Road trip number two was a success! This time we ventured to McGregor for a quick trip/long weekend to celebrate 60 years of marriage for my grandparents with some of the Henkes clan. I managed to take a couple of picture this time...maybe by the end of the summer I'll properly document a whole trip ;)
We left after Brandon got home from work on Thursday, and made it as far as Des Moines. Cora played right into our plan to have the kids sleep in the van....Jonah, not so much. He was convinced that it could not be time to sleep since it was still so light outside! We had a lazy morning at my parents, and hit the road again after lunch on Friday. Thankfully, this time both kids slept! I guess naps are okay in the daylight.
In McGregor we met up with my parents and grandparents, Uncle Randy and Aunt Ruth, and Jenny, Aaron, Carly and Layla (who drove all the way from Houston to McGregor in two days!) for dinner at the Old Man.
On Saturday, we hung around Grandma and Grandpa's apartment for the morning. Jon and Jaclyn brought their dog, Kinnick, who terrified both of my kids (even though he is the calmest, sweetest dog). By the end of the weekend, Jonah had warmed up enough to pet him, if bribed. Cora startled every time she saw him, and preferred high places as long as the dog was around.
After naps, we made our way up to Pike's Peak for the party. All day it was looking like rain, but for the most part the rain held off and we had a great time. Grandma brought plenty of things to entertain the kids, including bubbles, crayons and elaborate story mat kits with little figurines. Here's Cora, Carly and Layla enjoying some bubbles. They are just 9 months apart - it will be fun to watch them play together as they grow up!
On Sunday, we headed down to the river to see the Strutt crew for a bit. It was Uncle Aaron's first time on the houseboat! As soon as we got the boat out of the main channel, we tossed the kids in the water. Jonah, of course, loved it! He was jumping off the swimming platform in the back of the boat, and Dad even convinced him to jump off the top of the houseboat (with Dad, of course)! Although, I'm not sure he really understood what was happening, and after he surfaced, he decided he didn't need to try it again :)
After all that swimming, the kids both took great naps - they even slept in the same little room downstairs on the boat! They must have been wiped.
The Mosers were out of town most of the weekend (which actually worked out great, because we had a place to stay with a crib and a bed for Jonah!), which was a bummer, but we did get to see them for a bit before we left. This was the best picture I could get of the 2 one year olds. They weren't being very cooperative.
And just like that, we were back in the van and headed home. A very quick trip, but so good to see everyone. We stayed at my parents' house again on the way home. My dad actually got home before we did, and we gave him a bit of scare when we showed up at 11pm, and, finding the front door locked, let ourselves in through the garage. He didn't know we were coming!! My mom and the Vargas' stayed one more night in McGregor, and he assumed we were as well. I guess that's why he didn't leave the door open for us =)
On Saturday, we hung around Grandma and Grandpa's apartment for the morning. Jon and Jaclyn brought their dog, Kinnick, who terrified both of my kids (even though he is the calmest, sweetest dog). By the end of the weekend, Jonah had warmed up enough to pet him, if bribed. Cora startled every time she saw him, and preferred high places as long as the dog was around.
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| Hi.... hi.... hi !!!! |
We had a great turn-out! What a good looking group. Here are Grandma and Grandpa Henkes and their crew (minus 19 who were missing). That's 5 kids, 12 grandkids, and 21 (and counting!) great-grandkids. Happy 60 years!!
There was a little playground nearby that the kids all had a great time playing on. Cora had some enthusiastic helpers for the day, which allowed Mom and Dad to enjoy the party :) And it was so fun to see baby Autumn and baby Bennett again! They change so quickly in the first year, it's hard to live so far away. I didn't manage to get a picture of Bennett, but he sure is a happy little guy :)
On Sunday, we headed down to the river to see the Strutt crew for a bit. It was Uncle Aaron's first time on the houseboat! As soon as we got the boat out of the main channel, we tossed the kids in the water. Jonah, of course, loved it! He was jumping off the swimming platform in the back of the boat, and Dad even convinced him to jump off the top of the houseboat (with Dad, of course)! Although, I'm not sure he really understood what was happening, and after he surfaced, he decided he didn't need to try it again :)
Cora took a bit longer to warm up to the idea of swimming, but I think she enjoyed herself eventually. I hear the water was pretty cold, and infant life jackets are pretty miserable to wear - so I can't blame her!
Uncle Jon took Peyton and Carly(?) for a swim. Peyton actually enjoyed herself, too....but I must have caught a rough moment here. Later on, Jon took Bennett in the water, too. I think it might have been a little cold for his liking, too.
After all that swimming, the kids both took great naps - they even slept in the same little room downstairs on the boat! They must have been wiped.
The Mosers were out of town most of the weekend (which actually worked out great, because we had a place to stay with a crib and a bed for Jonah!), which was a bummer, but we did get to see them for a bit before we left. This was the best picture I could get of the 2 one year olds. They weren't being very cooperative.
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| Cora and Gretel....born 15 days apart! |
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