For the most part, the drive really isn't that bad. Sure it lacks scenic variety. Though, this time of year we did see a lot of beautiful fall color that painted the highway. And sure, I get "Are we there yet?" 16546841698463541676416354687 times before we even hit the Nebraska state line. However, the pro's definitely out-weigh the cons.
The Top 20 Highlights of Our Iowa Trip 2013.
(in no particular order, other than chronological, in the order of events, because it makes my life easier.)
20. The Suburban celebrated 200,000 miles on the old odometer.
. 19. I fell in love with low altitude running in the land of corn and soybeans. Because it was easy and I could run farther and breath easier than the Mile High.
The first day out on a run with my dad's dog JC, we accidentally found our way here...
and I enjoyed a spontaneous little visit with my Grandpa Roy while the birds welcomed in the morning.
18. I found somehting for Handy Man to build me when we get home near our pond.
17. Speaking of ponds... the old fishing pond is much more enjoyable in the spring/summer.
In October, fishing is a little chilly in Iowa. Your hands turn numb before you can even catch a bite.
Grand-pop, you hook him and I'll be ready to real him in.
It's windy and cold fishen.
But, Rah-Rah and Grandma Joan make cute Eskimos.
16. Frogs are cool and Gran-pop is a mighty frog catcher.
15. Uncle Mat is the coolest uncle because Uncle Mat is a Firefighter.
There is nothing quite like a VIP tour of the fire station.
They come with fire truck bucket ladder rides!
Real life fire poles and even a little demo by the fireman himself!
Uncle Mat wears a lot of gear as a fireman.
Mommy will never be a firefighter. Frumpy does not suit me. I will save the uniform for the hunky guys.
Well, can I just get the souvenir jacket?
14. Aunt Rah Rah has amazing patience and fancy hair styling equipment.
13. Hotels are amazing and fun. Spending the night in one is so cool when you are a kid. Especially one with a swimming pool.
I really must stick to being the narrator and use a little more anonymity with the picture selection process. Yikes!
Unfortunately, the next hotel I book will wither have two rooms or three beds.
Please select your sleeping partner....
Miss I-am-hot-like-my-father-and-there-shall-be-no-covers-tonight-while-I-sleep-in-the-middle-of-the-bed-so-my-teddy-can-have-his-own-side-and-you-may-have-what-is-left-over
or....
Mr I-prefer-side-ways-sleeping-and-relocate-myself-at-minimum-2154643-times-thoughout-the-night-and-I-kick-and-I-snore-just-a-little-bit-too.
Two Rooms or Three Beds...
12. You can never have enough pennies for a wishing well.
11. These two love to party!
10. It's always great seeing Uncle Kurt and Aunt Marilee!
9. Nothing can keep the kids from playing at Grand-pop's park, not even a four letter word like C-O-L-D.
8. Mini-pop
7. Farmers feed America and farming is amazing. Especially when Grandma Joan and Grand-pop arrange for the kids and I to get a ride in a combine during harvesting.
What a valuable lesson for kids. Riding in a HUGE machine like that. Watching corn being cut. These two were mesmerized!
I have seen several combines in fields before. But to be right next to one is incredible. They are HUGE.
They even got a little souvenir.
6. Grand-pop has candy machines at his office and they are funny looking.
5. Grand-pop has a fun bucket truck too!
4. You are never too old to have your Daddy take care of you, like washing your car.
3. After a week of big trucks and bucket rides these kids are fearless!
Not even a big, old, swinging bridge over a river scares them. Not even when Grand-pop is being a turkey and jumping and swinging the bridge scaring the crap out of Mommy.
Fearless!
2. The ride home was not Armageddon. Probably because Handy Man wasn't with us and we could just swing by and pick up lunch...
and then find a little park and enjoy our selves for a while and stretch before hitting the road again.
1. We spent an amazing weekend with the Eveleth Family.
I take it back.
I think there are actually 21 Top Highlights of our trip. And the 1 is really my best. It's the 1 that means the most to my heart. It's the 1 that has the most probability to never happening again...
Uncle Mat and Grand-pop can always take us up in their fancy trucks again. I am sure Grandma Joan can arrange another tractor ride and the old fishing pond will see us again next year. Sure, Alex only gets married once, but there will be more weddings and dancing and hotel stays in our future. Sure, the memories will be a little different each time as the kids get older and that pure innocent 'WOW' factor fades away over the years. But they are all repeatable. Obtainable. Possible.
I know that in ten years it will be the fire house, bucket rides and combine ride that the kids remember the most. And I love that! I love that they will have those memories of Iowa.
But for me, this was my 1. My Top Highlight.
I am blessed that although my visits are few with my Grandma Alice since she has developed Alzheimers, they are always special!
I receive updates on her progressive decline and loss of cognitive ability though Grand-pop. I prepared myself for the reality that she would not know my name, probably would not recognize my face, and definitely would not know my children. But none the less, I looked forward to our visit. I looked forward to the importance of memories. For me. For my Brown Eyed Girl and Mr Blue Eyes.
While the kids and I waited for the nurse to bring my Grandma to the family sitting area for our visit, this kids and I checked out the cool little activity stations in the Memory Care Unit.
While the kids were trying on old hats and playing with antique phones, something very special happened, my Grandma recognized my dad and called him by name. I missed the moment, but I know it moved Grand-pop. It had been a very long time since she had recognized her son and called him by name.
A tiny miracle.
Special.
We sat in the family area and visited with my Grandpa. She was excited, happy and smiling. Watching my kids interact with her was amazing. All smiles as they demonstrated their newest learned tricks for her. Summer-salts, cartwheels, dancing. They smiled and laughed. My kids hugged her and kissed her and my Grandma's eyes twinkled with love and affection.
The show would not be complete without a little singing from our little entertainer, my Brown Eyed Girl. As my Brown Eyed Girl started singing I'm A Little Tea Pot, my Grandma Alice joined right in and sang the words, in tune, with my Brown Eyed Girl.
Every word.
And they smiled and laughed when they were done.
Beautiful.
My sister had her 'new' Polaroid camera with her and she was taking little snapshots of our visit. A little something to leave with our Grandma to remind her of our visit.
On the bottom of each one, Rah Rah wrote the date and who was in the picture as a reference. My Grandma was holding the pictures in her hands for a while when she glanced down and must have read the words to herself. Quietly, and with a tone of realization, she said, "Christi!" out loud. And she smiled. She smiled at Christi.
God is good.
As the kids played on the floor, we all watched. No one needing to really say anything. Just be there. Sharing the moment.
The kids started playing with my Grandma's walker and Grand-pop started teasing my Brown Eyed Girl by moving the walker at the last minute from where she had positioned it. This went on a few times, back and forth, my Brown Eyed Girl scolding Grandpop to stop. As my little girl started to get frustrated with Grand-pop's teasing she said, "Grand-pop! Stop it!" one last time. She possitioned the walked just right. And.... he moved it again!
Without skipping a beat, my Grandma looked right at my dad and said, "You don't listen very well do you?" She did so with a look and tone, perfected after seven kids. His expression was priceless. You bet he had heard that from her many times before.
And I am so thankful for the memories.
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