An upgrade

So, last summer we got lucky. Kate was only two and was pretty content with the state of things in our backyard. The "state of things" being absolutely nothing to play with. We were good about always walking her to the park to play in the sand or heading to a splash park to get in some water play. However, this summer, we have already discovered that homegirl needs some fun stuff in her own yard too. In other words, Mom and Dad needed to step up a bit and make a few home/yard/fun improvements. Good thing we delivered.

Please welcome, the sandbox.

Sand in the City!

Next event on our very busy summer schedule? Sand in the City.

It really is just as it sounds--a bunch of sand in a parking lot in downtown Omaha. Teams get together to compete in a sand-sculpture contest, but the biggest attraction for our little someone was surprisingly, not the giant bounce house, but the giant pile of sand. (Of-course, the free activity is the best activity. Why do we buy them toys again?) Team Horton joined us for the evening and the girls had a great time.

Around here lately...

Yay for bikes!

Let's talk about cyclists for a minute.  B and I moved from the Cyclist's Republic of Portland so I guess you could say our standards and expectations are pretty high for our cycling community.  Wide bike lanes, tons of organized rides, courteous cyclists, etc. It has taken a bit of looking, but we are starting to find our kind of cycling community here in Omaha. Over the weekend, we joined about 150 other riders for Bike the Bluffs, a circumnavigation of Council Bluffs. Team Hoybook didn't complete the entire circle (the littlest Hoybook needs to work on her endurance), but we still got in about 16 miles on a gorgeous sunny June Sunday.

This photo was my attempt to capture one of the more precarious situations we've been in for a while. Nine miles out from the car, flat tire on the only bike that can pull the trailer, no patch kit, hole in the spare tube, almost out of water, no other passing cyclists for 20 minutes.

Bryan MacGyver'ed that tube like a boss and we were on our way, but it was just another reminder to keep our wits about us when planning excursions.  Did I remember coloring books and snacks for Kate?  Of-course.  Extra water and necessary emergency tools for Mommy and Daddy? Hmmm, not so much.  Aye karumba.

Next up on the #hoybooksummeroffun cycling schedule: the Papillion Twilight Criterium.  Yay for bikes!