Summers Up North

I have been a horrible blogger this summer. I have done two posts, but neither were about our summer in Iowa. At this point we are about to go home.. so I better do a little catching up.

We left around May 23rd to get here. It was, surprisingly an easy drive with kids in tow. We made a 6.5 hr drive into an 8 hr drive. We stopped 3 times in the first hour for L, but after that we were able to cover some ground. Our summer apartment is small & cozy. Derek calls it our summer cottage, because I think he thinks it makes us feel we live in a "more fortunate" social class, than the less fortunate. I guess it's all relative, right? For those of you who wonder how we do it.. we only pack what will fit in our two cars. That consists of beds, a card table, a minimal set of dishes & cookware, small box of toys, a small TV (we can only watch movies), a dog kennel and clothes/towels/sheets. That's it. We are blessed with a sweet group of friends who have let us borrow every thing else we need - mainly furniture. We do without a lot, but we never miss it. We're usually too busy spending time outside, & doing things that we don't normally get to do/see. We've seen L go a week at a time without picking up any of her toys. It's amazing how little you really need to get by.

This year we have been blessed with visiting family. It's been awesome to have them come up and see us. For one, it makes you feel NOT so far away, and two it makes the summer go by fast. Derek's parents came up for a weekend in early June. His brother & his family came up at the end of June for a week. The same day that they left, Derek's sister and her family came up for the week.

Some of our activities while we had visitors included: exploring the city, swimming at the pool & at the nearby State Park, going to see movies - Madagascar 3 & Brave, 4th of July parade & cook out, Amish shopping, and lots and lots of good ole visiting & playing. Our visitors also did some of their own sight seeing while they were here. Unfortunately they were all here during the peak of the heat.

I don't want to forget to mention that while Derek's brother was here, he bought a used truck.

Yeah. I know.

SO, we also got to see him & Courtney's brother Brandon when they came back to pick up the truck. As they left, we talked to Uncle Mike & found out he'd be passing through that evening. We had the pleasure of having him over for dinner that night & getting in a good visit with him.

Derek's sister & family.

 Derek's brother & family. These cows are at the visitor's center... and the other picture is of the girls leaving the movie theater. And of course, a handsome Uncle Mark taking care of Baby K.

 

We spent a morning with an organic farmer who has/runs a CSA. Bibi and Papa wanted to learn all they could from Farmer Sherman, as they venture into their own operation. Bibi also spent an evening doing a "photo shoot" with the girls... and Bear.