Trip to Iowa

Thursday was a LONG day since we were up at 3am. Derek and I packed the car and then just transplanted the girls from their bed to their carseats. Too bad my idea didn't work. I looked in the back seat and there were 4 eyes looking back at me. Dang it!! Flight was good and girls were great on it. They loved it and Ava had to check everything out.


Thank god for iphones cause that is what held their attention most of the time.
We flew to Kansas City and then drove 3 hours to Harlan. We had several pee breaks and not because of the girls. The girls watched a movie but were so tired that they slept most of the way. We had lunch in Harlan. Then headed to Newell around 3pm. The girls needed a break from being strapped in their car seats. They fell asleep on the drive to Newell. Dad was already in Newell. Grandma Nettie had dinner ready for us when we got there. GN's neighbors have a trampoline so after dinner we took the girls over to jump. Even GN jumped!



We took them to the park to run some energy off so they’d go to bed since they had had 3 naps that day!

Friday morning we headed to Storm Lake to play at their awesome park.




We had lunch at Grand Central, little dive joint café. Dad, Chris, Papa Lloyd and Derek played golf. We left Newell around 2pm to head to the hotel to change and go to the rehearsal dinner. We stayed in La Mars, 20 min from Alton, since there are only 2 hotels in Alton. We stayed at a very nice Holiday Inn and it had a pool.

The rehearsal dinner was fun. The food was awesome!! Pulled pork, hot dogs, mac salad, potato salad, veggie and fruit trays, cake, lots of beer and pop. The girls had fun playing with their cousins. They even played in the water cause Aunt Sanny said it was ok.






No Galbraith's or Scott's are welcome at the Dutch Colony Inn. At least they are excited for Jesse and Melissa's big day!

Saturday, Derek and Dad took the girls swimming at the hotel pool while Emi, Mom and I worked out at the hotel gym.

Thank god I ran those 30 minutes or I wouldn’t have fit in my pants for the wedding. Too many sweets at the Grandma's houses on Thursday and Friday. After lunch, it was time to head to the wedding. Wedding started at 3pm. Girls did great during the ceremony. It was an hour and a half. Again, thank you Apple for creating iphones cause that is what kept them quiet most of the time. Melissa was gorgeous and as she walked down the aisle, Ava yelled "there is the princess!!!!"





My girls showed all the other cousins how to use the iphone. It was fun to see them be the "teachers" at 2 years old.


It was fun to have all the cousins there to celebrate. We all danced the night away at the reception. Jesse did have to wear an "I love my HAWKEYES" tshirt since his wife is a Hawk fan! Love it!!
Photo of the Cousin's....
Justin, Aly, Jesse, Annie, Sam, Maggie and Emily

Photo of the Cousin's kiddos...
Grace (2), Makenna (4), Tayte (6), Malia (2), Rowan (5) and Ava (2)

The girls danced the night away with the princesses, Melissa and Maggie. Grace wouldn't let Maggie's hand go. She wouldn't go to any of us cause Maggie had a pretty dress on and was a princess. We had to get a photo of the girls with Melissa because she was the "Big Princess"!





Derek, Dad, Grandma Prue, the girls and I left at 10:30pm to go back to our hotels. Mom, Emi and Chris stayed to dance with everyone til midnight.

Sunday, we were up and moving to get back to Harlan. Dad left and went back to Newell. We just hung out and shared photos back in Harlan. Grandma Prue had steaks for dinner.






Monday was Sanny's birthday so the girls and Malia decorated her cake with flags. Then we ate it for breakfast. YUM!

We left by 9:30am to catch our 2:45p flight out of KC. Funny story.....On our way to the airport, Derek was yelling at the guy in front of him "move it" cause he was holding up traffic. Grace yells from the back seat "move it, or lose it!". hahaha! We all burst out laughing! She cracks me up that she knows what that means and when to use it. The things they absorb.
Girls did great on the flight home. Ava had to look out the window on take off and landing. She is very curious. Grace was eating her sandwich and chips during take off. She could care less how things work, just get her home! haha!
Great trip, awesome wedding, gorgeous couple and some good memories made with the cousins!