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Bubble makers out on the lawn

The boys playing a ring toss game

So many things to see and do, live music, and of course, they had food…cupcakes, ice cream, hot dogs, and more.

After the program, we bought tickets and toured the Brucemore Mansion.  Nate was pumped up.  (You know your child is excited when they Google something three days before the event.  Nate did this and was bound and determined to see what was inside the mansion.)  It was a nice tour and the story behind the families who once lived there was very interesting.  I highly recommend it to history lovers.

By the Brucemore pool

I’ve realized that Hubby, the boys, and I would really enjoy living on a beautiful country estate.  Though we wouldn’t have a pet lion, like Brucemore did at one time.  No.  Our estate would have dogs, deer, frogs, and cats.  I guess we just aren’t as classy.

It was a fun weekend and now, time for a busy week of running Nate to football camp, laundry, some pool time, cooking, and cleaning.  Yes.  The dog days of summer.  I love everything about them.