Adventureland

Another busy week and weekend has gone by....Saturday morning I got up nice and early and worked for a couple hours and then we decided to hit up a full day at Adventureland! The weather was hot and steamy so perfect for the waterpark! We got there at 10 when they opened and headed straight there! We got chair right where we wanted them and then made ourselves at home! Sam, Scott, Boston and Jordan were able to join us for the day too, which is great b/c it gives Presley someone to play with so she won't fight with her sister or complain that she is bored and it gives us two extra adults to help keep the kids occupied!

This girl struts around like she owns the place!!

and tries to turn completely around so that her face doesn't get wet on the waterslide!



We stayed in the water park are for most of the day, enjoyed the lazy river and the big pool next to the swim up bar. The kids went down the waterslides and played in the splashpad area and really it didn't get too busy in there until about the time we were leaving! We headed out to the rides about 3pm and we warned the girls that it would be busy and they would need to be patient....we were WRONG! The park wasn't busy at all! There were NO lines for anything, which was perfect!

 

P thinks she is too cool (or old) to ride the little kid rides with her sister so it is a good thing that Piper doesn't mind going by herself!

Their favorite, the Tilt-a-whirl! 

My sweet girl.

Watching a puppet show, Presley was 'too cool' for it.

 



We left about 4:30 and we were all hot and exhausted!  Steve ended up going to the Iowa Cubs game with a friend who was in town for the night and the girls and I hung out in the air conditioning! I thought they would go to bed early but no such luck, they did go to bed pretty good and I worked from home for a while.

Sunday we all slept in and it was so nice and needed!! Piper had a birthday party (this time it was NOT at Pump It Up, it was at Monkey Joes!) so we did that. So many little girls! Holy cow!

After the party, Piper and I picked up some things from Hy-vee and headed home. Steve and Presley had bought flowers and got those planted and then he filled up the kiddie pool for them to play in. We sat out by the shed and listened to music, I read my book, Steve fiddled around and the girls played, it was a good relaxing afternoon!

I had plans to meet my sister Samantha for dinner so we headed over to my favorite...you guessed it, El Mariachi! We got a seat on the patio, ate and drank margarits and talked and laughed for over 3 hours! We never get the chance to do that, so it was nice!

Great start to our weekend!

It has been a short week, but a good one! Wednesday after work I met my friend Lyndsi at Gilroys (https://gilroyskitchen.com/ , it is really good, I love this place!) to have dinner and drinks and do some talking, plus our friend Baird was playing there that night too, so it worked out perfectly!

 

Last night we had Brittany come babysit so we could go to Gavin Degraw at Brenton Skating Plaza! We got downtown about 6:45 and sat at Zombie Burger for a couple drinks before going to the show. We got there about 8 and the opener got done playing about 8:15. Gavin didn't get on stage until 9 and only played until 9:45?! WTH?

Kristin, Holly, me and Sarah







 Gavin!

Everyone was surprised the show was so short...it was really odd and it wasn't even 10 pm?! I had just got a drink so Steve and I stayed to hang out and finish our beers. Most of the people had left and then I noticed there was a swarm of people....and I found out why! Gavin had come out and was doing pictures and signing autographs. He was so patient with everyone and really did a good job at acknowledging everyone around him. He was very appreciative and actually looked people in the eyes when he was with them! That is something you don't find in many people!

I waited patiently and then I got my picture!!! I was SO happy! 

 

And then today was Presley's last day of 2nd grade! They have a BBQ for lunch and the parents can come have lunch and then take them home afterwards, so Steve was able to meet her but then took her to grandma's since he had to go back to work.

She had such a good 2nd grade year and LOVED her teacher so much. I think she is really going to miss having her as a teacher!

Ms. Lynch and Presley.

Sunday Funday

Sunday morning we got up and ready to head back home. My aunt was having everyone over for brunch so we stopped there for a couple hours before leaving. Our trip was short and sweet but it was good to see everyone and still get to have one day at home for the long weekend. The drive home is never as fun as the drive TO somewhere, we kept telling them just to fall asleep and time will go faster and sure enough this happened.....our kids rarely fall asleep in the car!

We got back into town about 4:15 and since we were driving right by Adventureland on the way home and we made a last minute decision to stop and ride some rides for a couple hours!

She came around on the merry-go-round with her tongue out giving me 'rock on'. Seriously so funny.

We got home about 7 and just hung out the rest of the night, we were all tired and that showed Monday morning! I got up about 7:00 to work, Piper got up at 9 and then Presley and Steve got up shortly after that! They all needed it!
Monday we just did some stuff around the house, ate lunch on the patio at 1908 (which was a little chilly with the wind!), went up to Jester Park to look and walk around and then got ice cream and headed home for the rest of the evening!

I have no words........ So funny!

Wisconsin

Last Friday, man, I can't believe that was a week ago already! I feel so behind and I don't like it! But Friday, we went to Papa's Pizzeria in Polk City for dinner and then headed out to the marina to watch Oreo Meatwagon play (our friend Baird is in the band).....we didn't stay too long b/c we had to get home and pack since we left for Wisconsin that next morning.

 

We got up, packed up the car and headed out about 9 am.....the girls did pretty good, only asking if 'we are there yet?' when we got the gas station down the street from our house. No joke. It took about 5 hours to get there and my cousins graduation party started at 3, we didn't want to be too early so we pulled over into this scenic overlook place just past The House on the Rock (I have been there before and think it is super cool https://www.thehouseontherock.com/HOTR_AttractionMain.htm )

 

We got checked into our housing (thanks to my uncle for having a timeshare that we could use!) and headed to the graduation party. It was so nice b/c so many people from my family were there (from Colorado and Texas!) so it was like a little mini-reunion!
My aunt and uncle have such a nice house and lot! The weather was perfect, the kids were good and kept occupied with this tree house! I wish I would've used my good camera and got more pictures of everyone!

 

 

The strawberries in the chocolate fountain was a HUGE hit with this girl! I preferred the brownie bites in the chocolate! So good!

After the party we all hung out, talking, eating, drinking, the boys played some volleyball and Jordan slept thru most of it! 

We had promised the girls that we would go swimming so we left and went back to enjoy that before it was bed time!

Mary and Presley

Boston, Piper and P