Fun On The Farm Summer 2010

The kids and I went to Iowa to visit our family while Marty was away on a business conference. We made up up for lost time and stored up many memories to last us until we can get back again. Swimming. Movies. Flashlight tag. Driving the golf cart. Grandma's house is just one big adventure. Lily says she wants to live in Iowa when she grows up. I told her that one Iowa winter would put that dream to rest. ha!


We drove straight through on the way to Iowa. Here we are taking a much needed Frosty break in Kansas. What happy travelers they are!


Here Pete and Noah are introducing Sofie to "buddy" the calf.


Jack loved snuggling with my parents dog, Turner.



Lily loved my Aunt Berna's perennial garden. She especially liked the Queen Anne's lace. It is my favorite Iowa wildflower too.



Lily made a crown of Queen Anne's lace for her sweet princess head. I guess it is the wildflower of royals. ha!







Swimming at Aunt Niecer and Uncle Bruce's pool. What fun on a perfect Iowa day!


I think the kids wore the tires out on this golf cart. If we were home, they were driving it around the farm.



Sofie was ready to get out her stinger when Grandma worked her magic. All it took to make the Honeybug smile was cherry Kool-aid in a fancy glass. I will have to remember that trick!



Snuggling and watching Percy Jackson together. Looooove these girls!



Mom and I took the kids to the Bass Pro Shop on our shopping day. After Jack and Noah patiently waited at Justice for the girls to pick out matching t-shirts, we figured they had earned some "boy" time. Here Sofie and Jack are taking target practice. It is the first time Jack ever held a "gun". :)


Madilyn and Sofie...can you tell they are cousins? I think most strangers think Madilyn is my daughter when they see us all together in Iowa.


The kids loved watching the giant fish in the aquarium at the Bass Pro Shop and Jack loved reading all about them.



All tuckered out! We learned our lesson and stopped at a hotel on the way home. Of course, there are many more memories that I do not have a photo for. Having a glass of wine with Mom, Dad, Matt, and Minniette while the kids all played flashlight tag. Watching the sunset. A good ole Iowa thunderstorm complete with lightening that seemed to illuminate the entire sky. And of course sweet corn and homeade ice cream. All that was missing was a night of stargazing. The clouds kept veiling our stars at night. Oh well. I guess we will have something to look forward to for next time. We love Iowa and miss our family and friends there more than words can say.

Iowa State University 2010

While I was back in Iowa with the kids, I took them back to where it all began...ISU. This is the place that I met their Dad. Where we had our first home together as a couple. And where I met some of the friends I cherish most in this world. One of those friends, Melanie Bretey, met me with her family and we spent the afternoon wandering around campus and giggling about the good ole days. While we were there, I tried to introduce them to the culture of Iowa State, including my favorite traditions. Lily loved it so much she said she plans to go there when she goes away to college.


The kids looking out into the ravine on the path that leads to central campus from my old dorm.


I met Marty at this very spot 20 years ago as I was singing with some friends on the way to the Festival of Lights on central campus one cold December night just before Christmas break. I wasn't looking where I was walking and I bumped into him. Literally. The rest is history. <3


The Zodiac in the entry of the Memorial Union. Tradition says you must walk around it or you will fail your next exam. Lily said, "I better be very careful. I don't want to fail the TAKS test next year in third grade." Ha!


Another ISU tradition says that you become an official "Iowa Stater" when you kiss under the camponile at midnight. Lily couldn't wait to go camponiling but since midnight is past her bedtime, she settled for noon.


Here the kids are standing in front of Curtis Hall. It is one of the most beautiful buildings on campus and it is the place where I had my first class as an ISU student.


Sofie was so excited to dip her feet in the Memorial Union Fountain.


Jack and Hudson Bretey aka "the thinkers"



Sofie and Hudson found these Cy masks in the University Bookstore. Go Iowa State!!


Sofie, Lily, and Natalie Bretey at Great Plains Pizza, an Ames tradition. Double Yum!!


The past meets the future...

Chestnut Square Farmer's Market

This morning we decided to venture to downtown McKinney and check out the Chestnut Square Farmer's Market. It is a very interesting piece of history in our town, as several buildings have been salvaged and restored as a museum. The girls loved learning about each of the houses and inquisitively looked in the windows trying to catch a glimpse of life from long ago. We will definitely have to go back for a guided tour. As for me, it was fun talking with vendors and taking in the smells of fresh produce. The berries and peaches looked and smelled especially tasty! It was a beautiful way to spend a lazy Saturday morning.


Sweet and Sassy!







Sofie wanted to take a silly picture. This is her Elvis face. ha!


Peace, Yo!!!


I wonder who is sweeter..Lily or the strawberries?


Sofie loved making friends with Fifi the chicken. She was especially curious about the red crown on her head. :)


Lily and Sofie were mesmerized by this woman who was spinning lama wool into thread.


Peeking into the "Secret Garden".


Daddy and his princesses.


My girls...more precious than rubies.


We lucked out and got the last box of blackberries. They are yuuuuuuummmy!


Jack wasn't able to go with us since he is on a mission trip to the Gulf Coast this weekend. We will definitely have to go back so he can experience the fun with us.

Vacation Bible School Family Round-Up

This year our church had a family round-up near the end of Backyard Bible Round-Up. Lucky for us, the night cooled off with a bit of rain as it had been scorching hot all afternoon. We had a great time hanging out with some of our church peeps.


Lily was so excited to ride the ponies. She is such a little Texan!


Sofie preferred the petting zoo. Here she is snuggling with Lil Bunny Foofoo.


Jack and his buddies from church, Collin and Conner, had a great time just chilaxin' together.