Iowa!

At the beginning of June, we went on a family vacation to Iowa.  Our first stop was to visit Jim's Uncle Mike who lives on the bluffs above the Mississippi River.  While we were there, he rented a cabin nearby and we went there for the day.

The boys got to go fishing.

Patrick caught a fish.

 

I caught a fish, too.  This picture makes it look small, but I am sure it was at least 20 pounds.  ;)

For lunch, we roasted hot dogs, and then marshmallows!   

Uncle Mike got to hold his youngest great-niece.

We had more s'mores after dinner.

The view from Uncle Mike's house is pretty amazing!

Pretty sunset 

Our next stop was the town of Perry, Iowa.  We stayed at a cool hotel, Hotel Pattee. The big jacuzzi tub was a hit with the boys.

On Saturday we went to the annual Perry Kids' Fest.  

The kids got to do crafts.

Maggie was attacked with kisses.

Jack tried out the robot costume.

Even Charlie liked doing the crafts.

They also got their faces painted.  

Everyone got a balloon, too!  I was not fast enough with the camera to get a picture before Charlie's popped.

That night, I went to a wedding of my good friends, Elaine and Rosie.  Jim and the kids hung out at the hotel after a dinner of pizza, Cheetos, and beer (just Jim had the beer).

It was so great to catch up with friends from my teaching days.

On the way home, we stopped in Kirksville and I showed the family where I went to college.  We took this picture in front of my old dorm.

It was a great trip and the kids want to know when we can go back to Iowa!

Trip to the ER

What started as a fun morning at a park with friends, ended as an afternoon in the ER with my 4.5 year old.  Patrick fell off some of the playground equipment and landed on his chin.  It was bleeding a lot and there was a big opening.  My friend followed me to the ER and then took the other three kids and I stayed with Patrick.  The first thing the nurse did was put some lidocaine on it.  Patrick was feeling better already.

After another dose of lidocaine, the doctor put seven stitches in his chin. Patrick was happy to play Angry Birds on the hospital's iPad while the doctor sutured him.

Battle wound:

Luckily it is not someplace that is too visible.  He's a happy guy now.

Independence Day

Happy Fourth of July!

Family Reunited

My aunt and uncle finally had both their kids in the same country for the first time in about a year.  We were lucky enough to catch up with them for the one week they were all in town, before Mark (my Godson) moved to New York.

 

Our kids love playing at their house!

 

The stomp rocket is a favorite toy.

Catch that rocket!

Aunt Sue can make Superman fly! 

This kid has a good arm.

 We are so lucky to have this family in our lives.

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a great Memorial Day weekend!  Jack had his last day of school that Friday.  He got out before noon and we met a bunch of other former first graders at a park for a picnic lunch and some playing.  We came home and Jack's siblings napped while he had a water balloon fight with the neighbors.  That evening, we walked up to the jazz festival in our town and saw lots of friends.

Jim had to work Saturday morning.  As I was putting Maggie down for a nap, Charlie and Patrick decided that painting on paper was boring.  So, they kicked it up a notch...

Jack's coach picked him up for his baseball game. While we waited, Jack showed off some baseball poses for my camera.

Charlie showed off his beautiful face.

On Sunday, we had family pictures taken.  I tried to get a few of the kids afterward, but they were more interested in the helicopter flying above them.

On Monday (Memorial Day), we went to the Cardinal game.  Jim's college friend sang the National Anthem on the field.  Very cool! The temperature was supposed to reach 90, so we got these cool spray fans for the boys.  They were a hit!

I think Maggie enjoyed her first Cardinal game!