Another era gone

Matt came home this week-end and it was so good to see him AND have his muscle power.  Mark is in the process of burying his birth place and there is lots of work to be done before that happens.  We spent the week-end over there going through all the old buildings, clearing any glass, saving anything that might be of value, etc.  Matt and I took some items that tugged at our heart strings.  It is amazing how hard it is to see your home place going into the history bin.  I better get used to it because it is going to happen to my home place, too.  :-(  Time marches on....with or without us!

Farm Fun!

We had Drew and Kayley for a week at the farm.  We had so much fun!  The weather did give us some rainy days but overall it was a constant outdoor adventure.  They swam in Pirate's Bay, clipped every bush and weed they could find, had a hot dog roast, played in the dirt, went shopping, and topped it all off with a fun-filled day at Adventureland and the water park.

I took them back to Peoria last Sunday and spent the next week with them, as their day care was going to be closed so I helped out on that.  Friday they got on the bus for their year in first grade and second grade.  I cannot believe it!  They are growing too quickly!

The two videos below are identical, so ignore one of them.  It is not letting me delete one and I don't have time to deal with that right now! :-)

First day of school and everyone was happy!

Boat ride at Adventureland

Drew's selfie on the sky ride

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They loved trimming!

Slumber party in grandma's living room

Priate's Bay

More clipping

And, yes....more clipping!

S'mores

Lunch on the lawn mower cart

Kayley loves her bubble bath

Hot dog roast

Getting the bonfire hot

Cute bike rider!

Oh good.  Puddles!

Preparing for the bonfire

Disney World all over again!

Looking good in gray!

Quick trip to Illinois

Andy had to fly to Australia once again for business so Megan had the three kids by herself.  I thought I would drive to Peoria and help her out.  Andy left last Friday but I couldn't leave until the following Tuesday!  We had a wedding to attend Saturday night and I had to sit around here until Tuesday because I am on jury duty (grrrr) and had to call in Monday evening to see if there was a trial this week.  There was not, so I left early Tuesday morning.  I know it is my civic duty to have jury duty, but this is my third time and it really puts a damper on my short time in Iowa!

We left for the farm on Friday morning.  Megan and the kids stayed about an hour and then took off for Andy's family reunion.  Andy was to arrive that evening in Omaha.  Sydney to Dallas was a 16 hour flight, I think.  I cannot imagine being on a plane for that length of time!  I am certain he suffered jet lag during the entire reunion!  :-(

They are going to stop here today on their way home and drop off Drew and Kayley for a week's stay at the farm.  I am really looking forward to that!  We put up Pirate's Bay and it is ready for the two of them.  The golf cart is all charged and the lawn mower filled with gas.  It is going to be a non-stop week for grandma and grandpa!

I took a few pictures while in Peoria:

Drew and Kayley shuck the corn while Ryan photobombs them.

Ryan's first ear of Iowa corn!

Cheese...

Kayley and Ryan riding in style to the park.

Lunch at the park is always a hit!

Ryan checks out dad's AZ cactus.

A stop at the gazebo while walking Sox

Made it to the farm.  Time for lunch.