Every summer (almost) my family goes to Iowa to visit my family. I love going. I love being on the farm, seeing my uncles and aunt, and just having a road trip. Well, this year my parents decided they couldn't leave Iva (she'd been in the hospital the week before) and so we were headed down without them.
We borrowed my parents van to get better gas mileage and have a bit more room for the trip. Little did we know that it would start smoking and we'd be broken down on the side of the interstate for an hour. We were about an hour from St. Louis and almost to our hotel for the night. Thankfully, the car did start back up and we were able to drive to a gas station. (In the middle of nowhere)
We made it to the farm and had the best time. The boys LOVE the farm and everything that goes with it. I like just hanging out with family and showing my kids all the things that I remember from my childhood on the farm.
Even if I did have to wash dishes from 8 people every night... by hand.... b/c there is no dishwasher.
I think the boys liked to play with the cats the most. They also loved to feed the pigs and help Uncle Brian do his chores. (they didn't know what the word chore meant.. so maybe it's time to set some "chores" at home so they remember this term?)
The also loved going down to the creek and throwing rocks into the creek. As long as I can remember there was never anything in the creek that we could actually see from the bridge. But, this year we saw all kinds of critters! I was nervous that they would throw a rock and hit a giant frog. Thankfully, that didn't happen.
Here are a few pictures that highlight our trip. I wish we could go back...
The boys got to drive the tractor. I mean.. Uncle Brian really let them drive.. b/c they kept running over his crops! LOL
Outside enjoying the day. Boys were chasing butterflies here.
Playing with the old pool table. :) We always have to pull this out every visit.
We went to the zoo in Omaha (like 15 minutes away from the farm) while we were there. It was COLD that day and I wasn't dressed correctly.
Walking "down below" as it's called. To the fields that are below the rest. LOL Hoping to spot some wildlife, but we didn't see anything. Kayla and Eldon had seen a big black snake though on their walk down there.
We did get a pretty cool view of St. Louis Arch.. or the big grey rainbow. :) We were stuck in traffic for abotu 10 minutes.. but that's okay we were just thankful to be moving and not stuck on the side of the road.
Throwing rocks into the creek down below.
The HUGE frogs that were down there. Seriously they were bigger than my head!
It's a bit windy in Iowa. :) Every time it gets windy here in TN, I comment to Dan that "it's like Iowa today!" He gets a little tired of hearing that. But, truthfully..it's NEVER that windy here in TN and in Iowa it is ALWAYS windy. Just look at Owen's hair. That was a constant.
Petting the kittens.
Pig and cat. :) Fun to play with.
