We drove to Peoria on July 3rd to babysit Drew, Kayley and Ryan while
their folks went on vacation to Lake of the Ozarks. We had a grand time
celebrating the 4th with these three! The weather was gorgeous and we
did many outdoor activities. Megan and Andy returned on Sunday so we
drove back to the farm yesterday. Why is it always so hard to leave
them?
This sums up our 3 days together!
Ryan loves getting rides from Kayley on the Gator.
All the rain popped up a lot of weeds and grass on the kids' "mountain" and Drew was determined to get rid of them!
We made a 4th of July cake and it was delicious!
Kayley was hesitant to do sparklers but Grandpa eased her into the process and then she loved it.
The age of technology.....
Ryan seems to have no fear.
Come on Kayley, give me a ride!
Evening of the 4th
Kayley lost her very first tooth while mom and dad were away but the tooth fairy came through for her!
June 21st our only niece on Mark's side of the family was married.
Missy Swanson married Zach DeYoung at Happy Apple Orchard in Norwalk.
It was an outdoor setting and it was a beautiful ceremony. The weather
was a bit hot and humid but that was better than rain!
Mark
and I went down the night before and stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in
West Des Moines. Megan and family joined us later that evening after
work and arrived from Peoria around 9 pm. The next morning Andy took
the kids swimming, joined by Megan's friend Brooke and her husband and
children. They went to UNI together so it was nice they were able to
meet up for a few hours. Matt arrived that morning from Omaha so we had
a nice time together as a family.
Mark's brother
Milt, the father of the bride, came to the farm after everyone left on
Sunday and is spending some time with us. We are enjoying having him
and Pumpkin (a cute little dog who does not care for me!) staying with
us. In Pumpkin's defense, about the only dog that does like me is Sox,
Megan and Andy's dog. :-)
Last night the three of us
drove to Paton's new bar and restaurant called 209 Main. I could not
believe this place, considering it is in such a very small town. It is
beautiful and the food was very good! I hope to return again soon!
Video and pics from Des Moines:
Dad teaching Ryan to walk the side wall.
Everyone having fun with dad.
Kayley is not particularly happy about something!
Father and daughter dance
On special occasions Ryan gets his pacifier, when needed!
June is a busy birthday month for us! We left for Peoria on June 5th, Mark's birthday. June 6th Ryan turned 2 and June 9th Kayley turned 6. We were there to celebrate them all!
We also were excited to see two of Drew's baseball games and to see Kayley play in her very first t-ball game. Such fun to see how Drew and his team have improved with another year and it is always a chuckle watching the t-ball group learn this game. No one quite knew what they were doing but they were having fun doing it.
Friday the kids stayed home with us. Matt had also driven over for the festivities of the week-end so he took Drew and Kayley fishing that afternoon. No catches but they both learned how to cast their lines! Grandpa stayed with Ryan.
We stayed through Monday since that was Kayley's actual birthday and I took her and Drew to Monkey Joe's jumping house while Grandpa stayed with napping Ryan once again.
Everyone went back to summer daycare on Tuesday and Mark and I drove back to the farm. It was a fun week-end filled with laughter, lots of cake and great weather!
Kayley's very first t-ball game:
Drew's game:
Misc. fun over the week-end:
Getting all the bugs off of Grandma's car
Kayle loves wearing pretty dresses!
Drew modeling his new ball uniform
First time at catching!
Nothing tastes better than garden strawberries
Kayley loves her "Frozen" cake
Ryan ready to have some Mickey Mouse cake.
Ryan opening his presents
Fun at the local park
Drew and Kayley are always reading to Ryan.
Had to add this field of garden peas planted west of our home. The company will harvest them this week and the farmer will then go in and plant his soybeans. Interesting....
The farm was filled with lots of relatives so that was exciting but it was also a very sad time as we laid my niece Lisa to rest on that Sunday. Her wishes were to be buried by Grandpa Stan so everyone flew/drove to the farm. Jan and her four children drove down from MN on Friday. I picked Sharon up in Des Moines on Thursday. Arne, Erik and his daughters flew into Omaha and rented a car. Lisa's sons Nick and Taylor flew into Omaha and Matt drove them to the farm Friday night. Larry, Kevin and Sarah, Katie and Dan came Saturday night, also.
One bright spot for me was the fact that Megan brought Ryan with her when she came Friday night. Drew and Kayley went to Omaha with Andy for a graduation. Ryan had LOTS of attention from so many adults but did manage to catch a bug, too, but it didn't last too long.
We managed to fit everyone into the house, but only because no spouses or children were here. The family has ballooned to such a large number that an all-family farm reunion is impossible. We will have to do gatherings like we did in Estes Park several years ago! That was very fun and less stressful on us and our septic tank!
Some pics from our time together and of course, a video with my grandson! :-)
Stan, Ryan and Matt
Jan with daughters Marla and Britt
Lisa's urn covered in rose petals
Lisa's stone
Sharon with cousin Joyce
Matt and Taylor
Checking out the old barn and its many sky lights!
I left AZ a week ago last Saturday and arrived to a warm Iowa. This week is a MUCH different story, with temps in the 50's today. Brrr! I am not even going to look at what the temperature is in Phoenix but I know it is probably twice that. :-)
I stayed with Matt on Sunday night. We had a great time and met some friends at a restaurant. Such a nice couple and the pizza was to die for! He had to work the next day so I took off for the farm and my husband. It was good to be home after being in 7 states in two days! Leaving a car in AZ and flying back and forth sounds more appealing each passing year....I just hate being seated for 12 hours per day!
I managed to stay at the farm for three whole days and then took off to see the grand kids in Peoria. I had a marvelous time there this Mother's Day week-end! I was able to watch Kayley play in her soccer game, her first sports participation. She is going to try T ball this summer so that should be fun to watch, also. Drew is excited about his baseball season and I look forward to his games.
Ryan stayed home from Daycare on Friday so he and I had a wonderful time together. He has changed so much and is talking a lot more now....and counting! He turns 2 on June 6 and Kayley turns 6 on June 9th so we will all be heading out there for those celebrations. I can't wait. :-)
My siblings and most of their children will be coming to the farm Memorial Day week-end to celebrate and remember my niece Lisa's short time here on earth. Lisa passed away in early April and wanted to be laid to rest with her Grandpa Kalkwarf, so that is what we are going to do over that week-end. I still cannot believe she is gone. She leaves behind four sons: Aaron, Nick, Daniel and Taylor.
On a happier note, some pictures and videos of my time in Peoria!
Like all kids, Ryan loves water and he had a great time playing in it with his daddy and Drew
Kayley soccer game
Ryan and Sox
Our AZ front yard before I left. Notice Mark's many beautiful cactus blooms!
