We have had so many things going on simultaneously that it has been a
whirlwind! We had Drew and Kayley at the farm for a week and now I
have been in Peoria for a week, driving them back last Saturday to their
home and spending another week with all of them. I wanted to get some
Ryan time as he was too little to have at the farm.
Drew
and Kayley had a great time. Each visit they find something new to
occupy their hours. Last time it was rocks and cutting weeds out of the
beans. This visit they spent gathering tools (wooden sticks of all
sizes) to work on a dead tree. We have several but they were
particularly fond of "Tall Paul" and "Spread Eddie". Drew selected
these names. Naturally the golf cart and lawn mower cart got a
work-out, too.
While they were with us, the outside of
our house was being totally transformed and they enjoyed watching the
workers and the workers got a kick out of them. While on the lawn mower
cart, one remarked that he didn't know they were supposed to bring a
float. That gave Drew and Kayley the idea to come by on it and throw candy to them
while they were taking a break, just like in a parade. That gave them all a
good laugh. They didn't want to leave the farm but they also wanted to
see Ryan and Mom and Dad so it wasn't too bad getting them to go.
Kayley did shed a few tears when we let the air and water out of
Pirate's Bay. :-) She also cried telling grandpa good bye.
We
have had fun this week in Peoria, too. Tomorrow is a very big
day.....Drew begins 1st grade and Kayley starts kindergarten and riding
the bus. Mommy is hoping that neither cry getting on the bus. They can
be quite shy when they want to so we will have to wait and see. They
both seem extremely excited about it but when it actually arrives......
I
am returning to Iowa on Saturday with the anticipation that the outside
of our home is finished. I cannot wait to see it. The only thing that
will not be done is a new deck, which we will do next summer when we
return from AZ. We also put in new flooring in the kitchen, laundry and
all three bathrooms. It isn't quite finished but what is done looks
lovely and I really like it!
Some pics and videos from our adventures:
Drew and Kayley getting off their first wooden roller coaster ride at Adventureland. Let's just say they were not entirely impressed!
Drew and Kayley spent LOTS of time working on this tree with their "tools"
Always a fun time in Pirate's Bay
Finally, another tree hugger besides me in the family!
Kayley thinks she can push it down.
Working, working, working on that tree!
Uncle Matt and kids at Adventureland
They loved climbing on all the tractors
Kayley in her great grandfather Swanson's WWII hat
At least our huge pond of nothing provided some fun!
In the combine
Time for shopping at Peoria's Target store
For some reason, Peoria play areas contain a lot of Catepillar displays. :-)
