Fun-filled family week-end

Megan, Andy and the kids drove here Friday night from Peoria and Matt arrived about the same time from Omaha. We had a fun few days! Saturday Matt and Andy golfed at Honey Creek near The Ledges. Megan and I took Kayley to a baby shower for Karen Swanson hosted at Barb Peterson's home. It was fun to see everyone there. Grandpa and Drew stayed at the farm and played. Saturday evening we grilled steaks and had good old Iowa sweet corn. Delicious despite the field being attacked by raccoons a few days earlier. Mark always puts up electric fence to keep those critters at bay but all the storms left debris on the wire, shorting it out and the coons made hay in no time. Have I ever mentioned how much I despise raccoons? It is up and running again so hopefully no more damage from them!

Kevin and Julie and Dan and Katie stopped down for a bit last night, too. Was fun to see them.

Drew played all week-end on the peddle tractor that has seen a few generations on its seat! Everyone left this afternoon after Megan, Andy and Mark returned from golfing at Don Williams today. I fixed a brunch and they left shortly after that. It is really quiet here once again. :-(

We had WAY too much rain lately but this week-end stayed dry. Hope that trend contines!

A video of Kayley enjoying the farm:


Drew and his "new" toy:

Sunday, a day of WORK

We must have had a very bad storm last night but Mark and I didn't know it! Not until we got up this morning, that is, and found the lawn littered with branches and a zillion little broken sticks everywhere. Such fun! The worst was a huge part of a tree that fell on the road by our lane and blocked all traffic. Mark pulled it out of the roadway and worked on dismantling it in our driveway. I spent 3 sweaty hours picking up sticks. My back is a little stiff now! Some good came out of the storm...a dead raccoon in the tree that fell on the road. :-) I actually felt "sort of" sorry for the critter! Mark noticed skid marks on the gravel road going right up to the tree and saw the tree was moved about two feet from the impact of whatever poor soul hit it last night. I am not certain how you miss a tree this size laying across the road but someone saw it too late!

Megan and her family had a Thiel reunion in LeMars this week-end. She said their golf outing on Saturday was scorching hot but they had a great time. Now, the long drive back to Peoria today for them. She said they plan to come to the farm next week-end so I cannot wait for that. The sweet corn will be ready by then and the rest of my garden is producing so we won't starve. I think I have convinced Matt to drive out here, too. Looking forward to seeing them all again so soon. I could get used to this..

Some pics of our mess and also a picture of Andy, Drew and Kayley which I stole from Jenny Thiel's FB page! Thanks Jenny! I liked that picture. :-) I am trying to figure out what it is that has all three of them staring downward?!?!?!

Sunday in Peoria

Sunday morning Megan and I took Drew and Kayley to the mall play area that had all Caterpillar toys, go figure! Also stopped at a park that is very close to the home they are considering buying. We had a fun morning then met Andy for lunch at a drive in for chili dogs. I left for Iowa as soon as Megan put the kids down for their afternoon nap. Drove non-stop from Peoria to the farm in 4 hours and 20 minutes, knocking off 25 minutes by not needing to fill up. I was going to stay until Monday morning but I figured that would make getting them to daycare go less smoothly if I were around. They are still in the "adjusting" mode so I didn't want to make it worse by being there. Megan said they went bowling at school yesterday and had a great time so that was news I wanted to hear! They are going to be loving it in no time!

First time in Peoria

I got up early this morning and headed out to Peoria to see where my daughter and family are now calling home. Took me 4 hours and 45 minutes, all interstate so it was an easy drive. It was great to see them, even though I had just seen them over the 4th. I have been anxious to visit in Peoria and see the city they had chosen for their new home. It was much bigger than I had anticipated, around 185,000. For some reason I thought Peoria was a smaller town! Megan and the kids drove me all around and I saw where Drew and Kayley attend "school" and where Megan and Andy work for Caterpillar. She also took me around to look at the homes they have been looking at as possibilities. Hopefully they will get to move into a home soon. They are living in an extended stay hotel until that day. Tight quarters for four people. I am thinking they didn't need another body in here but I will be gone tomorrow! :-) I can see many trips to Peoria visiting Drew and Kayley in our future!

More reunion videos and pics

Family Reunion week-end

What a blast! We had a fantastic time over the 4th. All of Jan's family came from MN except Jim, who had to work. All of Larry's family came except Chad and Jody, who had to work. All of Kevin's family came except Lee and Sarah, who had to work. Work can be a terrible thing. :-) Ha! Just glad to have a job in this economy, I am sure! We did miss them though. Sharon's family are all going to their new home in FL at the end of the month so they were unable to make it, too. But, the farm was filled to the brim with bouncing kids and happy adults so it was a very good time together!

Megan, Drew and Kayley arrived Wed. night. Andy had to work! I was SO excited to see them! I cannot tell anyone how much I had missed them! Thursday Jan and Matt made it to the farm. That evening we had Jan and Clayton for grilled chops and had a really nice time visiting with them. One of my favorite couples!

Friday was arrival time for everyone else. Ron, Meghan, Gabe and Garrett were first to get here. Melissa was in Europe with her mother. They were followed by Britt, Tom, Hayley, Olivia and Carley. Next came Marla with her children Kallie and Liam. Liam is two and it was the very first time I had met him. Sweet kids! Last to arrive were Stan, Heather, Micah and Mataya.

Friday night we lit a big bonfire and had hot dogs and the day was spent at the golf course by several of the adults. That night Kevin and Julie came for the fire, along with his daughter Katie. Husband Dan had a bug and was very ill and couldn't come down. John and Amanda and their new puppy Angus stopped out, also. It was a very fun evening.





Saturday saw lots of action with water. Stan and Heather brought a pool and Britt had a water slide matt and the kids loved it all. More golf by some of the men, too. It was a hot and steamy day so the water felt good. That evening we grilled hamburgers and Kevin, Julie and Katie came again. Still no Dan, very bad virus had the best of him. Poor guy.

I will add more to this post as I get videos done so keep checking back. :-) I have the first video done. This one had Drew becoming very wet and dirty!