Fun Times with Family

Still catching up on our summer recap…
After our trip to Des Moines we had some special visitors from Illinois & Indiana.
First Grandpa & Grandma brought out 5 of the DJ girl cousins! (The boys had their turn at Christmas time. ;)

Making homemade ice cream… it was delicious!

Kara, Annie & Emma keeping cool in the pool

Shucking some fresh sweet corn for supper

Papa John’s pizza/picnic lunch at Falls Park

Brianna, Lydia, Kara, Annie, Kaitlyn, Jenna, Emma, Mary, Grandpa, Ryan, Micah, Joanna & Grandma

Kaitlyn & Jenna on the lookout tower

Annie, Bri, Kara, Lydia & Emma

The girls had fun painting music-themed canvases at Creative Spirits

After that, Grandpa & Grandma headed home with some of the girls, and Mike & Beth came with the rest of their family!

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Zoo train selfie

By the bison

Lunch time!
Kaylee, Kara & Mary

Willem, Luke, Caleb & Evan

Jenna, Lydia, Kaylee & Annie

Feeding the goats!

Kara & Annie – sewing buddies

Micah, Mary & Willem jumping on the trampoline

Adults night out… delicious food, fellowship, & a tour of the new hospital!
Joanna, Paul, Erin, Mike, Beth, Lori & Jim

Kaylee & Jenna having fun with Snap Chat filters :)

What wonderful memories we made with you all!
Thanks for making the long trip out to visit us!

First Day of School 2018

First day of school here today…
Here’s our crew all ready for the new year!

Ryan, Luke, Kara, Jenna & Evan

And of course we had to take a silly one!

No pictures of Mary this morning… she was still in bed when we took these! But since she’s the only one at home with Mom now, you’ll probably be seeing plenty of pictures of her all year long! ;)

Look who’s driving herself to school! :)

A Few Days in Des Moines

We took our kids to Des Moines for a few days in July to check out our state capital.
First stop… the state capitol building!

View of the dome from below. Paul & the oldest 5 kids went all the way up to the Whispering Gallery – by the windows you see near the top of the dome. They were way up there! (No one under 5 was allowed to go up, so I stayed down with Mary.)

Checking out the 5-story Iowa Law Library in the capitol building

Taking a little break after our tour

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Next we headed to Living History Farms…

Peeking out of the teepee

Taking the path from one farm to another

Stopping to pet the kitty :)

Jenna got to play an old pump organ in the farmhouse…

and a beautiful 1871 square grand piano in the Flynn mansion!

Here is Luke as Andrew Jackson…

and JFK! : )

  

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Next up.. John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park in downtown Des Moines

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Next stop… Adventureland!

Riding the train…

and the Carousel

On the SkyRide

On the Pirate Ship

Waiting in line for the Outlaw

There they go!

Heading up on the Tornado

There were plenty of rides that were Mary’s size too!

   

  

Catching our breath for a bit

And they’re off to tame the Monster!
Evan, Luke, Kara & Jenna in the back row. Paul on the left just in front of them…

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And last but not least, a ride on the Boone & Valley Scenic Railroad on the way home

The kids had fun flipping the seat backs when the train switched directions, and making a tent out of them too. ;)

We sure enjoyed our adventures in the Des Moines area!