We were so lucky to have so many of our favorite people come visit us this summer, and we had an especially great time with Grandma and Grandpa!
The night that their flight landed we went to a John Williams pops concert... in the rain. It was just rainy enough that the concert went on and we just couldn't decide if we should stick it out or give up and head home.
We were all having such a great time!
And who can resist the music of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Harry Potter and Star Wars?? We stayed until the end and it was mostly worth it. A little soggy, yes, but that's Iowa for you!
On a much sunnier day, we went to the pool!
Emma tried to teach Grandma how to smile with her teeth showing.
And we went hiking at Ledges!
Grandpa pointed out a tree that had been gnawed by beavers
Hmmm... I'm pretty sure someone is peeing in this picture.
We spent a good long time picnicking and playing in the water
and we enjoyed some ice cream afterward!
On another rainy day we toured the State Capitol Building.
Adam was looking for the entrance to a secret passageway.
Most of us climbed all the way up into the rotunda, while Grandma and Noah stayed down at the bottom. It was really, really, really high!
We were all the way up there!
And we found a mini Statue of Liberty!
Grandpa and Emma had a conversation while walking.
And then we got rained on while eating Zombie Burger. Ahh, Iowa.
And there's more! Grandma got in plenty of Laney snuggles, and Laney didn't bark at Grandpa (too much!).
One afternoon we headed to Jester Park to see the elk and bison
and to tromp through the forest. It's not exactly hiking but we take what we can get here!
You have to take a picture in the corn if you're in Iowa in the summertime!
More puppy snuggles...
and we went to an escape room! We got out with just about four minutes to spare, and the kids are still talking about all of the locks and codes and especially the rolling skull that we encountered in the volcano room!
On the afternoon of Emma's birthday we saw the new Aladdin movie and enjoyed a noisy dinner at Hickory Park.
Sweet, sweet Emma was so excited to get a birthday sundae! And dinner, and candy, and birthday treats, and the poor thing emptied it all out behind a tree that evening. Maybe a little too much birthday for her!
And there were game nights and fudge and popcorn and telling of funny stories and movies and before we knew it it was time to say, "See you soon!" to Grandma and Grandpa.
But first! One more hot and sweaty walk in downtown Des Moines.
And try as he might to trick us with the Miracle Whip,
It was a great visit! Grandma and Grandpa helped us have the most fun staycation we've ever had in Iowa, and we're so glad they came!
we were more than happy to send it home with Grandpa Mark!
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