Is This Heaven? No, It's Iowa. (and Minnesota. and Wisconsin:)

Wow. There is so much to put in this post! It's a long one (do I even need to say that anymore?) :) 

Dave had last week (September 21-25) off from work and we had made some major plans! We started the weekend before with a Twins game with Mom, Dad, Andrew & Kylie! We decided to spend the extra money again to get great seats where it would be easy to manage the kids. We debated if we should ride the train/metro to the game or just drive. We've driven before and it went great. But we knew it could be fun to take the kids on a train. We also opted to not stay in a hotel! We found a one night rental on Home Away/VRBO and found a cute, 1930s bungalow in a cute neighborhood. 

Though I had grand hopes of arriving early in the day to find some fun things to do in the city, we arrived around 4 p.m. We checked out the house and unloaded our things. You guys. This house was practically a spitting image of my Grandma Oehlke's house in St. Paul (okay, not the outside, but the inside!) It was surreal:) We ended up sleeping like this - Dave and I in a queen bed, Ayden in pack and play and the two big kids on cots in the walk-in closet in our room:) We layered on some clothing (Twins gear!) and drove to find the station to get on the train! 

The cute rental!

Loved the light in this front room. The chair spun all the way around, the kids loved it

We finally found a Target to park at and walk a block or so. It was up high over the road, pretty interesting for the kids! Lots to be excited about and learn about. The train. Was. Packed. Ugh. I know Dave also had a moment of panic when we were trying to get on. He had Collin, I was wearing Ayden and Kate was with Andrew and Kylie. We all got in different doors and basically pushed our way in. Definitely had a moment of panic that Kate wasn't with us. Ayden was kind of smooshed up against me and was tired. I was praying he wouldn't start fussing or crying! He was an angel. Did so good. 

These two were kind of twinsies, with their skinny jeans, grey hoodies and shoes:)

My amazing babe, enduring the crowded train

The kids did pretty good at the game. It was a beautiful night, we had lots of fun (and help!) but the Twins lost. Oh no, we are bad luck! My aunt and uncle have season tickets (what?!) and so they stopped by to say hello as well. So fun!

A family pic taken by Uncle Jerry!

Sisters!

Collin and I spent a lot of time together at the game:) It was awesome.

Tired dude. Not too tired to sport some free shades after the game.

Train ride home! Carefully editing out the stinky bum sitting across from them....:)

The next morning we said goodbye to the rest of the family and headed out to find some breakfast (Caribou Coffee - the recommended Colossal Cafe was WAY too small for us:) We then hit the road to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival! We weren't sure if we were going to head out there for sure. But the day was beautiful and they had some attractions we knew the kids would love. So, we went for it. 

Ready for the next adventure!

Ayden loves it when we stop for coffee:) 

Dave and I had not been there as adults. We quickly realized the incredible number of people that go there in full costume and are SUPER into it. Good grief. The boys were both asleep when we got there, so we let them sleep in the car while Kate and I found a port-a-potty:) Then we marched the long walk in. We stopped immediately to get a garland for Kate's hair. Collin promptly spilled a red smoothie while sitting on Dave's shoulders. Oops. We walked around and actually found some healthy food for lunch! The kids and I had salads and Dave had a wrap:) Awesome. Then we went and found some beer and wine! 

Getting food at the Renaissance Festival - can you believe we chose salads?!

Meeting the princesses

Entering Sherwood Forest

We'll have to work at our archery skills. But she liked it:)

Collin got a "Robin Hood" hat:)

It was actually a pretty hike up to the Fairy Forest

Little girl heaven

They also had mermaids! Crazy. And Kate thinks they were real. Just so ya know:)

The attractions we hit were the Princess Forest, Mermaid Cove, Sherwood Forest, Fairy Forest, Cinderella....let's see....some Celtic dancers/bagpiper. A magic show, Collin got a sword and hat, then Kate rode one of the jousting horses, we got some caramel apples, found the Viking village and then called it a day! Whew! We had great weather, the kids cooperated, Ayden was an angel, we couldn't have asked for anything more. The kids were pooped and they slept much of the ride home!

Meeting Cinderella. Kate was a puddle of unintelligible, goofy sounds. 

Late in the day, Collin got a sword
Possibly we were going overboard. They were just so darn cute!

This is the safest place for Collin:)

On Monday, Ayden and I went down to Decorah to execute a few tasks/goals all in about a day. I tried on a bridesmaid dress for Andrew and Kylie's wedding!!, we visited Grandma at Wellington, we took Ayden out to Dad's work and then Mom and I biked the whole loop together around sunset. So awesome. The next day, Ayden and I had lunch with Cassie at the Coop and we drove back home. A very full day but it was actually very relaxing and something I hope to do again soon! (the reason it was just the two of us...Kate has school! I seriously still forget she has that every day still. Dave was off, thank goodness, and he was able to take care of the big kids back home!)

After almost all of the hills, I think:)

Getting ready to go down the hill. We were passed by a ton of crazy, fast, serious bikers!

Me and my gal.
What a treat to be able to meet her for lunch!

Visiting with Great Grandma.
I will never tire of seeing her light up when the kids are there.
Ayden only wanted to crawl around on the floor and pull up on her bed. 

Ayden helping out at Bridal Productions:)
He was cracking himself up and giving himself kisses on the mirror!

On Wednesday, we picked Kate up from school and left straight for Iowa! We drove to Cedar Falls, stopping in Dubuque to eat at Olive Garden. We got to our friends house between 8-8:30p.m. It was late, but we were all so excited to see each other. We've been friends with Amber and Cory Hines since 2004. Wow. We have those "mirror lives"...Amber and Dave worked in SICU together, went through anesthesia school together, we had our babies together...you get the idea:) They moved to Cedar Falls around the same time we moved to Wisconsin. They have visited us, but we had never visited them! They just built an amazing house and just had a baby girl, Elliet, at the end of July! So, there was a lot of catching up to do. The kids played, Dave and I held a little 8 week old cutie pie:) and chatted with our old friends. That night we stayed in a hotel and then grabbed some pastries and coffee and headed back to their house to spend the day hanging out. It was a wonderful time to connect and after some yummy pizza for supper, we hit the road and headed to Des Moines!

Their beautiful new home!
Kate & Kellen playing out front

The big kids eating pizza

Dave was attending the Iowa Association of Nurse Anesthetists Fall Meeting and had a room at a hotel in West Des Moines. He upgraded to a suite and we stayed there Thursday night. That way, he could get to the early Friday meetings and I didn't have to disrupt anyone's lives to manage our kiddos:) The kids and I got ready, hit the brunch buffet (with a surprise appearance from Daddy! and our friend Emily) and then we headed off on our own adventure. I took them up to Boone to see/ride on the Thomas the Tank Engine! We don't watch the show, but they have some train tracks and trains that a friend gave us. 

It was a little hard with the three kids to do a buffet, but we managed!

We saw the various tents and "stations" that were set up, went to get our picture taken in front of Thomas and then got in line to ride! I wore Ayden in the Ergo and Collin did pretty well (pleasantly surprised). Kate was actually more excited than I expected! The worst part about it at this point was the two kids in front of us that wouldn't stop blowing their whistles. I almost didn't get on the train. 

In awe

Tickets to ride

Look at Collin's smile:)  

Slowly checking out the fields

We sat in the very first seat of our train car. It gave us a little more room. It was warm on the car and our window wouldn't open (ahh!) We waited for what seemed like a long time and then we finally started moving. The kids were excited but wanted to go faster. And honestly? So did I. It was super. Super. Slow. I get it. But next time, I want to ride a train that is moving. You know? 

All of us!

So many more selfies when I'm by myself! Ay was happy:)

Afterward, I struggled a little with Collin. He fell and scraped his knee. We needed to eat and they were so distracted they weren't caring much about food. I got in line for a HyVee tent and realized they didn't take cards. Only cash. Funny. The merchandise tent took cards. I didn't have cash! I never have cash. And if I do, I go buy a coffee:) 

Anyway, after trying to find the ATM and then realizing I didn't grab my debit card when packing the diaper bag...I decided it was time to go. They weren't super happy but I got them out to the van without any fits. We found a Dairy Queen (I wanted ice cream) and though a little rough around the edges, the people were very nice and we had a nice meal. And ice cream. Oh, and one of the ladies told me I had blood on my shirt. I think your heart always skips a beat when you know there is blood but have no idea where it came from. Turns out, Collin's scraped knee bled on the back of my shirt while I was carrying him. Whew. Good thing I was wearing a white tank top....!

This boy got a sugar-free chocolate Dilly Bar

And Kate - a vanilla kid cone
Funny. There is no picture of me and what I ate:) 

Then the ride back to the hotel to pick up Dave and go to the Swoboda's house! Dave was going to stay at the hotel and attend all the events, but I was going to stay at Derek and Jenny's new house! And the kids, of course. So we got there between 5-6 p.m. and they had chili in the crockpot - yum! The kids played in the backyard with the neighbor kids - we were seriously flashing back to our neighborhood in North Liberty! Then Derek made a fire in the cool fire pit and after some fire time with the kids, we put them to bed and had another hour or so outside, just the adults. And some s'mores:)  The amazing friend that Jenny is, she drove Dave back to his hotel late that night. 

The big kids!

The little boys

On Saturday, we just stayed in our pjs, played, ate, played, watched football, had more great pizza and then let the kids watch the movie, Home. This is Aniyah's favorite right now. Kate was crying, as usual, at the sad parts. Then her Daddy was away and it was a different house...there were some tears at bedtime! Collin gave me a little more grief that night at bedtime too! He kept coming upstairs (we were in the finished basement) and I wasn't even sure what to do - he is still in a crib at home! Ayden also had trouble sleeping all weekend and I was basically a crazy zombie at all times. 

Their beautiful back yard

Their playset and the kids with Hawkeye gear and pom poms:)

An unshowered me (eek!) and sweet Mason

Sunday morning, we rose early and had breakfast. Dressed the kids, loaded the van and went to pick Dave up from the hotel! It was so, so wonderful to be able to spend that much time with the Swobodas. It was the first and probably only time I'll get to see her pregnant! They are expecting a baby boy in December! Mason is just a doll, SO like Ayden (well, they are only 2 weeks apart:) and Aniyah is growing and growing - she played with Kate and Collin as she is in the middle of them. 

Playing in the backyard in the warm weather!
They were COVERED in chalk when we brought them in.
Straight to a bath:)

These guys got along really well! Ayden was swiping at Masons face a lot.
But he does that with everyone. He's always sticking his finger in our noses and ears...yuck.

He's so fun:)

I was a little worried about the drive home from Des Moines, it seemed daunting. But it was beautiful, the kids slept and actually it went very smoothly. We were arriving back home at a really good time and so we went a little out of our way to eat at the Hillsboro Brewing Company. It was very cool! I like it a lot, had a really yummy and unique wrap. The kids were a little restless, but we made it home at a great time. They played outside and then had bath and bed. One of our best road trip days yet. Dave and I always love going home to Iowa. It is just gorgeous to drive around (and I do mean all around!) that state. They were harvesting in southern Iowa, the sky was blue, the fields were rolling, the farmsteads were neat and cared for. Dave said it is his "happy place." :) I mean, at least while the kids are napping in the van! 

"God's Country" as Dave would say:)

Dave's been here before but it was my first time. 

Still pleasantly surprised when breweries have kids stuff available for us! Awesome!
Must mean we are not the only ones dragging our kids with us:)

Delicious.

Kate feeding Ayden:)

Side note - Ayden cut a tooth somewhere in there...his right upper one FINALLY came through. Good grief. I'm guessing the left one is right behind. 

So, we are back home, ready to settle into our routine of school, work, gymnastics, dance, church, Girl Scouts, etc. Dave is on call this coming weekend, but we are all going to participate in a 5K on Saturday morning. This was the one that I did with the kids last year and it was snowing in the morning! 

Here are some random pictures that I'll throw at the end!

Kate's Kindergarten Picture! Last minute wardrobe change before school.
She spilled strawberries on her white shirt at breakfast at school.
I was pretty anxious to have the pics come back! 

Did I post about our anniversary? Good grief.
Dave and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary in September!
We had to have dinner in the hospital but exchanged some wonderful gifts.
Maybe a dinner date out sometime soon....

Miss Kate ready for gymnastics. She likes it!
They don't allow parents to watch, so I have no idea what is happening. Grr...

My beloved Grandma turned 89!! What an amazing lady!
I'm glad Ay and I were there that week, but we missed the celebrations that weekend.
I'm sure she loved all the attention;)