Mark and I took off for Peoria on Wednesday, August 12th. The children's day care school was closed on Thursday and Friday so we offered to come and babysit. It was very, very hot during our visit. We were outside only sporadically, mainly to get wet with the garden hose, water table and water balloons. Kids love water, especially when it is 90's and very humid!
Megan and Andy have moved into their beautiful new home. It still has many finishing touches to complete, i.e. window treatment, etc., but it is a lovely home and the children seem to love their new rooms and bathrooms. Grandpa and grandma enjoyed "their" new bedroom, too, with bath and shower and walk in closet! I am really looking forward to helping her decorate for the holiday season when I fly to IL for Thanksgiving!
Some pictures of our few days in Peoria:
We went for a short walk...short due to high heat.
I think the kids will be sad when the place is landscaped. They enjoyed the dirt!
If you're going to play outside in your PJ's, you just look better wearing heels!
We have had a very active July, just the way I like it! I spent a few days in Okoboji with an old friend, Pam Ferris. It was so great getting together with her after all these years. She has a beautiful home on West Okoboji. Thanks, Pam!
The highlight was a 9 day farm visit with Drew, Kayley and Ryan. It was Ryan's first time to the farm flying solo without his parents and he did great! Matt and I met Megan in Iowa City on July 25th, we switched vehicles and back to the farm we headed with three new riders!
They were happy to be heading to the farm!
One of the first things they did upon arrival was get their swim suits on and head to Pirates Bay. They love Pirates Bay; their grandfather, not so much. :-) (lots of drying out time after all the fun and trying to pack it into a bag!)
Waiting for the water to be added....Ryan, get your suit on asap!
Another favorite thing to do on the farm is ride the golf cart and cut "trees". We drove everywhere on both places looking for branches that hit the cart roof and down they went, courtesy of Drew, Kayley!
We took off Wednesday morning for Adventureland Park and Adventure Bay water park. They had a blast, especially at the water park. Grandpa and Grandma had a good time, too, and we were all pooped when we arrived home! I was especially glad everyone's sunscreen worked properly!
Big sister kindly agreed to ride this with Ryan.
Grandpa took them on the log ride
Kayley got drenched on the ride, Drew and Grandpa not so much!
Ryan was really lovin' this underground railroad ride!
Finally, the water park fun begins
Time out for some ice cream
Ryan directing visitors to the ice cream shop
The older siblings graciously agreed to ride this, as Ryan didn't want to go it alone!
The rest of their visit was filled with many lawn mower, golf cart and gator rides all around the farm. They also wanted a bonfire every night. Drew loved keeping the fire burning and discovered one morning that it was still smoking. He kept that fire burning ALL day by gathering brush and sticks. He needs to join the Boy Scouts, I think! The sweet corn was ready during their visit, thanks to good neighbor Craig. Kayley, who has lost many teeth, was the only child to eat it!
Grandpa doesn't appear to think much of their downtime activities! Haha
Kayley digging the sweet corn!
Our beautiful and fun loving grandchildren.
Grandpa getting ready to light the bonfire for s'mores
Watching the fire from the back of grandpa's gator
Monday, August 3 arrived and it was time to drive them back to their home in Peoria. It was a bittersweet parting....they were sad to leave the farm but they were super excited to go see their brand new house and their bedrooms! Megan and Andy were busy getting ready for the big move from the apartment to the new home, so it was a good time for the 3 kids to be at the farm for a visit so their parents could work on that not so fun task! When we arrived, they didn't know where to run to first, but their bedrooms and the toy room in the basement were high on their priority lists! The home is very beautiful and once they finally get all the boxes unloaded, the pictures hung, etc., they are really going to enjoy it there. I stayed for two days to help with the boxes and to watch the kids. Was fun!
Drew has tackle FB this year. Grandma says "yikes".
Kayley taking her first shower in her very own bathroom. Quite proud...
Ryan didn't know quite what to think about his brand new BIG bed. :-)
I left for Peoria on June 27th and spent until July 8th! That was a long time to invade my son-in-law's sanctuary, especially since that castle is an apartment on the third floor. He seemed fine with that, but he is a nice and quiet guy. :-)
My reason for going was to get in on some summer game action with Drew and Kayley. I only saw one of Kayley's games, but several of Drew's. Kayley's season was ending in T-ball. She seems to enjoy it. That age is fun to watch, as they really haven't a clue, just learning the game.
Drew's team is very good and came in third at their own tournament that I attended. They lost in extra innings, missing the championship game. This prejudiced grandma thinks her grandson is a very good player for his age. He hits well, fields well. It will be fun to watch him progress through the years in all his sports.
Ryan was so fun. He has a winning, "class clown" personality and never fails to make us laugh. He talks with a great vocabulary for a "new" 3 year old. The only thing holding him down is his potty training....I always was told, "tomorrow, Grandma." :-)
We spent the afternoon of the 4th at the ball field once again....this time the Peoria Chiefs game. It was so much fun and we had great seats in the stadium for the city's awesome fireworks. It was a great holiday.
Grandpa couldn't make it to Peoria until July 5th, as weedy beanfields called. He saw Drew play ball on Monday but Tuesday's game were rained out. We headed back to the farm on Wednesday.
We are getting all three kids at the farm the end of July for a week. We are very excited to have them. It will be Ryan's first visit without his parents. I think he will do fine, especially with his siblings there. Time to blow up Pirate's Bay!
Some scenes from our time together in Peoria:
Snack time
Ready for our day of baseball
Kayley gets her trophy
Ryan enjoying his huge apartment deck!!
Due to wet fields, Drew played a game in the Pekin dome!
My handsome little grandson.
Enjoying a day at the park.
Another rainy day, so it was off to Chuck E. Cheese.
Drew was the BIG winner of tickets at C. Cheese!
A plus with this apartment....a pool!
Kayley entertained little ones at Drew's game
Heading home after a swim
Fun at the 4th of July BB game
Ryan could not WAIT for the fireworks, but, finds out he was not a fan!
The end of May and Sarah and Brad's wedding brought some of the Kalkwarf's to the farm. The wedding was in Webster City on Saturday, May 30. Jan drove down the Thursday before and stayed through the following Tuesday. Sharon flew in from Florida on Friday and stayed until Monday. Britt, Don, and Ron drove down Friday night and left Sunday morning. Matt also came Friday night and returned to Omaha on Sunday. Larry and Lane came to the farm after the wedding and spent the night. So, lots of family in attendance at the wedding for our niece, Sarah.
Following that group's visit, we got to enjoy Megan, Drew, Kayley and Ryan at the farm from Wednesday through Monday. Matt came back on Friday for that visit. We celebrated three birthdays at the farm. Grandpa on the 5th, Ryan on the 6th and Kayley (early), which is on the 9th. We did our usual farm stuff and the kids seemed to enjoy it. The farm never seems quite the same after they leave. Way too quiet and lonesome. I prefer action, I guess. :-)
A video of all that action I was talking about:
Wedding of Sarah and Brad Ratcliff
Piper, the cutest little Flower Girl
Father-daughter dance
Matt trying out Lee and John's boundary waters hammock . RIP, Matt.
Kayley and Drew helping clean up the farm yard
Ryan learning the techniques of farm clean up.
Hand trux....your arm becomes the excavator.
They loved the hand trux!
Kids love mud.....
The three birthday buddies
Visiting Sarah Britton and family near Huxley
Kayley really wants a horse....
Ryan and Owen Britton. Ryan really wants a 4 wheeler...
