January Projects

Thanks to everybody who shared their January home update projects!

Sara organized her laundry space.

Regan is almost finished with a blanket.

Erica alphabetized her DVD collection.

Hilary painted her kitchen wall a lovely yellow.

Larkin cleaned out her pantry.

If you have any projects from the Lengthening Your Stride program that you would like to share, feel free to email us. 

Lots of love,

The Literacy Committee

Iowa Activity: Mormon Handcart Park

Remember this activity that Regan organized?  We have pictures!

The Mormon Handcart park is just off Mormon Trek -- click here for a map.  Thanks to Regan for organizing and to all who attended.

With love,

The Literacy Committee  

Iowa Activity: Wilson's Orchard

Mary and her family headed to Wilson's Orchard.  Mary says:

We went to the apple orchard! Well... I'm sad to say that there were hardly any apples and by hardly I mean there was one... literally only one, in the whole orchard!  Apparently they had a rough season and not many apples came of it.  We were pretty content with our tiny little apple though, and I am happy to report that we saw tons and Tons of deer!!!! 

A link to the Wilson's Orchard can be found here.  Here are some fun events they are planning (that do not involve apples!):

October 13-14:  Pumpkin Festival
October 20-21:  Games Weekend
October 27-28:  Trick-or-Treat

Thanks to Mary for sharing with us!

Love, 

The Literacy Committee

Iowa Activity: Fry fest, September 7th

Rachel and her husband were able to go to Fry Fest this year. She was generous enough to let us share a little bit about the concert and even a few photos. It looks like a great concert and that they had a fabulous time.

Rachel: A week or so ago was the annual Fry fest ("a celebration of all that is Hawkeye"). Brennan currently works as an intern for the City of Coralville and since they sort of host it, they had him working at the festival all day instead of the office. I think Brennan was perfectly fine with the change of pace. And I was perfectly fine with the concert tickets that came with it. :) 

The evening didn't get off to the greatest start when I headed down to Coralville. I was just meeting Brennan there after his work day. But President Obama was also visiting Iowa City that day so traffic was backed up since they had the freeway blocked for him. That meant I got to walk a long way to the concert. A very long way. I was already running late so this was extra frustrating to me. But I made it! And I even remembered to bring a jacket for Brennan so he could cover up the pink Fry Fest t-shirt he was tired of being seen in-haha. The performers were Lee Brice and Sarah Evans. I don't know their music very well but they both have a couple of songs that I like. We ended up hanging out backstage for the whole concert. All-in-all, it was an evening we got to spend together, away from the house, without a baby, without spending money, listening to good music, and enjoying beautiful weather. So it was great!

Brennan and Lee Brice. During lunch they handed out "meet and greet" passes to the people in Brennan's office. This is the picture they put on Lee Brice's website. Brennan loves the pink shirt. :)

Thanks for sharing Rachel! And for those of us who missed it, it looks like a fun event we can look forward to next year. Have a great rest of the week!

The Literacy Committee

p.s. don't forget there are only 10 days left in the month of September. Make sure to enter your goals in the sidebar of the blog!

Iowa Activity Idea -- Lake Macbride

Lake Macbride is located just a few miles north of the Iowa City/Coralville area. If you haven't visited before, this would be a great place to spend a few hours with your family or invite friends along to make a day of it. The State Park offers picnic shelters, camping, trails, swimming, boating and fishing.

Lake Macbride State Park: here
Lake Macbride Boat Rental Information: here
University of Iowa Outdoor Rental Center: here

For Labor Day a few families got together and rented canoes.

Larkin: Our afternoon at Lake Macbride was fabulous -- it is a beautiful area with lots to do! I tried canoeing for the first time and it was WAY out of my comfort zone (water and I do not get along). Once my anxiety subsided, it was a really fun and relaxing way to spend the afternoon. Cody & I will definitely be going back next summer. 

In addition to canoes, you can also rent pedal boats, pontoon boats, and kayaks for reasonable prices. There is a fun little swimming area and beach near the boat rental shop. I am sure the area will be just lovely in the fall when the leaves start turning colors -- there are so many fun walking & biking trails around the lake to enjoy. 

Abbey: I love canoeing, its such a fun thing to do with my husband. The lake is beautiful and its a good workout too. :) 

Hayley: Have you checked out Lake McBride? We have fallen in love with this litte lake! You can rent canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, and party pontoons. We spent Labor Day cruising around the lake by canoe, enjoyed a picnic and had fun playing at the beach. Unfortunately boat rentals are closed until Memorial Day but add this to your list of "Future Fun Things to Do" for next summer!

Thanks for sharing; Larkin, Abbey, Hayley and Melissa!

Love, The Literacy Committee

September - Personal Health: Biking

Hayley and her family have been taking advantage of the nice weather and abundance of trails in the Iowa City area. Weekly family bike rides would be a perfect activity to count towards a September Personal Health goal.

Tim and I have been making a more valiant effort to get out and go biking every week. There are so many awesome trails all over Coralville and Iowa City to enjoy. And as the leaves begin to turn and it cools off it will be even more fun to explore. Kate had a great time...can't you tell?! I'm always up for a ride, let me know when you want to go.

For more information about biking trails in the Iowa City area, click here and for Coralville, click here. For information about the North Liberty Recreational Trail and other parks in North Liberty, click here.

We look forward to hearing more of the ways you are incorporating the September Personal Health goals into your life this month!

Love,

The Literacy Committee

Czech Village, Cedar Rapids

Here is another great Iowa Activity idea that isn't too far from home. Hannah visited the Czech Village in Cedar Rapids and was gracious enough to share a little about her visit and even a few photos.

From Hannah: I can tell you right now that the Czech Museum was fantastic. They had a really cool exhibit with Alfonz Mucha's artwork. (He has his own style named after him.) It's a very beautiful and interesting story. They also had legit traditional clothing. Embroidery Galore! I could never come close to making clothing so beautiful. But anyways the Czech Museum and Library were the highlight of the trip. 

"Cedar Rapids is a city that is home to thousands of Czech, Moravian and Slovak immigrants and their descendants since the turn of the Century. Many more Czechs homesteaded and settled the farms and small towns surrounding Cedar Rapids. The Czech Village is a restored section of what was the shopping district for many of those immigrants. Czechoslovakians, known as Bohemians, have made lasting contributions to the Cedar Rapids community. Czechs began arriving in 1852 to work in local packing plants, and soon a "Little Bohemia" was established in the southwest sector of the city, now known as Czech Village."

National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library, click here.
Address: 1400 Inspiration Place SW, Cedar Rapids IA
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10am - 5pm.

For more information about the Czech Village (including a map!), click here.


Thanks for sharing Hannah! - and Happy Labor Day,

The Literacy Committee