And though it took what seemed like a miracle to get Chris out of the county on a Friday by 3pm... he did it. :D And I'm so glad he did, b/c we had an amazing time! Mom & Dad got to our house just in time for the girls to get off the bus, after they picked up the little two from Grammy's house... it all worked out beautifully. We arrived in Ames just a tick later than everyone else did, made our way to dinner, and never missed a beat! Here we are in Scheman Hall where they had Swing Crew in one room and a 'reception' so all the guys could talk in another.
It was so much fun to see all of his college friends and their wives... we really haven't seen many since all of their weddings! Amy & Chad Rieck (pictured below) included.
Only sad that we did not get a group picture on Friday night as 1/2 of Chiris' class left on Saturday morning. We had a great breakfast and got to spend time w/Barry & Amy before they left... I just hope we make that camping trip work out with them! That afternoon we went to a Saloon Bar/Grill for Happy Hour (another pic I made him take ;)
Before we had to get all gussied up for this 'professional dress' dinner!
Yup, I made him take another one ;)
Jimmy & Andrea
And while we were gone... this is what we missed!
Saturday morning dancing on the Wii
love this pic :) thanks Mimi!
Lauren went to a 3-on-3 tournament with Brady's and the girls helped Pap burn sticks...
and ditches :)
ended up being so nice that they went to a park! THANK YOU so much Grammy, Mimi & Pap for making this 2-night trip possible! We had a wonderful & relaxing time :D
and so here we are again ... it's now Thursday, April 3rd, and I'm posting about the month of March ;) this March feels very similar to what last March did (when Chris started this new job)... and I have no idea why. But here's been the happenings... there might be a few more pics on my phone (which died due to a coffee accident) so those will have to wait.
Wednesday, 3/5/14
LeaAnn got these COOL magnets from Grammy for her birthday (which we are STILL talking about... she constantly wants to know if her birthday is next week or not ;) poor thing... )
Saturday, 3/8/14
This particular Saturday... it felt like spring (I guess?) I really don't remember, but it must have been nice out b/c of the pictures :)
I do remember thinking it was cooler than what the girls wanted... but none-the-less we were outside :)
Playing softball...
And cleaning the basement! Hallelujah! Oh what a disgusting job, but I am SO GLAD it's done. This is something I've been talking about for oh... I don't know, 3-years or more? It's no where near 'clean' but picked up & brushed off, and usable... now we're talking!
My own personal bridge so I don't have to walk in the mud. Chris can't stand it, but I love it :D
Monday, 3/10/14
He left for Nodaway and here we are before dance... THIS was a nice day. :)
Tuesday, 3/11/14
The day of the concert! EB's spring concert, with an athletic theme this year.
Chris met us at the school (drove down & back for a quick day at the office). I was so proud of myself, we even had a sit-down dinner before hand! I didn't work that day ;) And we picked up Lola along the way!
We found Uncle Craigy :) There's Lola in the front of this picture. I really should have taken one with Grammy & Lola! :( next time...
w/daycare pal, Keira Rae!
Lydia sharing with her daycare pal, Corbin Jo.
Super cute concert! Pretty sure these are a little shaky, had a few kiddos bouncing in and out :)
Lindsay 1st grade
Lauren 3rd grade
and Lauren informed me after this concert was over, she only had 4 more elementary concerts left! I truly don't know how that happened...
Grammy's lap to the rescue :) a tired Ms. Lydia
Wednesday, 3/12/14
We went to the library after school and Lydia came up with these adorable puppet shows!
Thursday, 3/13/14
Ms. LeaAnn Claire at her 3-yr check-up appointment. She wasn't too much into cooperating on this day ;)
But didn't she look cute!?
On this day, we also went to the musical, Cinderella at Independence High School with friends, Kreighton, Peyton & Laynee. And let me tell you, it was so good! Definitely did not feel like we were in Independence, IA and I certainly could not believe that the actors were high school students! They did an amazing job :D
Friday, 3/14/14
Go Cyclones! We went to town on Friday night to watch them play... I think this was the first game in the NCAA tournament? I really can't remember as sad as that is... (aka: March such a blur) oh wait! that's a hash-tag thing ;) I think I could say, #marchsuchablur ........Maggie look! I did it ;)
On Sunday of that weekend, we headed to Story City. Inspired by me wanting to borrow some clothes from Jody + the kids didn't have school on Monday + Chris had to go back to Nodaway again = we ALL went to Story City (as Chris was 1/2 way to work on Monday morning) :) win/win for everyone. And of course, no pictures of that :( But Cyclones won AGAIN ... so exciting!
Monday, 3/24/14
And we planned to leave on Monday morning, as Larson cousins had school and Aunt Jody had to work. We drove to Waterloo, stopped at Target, loaded up on swim supplies, picked up Subway lunch and drove to Independence to swim at the hotel's indoor pool! Can you guess who was over-the-moon ecstatic? So much so, I made the big girls promise me they wouldn't tell LeaAnn until we got to Target?? ;)
They all had a blast. Peck's & Hogan's met us there and we had a wonderful time.
Here's the swimming lady :) She loved the hot-tub the most b/c it was warm... maybe she is her mother's daughter???
Mr. Kael
and Ms. LeaAnn playing... I love Kael's tongue in this one ;)
Can Mr. Levi get much cuter?!? Should have gotten a group picture... didn't think of that!
And so after I recapped March... I think I know why it was such a blur, and it felt like last March when Chris started this job...it was a busy/New Balance month! On to April... please, please, please Iowa... cooperate! And grant us warmer temps... please. :)
I had yet to try their costumes on (for fear they would not take them off) :) They fit, maybe a little too perfectly... I guess most of the costumes are running small this year. Lindsay's too, fits her just perfect... But we'll make do.
And b/c Lydia was so insistent on dancing (w/no music :) I just couldn't resist taping...
The beach ball song! So adorable... and her coughing ;)
I have no idea what inspired the game of 'horses'... but it was tonight's main event. I picked-up/cleaned the downstairs (so now there is room to play of course! ;)
Here is LeaAnn the horse
Lydia the strong horse :)
And Lindsay the super fast horse!
That night at dinner... trying to get her funny talk on video :)
Saturday, January 18, 2014... I thought about trying to find out the actual temperature on this day (b/c they are playing in their swimsuits :) but I'm just going to take a wild guess and say it was -5-degrees with a windchill of -15... bet I'm pretty close! ;)
I love how Lydia has her feet crossed here.... she used to do that as a baby too!
Just random play... so typical, and I just wanetd to capture it in action.
Friday, February 7, 2014
They rough-house way more than Lauren & Lindsay ever did!
And the swimsuit thing... this is not an exaggeration, it's everyday life :)
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