A Sidenote

Just to let all know that we have made it home safely. We arrived back on Tuesday about noon to 100 degree temps. Blech. We're working hard at getting caught up and cleaned up to head out on our next adventure. I'll keep posting frequently to get us all caught up. For now here's a picture taken by my grandma, I think its the only picture of us as a family that we took the whole time (other than group photos).

Iowa: Part 1

Well, it still feels like home, in a weird we-never-really-left way. I s'pose the fact that our house hasn't sold yet and that we stayed in said house helped that feeling. We got to see so many friends and every time it was as if we had just spent time together yesterday, not months (or years) ago.

We pulled in early in the morning on Friday after a long drive across Nebraska. While I am not quite a fan of big thunderstorms while driving: I will say that the long trek through one of the flattest states this side of the Mississippi was never so interesting as it was this time. God was good to us and got us through safe, which we are thankful for.

Friday, as expected was a little rough. That's all we need to say about that day.

Saturday was the Bachelor party: paintball, bowling and food. Followed by sore muscles, tired eyes and spectacular bruises. Even a week later Marc's torso was fairly colorful with healing bruises. Saturday was also an informal reunion of our small group Bible study. What fun to see everyone again! While some members were not there and definitely missed, we easily found our groove as friends and had a great (late) night of catching up and reminiscing.

*Some* of the injuries incurred with paintball.

Most of the old group together again, although we sorely missed those not able to make it.

One of our new acquaintances taught Desmond a game: Cut the pickle, tickle tickle tickle! Basically you hold your index fingers together and then the child "cuts the pickle" (put his finger in between your index fingers) and when he does you then tickle him. Desmond decided that this game would be funner if he was the one holding the pickle hence this video:

Sunday we went to church and then had lunch with friends followed by an afternoon with the soon-to-be newlyweds. Bob got his mad "pizza-putting-on" skills going and made some great pizza while we acquainted ourselves with guitar hero - a little addicting, good thing there were little people there to pull us away from the game or we may have been there all night trying to get good at it. We do think, however, that it is a bit sad they can't teach you the actual chords instead of just pushing the right button. We played outside for awhile blowing bubbles with Miss Andrea and coloring the driveway with chalk, as well.



Sunday night was reserved for girls only and we had a blast. Many a good topic laughed over including a certain taxi scene replayed several times and in slow motion - I don't know why its so funny, but it is. =)

Monday Marc was busy so Tressa, Desmond, Jaxter and I pulled together a menu and headed out to get groceries. The Co-op that we went to had little grocery carts that were just the right size for Desmond and he dove right in to "shopping". He started just filling up his basket: cauliflower, apples, potatoes, mac 'n' cheese, bread.... We spent double the required time getting groceries because we were constantly putting items back on the shelf. Desmond had to acquire a new item for his cart every two minutes or so from Tressa and I or he would just help himself to whatever was attractive from the shelves. =)


You may, or may not, have noticed the atrocious amount of rain the Midwest has been getting. We got caught in a downpour on Tuesday. The timing worked out just right that we had to make a break for Tressa's car right at the worst and we got drenched! The car was less than 10 feet from the door and it was still as if we had stepped into three showers all at once. Jaxter was less than impressed with the downpour but Desmond thought it was fairly amusing and he got to sit in Tressa's car so all was good with his world. =)

All wet!

Since it was so rainy that day we decided to take a trip to the Children's Museum. Which was actually very interesting, although a bit old for Jax and Des, it still held their attention for our entire visit and probably would have continued to be entertaining well after we had to leave for dinner. Despite all the great activities the museum had the most enthralling endeavor was a small hill in a playroom. They spent an incredible amount of time going up and down and up and down.
Wednesday was a Mommy day. There is a Mom's group that includes several friends so Tressa and I went to hang out and chat with them in the afternoon. After naps we all met at the local splash pad where Des and Jax got their first taste of playing in water. Other than bath time they hadn't ever really had play time in water, let alone spraying you in the face and all over your body water. It took them awhile to acclimate to the experience (and at one time they aborted the water activity in favor of the swings...and sand...and slide...and ball court) but did eventually come back to the splash pad to fully experience the joy of being cool on a hot day.


Part 2 Iowa to follow soon.....

Denver - the narrative.

We left home for Denver on a Monday in the afternoon in time for the boys to have a late nap. We tried out our new travel trays as well as our (indulgent) portable DVD player. We took a supper break at a play area and then arrived at the cousins' house around midnight and a very hospitable, albeit a little tired, uncle let us in for shelter. The boys slept through the transfer from car to bed.

We woke to a gorgeous morning, seized the opportunity and went to the zoo. Marveling at the elephants, hippo, sea lions. giraffes and tigers we made our way around the zoo, stopped for a snack and then arrived back at the house for a well deserved nap. The boys slept three hours!


Day two (Wednesday) we went to the downtown aquarium. Which we were very much looking forward to because Desmond loves Nemo, especially the sharks. But, ironically, he was terrified of the sharks and would beg to leave the area as soon as sharks were suspected. But after we left all he could talk about was the sharks. Apparently its a love/hate fascination. =) They have a little area with Sting Rays at the end of the exhibits and Desmond was very brave and touched one of them. Jaxter gave it a good try but couldn't quite coordinate the outstretched hand with the emerging sting ray. All in all a fun outing.


Day three was spent (to quote an aunt) "putting out pesky fires" around the house. Good thing Firemen Desmond and Jacoby have a trained eye to see these dangers as most went undetected by the adults until we were alerted by the resident fire team. I realize I haven't said much about the two littler boys, Jaxter and Morgan, but you can pretty much assume that they were always in tow, just a step behind the big boys, trying their best to keep up. =) We adults appreciated the grown-up company as well as the extra playmates for our boys. We had many great meals and good conversation, although I am afraid that we distracted Justin somewhat from his work. We were grateful of their hospitality and, as always, enjoyed spending time with all of them. =)

We then prepped to undertake the overnight drive to the Midwest. We were all sad to leave Denver, Desmond especially. He kept asking to go to Jacoby's house. I will keep trying to post (in
at least one on-line venue) every day so keep checking back.

Denver

A couple videos of the first leg of our trip. Keep checking back, I'll try to get more videos and pictures and text up through the week....

Jaxter watching Cookie Monster.

This was a popular activity during our visit to cousin Jacoby's house.

Still one of our favorite activities.

Play date with a friend and his trampoline. =)

TROUBLE!

Picnic at Dad's work on a Saturday. We've done this a couple times since school let out as well (Marc has had to get all his grades done, etc) and the boys love it.

We attended graduation. Marc's bands and choirs performed so we went to listen but we left halfway through because little boys got a bit antsy. =) The performances went well. This is Jaxter post graduation climbing the bleachers.

One of the perks of small town celebrations: cake! As I was getting Jaxter, my bag and the rest of our items settled in the chaos Desmond made himself comfortable and became quite adept at a fork in order to down half this piece before I could even say "Whoa!" =)

Little boys reading books together.

The boys LOVE playing drums and its developmental! =)

Table play with "prizes" (our bribes for Desmond to use the pottie).

Playing with rocks at a Memorial Day barbecue.

While school is out, Marc is not. We have been living a month of Fridays as we live on the cusp of summer break. Everyday feels like the last (a Friday) but Saturday hasn't come. We entertain ourselves with outside activities, visits to Dad and planning for our busy (*busy*) summer.

We made a quick trip to the big city this last weekend to run all our errands and get stocked up for our trip semi cross country. We will be doing more of our traveling during daylight hours this year, which is both good and anxiety provoking. The boys are getting so grown up that it should go fine but a lot of hours in confinement can potentially do wonders to normally good natured boys. =)