The Jernstad Journal: HOTLANTA....or HOTANKENY?

For anyone living in the midwest, it's been a strange summer. Temps have been in the upper 90's and into the lower 100's for many weeks. Iowa tends to get a few days of temps that high but not a long stretch! It makes being outside unbearable. Couple that with 2 very active kids and it makes for some creative indoor activities. We've taken advantage of anything and everything that's free/cheap and indoors. On my days off you can find us at the splash park from 10-11:45, while it's free. Once they want us to pay, we're out of there! I bring our lunch and we either eat in between splashing each other or go out by the lake to feed the ducks our leftovers. After that it's back home for some cooling down before heading to either McDonald's to play in their play place or maybe to Backyard Adventures to play. Whatever I can do to keep the kids active but not overheated! It's ridiculous how hot it's been! I feel bad for anyone who has to work out in this heat. Seriously. Makes me VERY thankful we have A/C in our house, car and workplace.

So what's new with us? Well, hmmm...our house is on the market. That's probably the biggest news. Yes, we're moving. Where? No clue. We haven't exactly decided. Our plan is to stay in our house until it sells (good plan, huh?) then move to a rental here in Ankeny until Hannah finishes 1st grade. Noah will be in preschool this coming year too. He's already enrolled at the same preschool Hannah went to and it'd be hard to get him in anywhere else this late in the game. After they're done with school, we'll figure out where our next house will be. We love Ankeny, we love our neighbors, we love our house. BUT we feel the need to move somewhere more affordable so we can save more. It's important to us that we contribute to our kids' college fund. We haven't been able to contribute as much as we'd like. There are other reasons too but the main reason is to save more $$. There is a slight chance we'll stay here, if something things change. We're kinda in limbo right now. Have I mentioned how very impatient I am? Apparently God is trying to teach me something.

I've been doing a kickboxing class at the Y. I LOVE IT! It's not just your 'normal' kickboxing class. In this one, I get to wear boxing gloves and actually hit and kick a bag. It's awesome! I sweat more in that 45 minute class than I do mowing the entire yard in the 100 degree heat! The instructor kicks our butt and it's awesome. I like to think that I'd be threatening to anyone in a dark alley but in reality, I'm sure I look like a complete fool.

So here are a few pictures of what we've done this summer. Enjoy...