midwest 2012

Last week we got home from spending 16 days back in the great midwest with our families :)
We always have a blast and spend everyday with family and visiting friends.
What could be better?? :)
I have so many pictures, so I'll share them in mini installments ;)
SO, here is what we did while away::
Our flight out there was a bust :) due to maintenance delays, our whole flight set up was changed. We were delayed in Fresno for 2 hours, spent the night in PHX, then left for MN the next morning. Not a great way to start, but we were expecting the worst, so..... ;)
Spent the first week with Nick's family in MN. Saw Nana, and Papa Ray and Ellen. Saw Uncle Kyle, Aunt Sara, Ella and met baby Luke. Mason chased Auggie the doggie :) Walked to the lake for some Caribou (California is missing out on that awesomeness...). Took quite a few walks. Went to the park. Played in Nana's Playland (aka: the basement). Played. Did I mention we played?? ;) SO fun!
We met my mom at the lakehouse in Southern MN while Nick had to head to SD for work. The kids and I spent time with her there for a few days...we swam at the beach, visited a kiddie pool, rode dirt bikes (hands down Adelyn's FAVE. Mason would have it they weren't so loud :) ), played, visited the outlet mall ( I mean, how could we not?), and just hung out.
We headed down to Des Moines over that weekend and spent all day Sunday with my Dad and stepmom and 2 of my brothers (Josh is in VA for some training or class or something...but he is still stationed in Hawaii). That night, I met up with some former coworkers and friends ;) for dinner. I haven't seen them since we moved and I had a BLAST! Great ladies :) I miss them!
Monday, we met up with Nick and his mom in Boone, IA to see Great Grandma Jane. We had lunch there and headed back down to DSM with Dad in tow :) Tuesday morning we met up with Nana again with Great Uncle Terry and Aunt Kathy at Krispy Kreme. More awesomeness that CA is missing, but I'm not so bummed about that one ;)
We also got to see Zeb and Bekah, and their THREE girls :) Olivia Joy joined the world a little over a month ago now. SO cute :)
My Grandma came down for the day as well and it was so good to see her :) Big Cousin Noah spent time with us (Adelyn ADORES him). We spent some time at Valley Junction. The playplace at the mall, swimming, went to the park a few times, and just played outside in the yard. We had dinner with my dad and stepmom a few times too and Caleb graced us with his presence :) when he wasn't busy. Jake got a job at Wells Fargo, so he was putting his nose to the grindstone during the day. But we saw him afterwards :)
We didn't get to see everyone we wanted to, that is always a MAJOR bummer. There are so many people we love and miss!
Time always flies by and there never seems to be enough. We love and miss everyone! :)
xoxo

killing time at the airport...