Uncle Neil Gets Married

We are completely unpacked from our weekend in Charleston. 

The bad news is that the clothes came out of the dryer and 

straight into our bags for our Thanksgiving travels to Ohio. 

We traveled to Charleston to be apart of Uncle Neil's wedding. 

It couldn't have been more beautiful.

 Lil Miss was excited for her first airplane ride. 

She giggled through the first flight. 

She even asked if she could have a plane ride for her 6th birthday! 

The wedding festivities started right away. 

We enjoyed every minute of celebrating with family. 

 Of course the scenery was amazing too,

the palm trees, weather, and smells of the beach.

 The kids had their first experience at the ocean.

We had come straight from the wedding rehearsal, so 

we were all in dress clothes but that didn't 

stop us from getting in. 

In fact, Lil Miss and Bubba were wet from head to toe!

 The kids loved the water and the waves. 

We stood in the water and felt the current steal the sand from underneath our feet. 

We have sea shells in our pockets and took some hitch hiking sand with us back to Iowa. 

 We didn't get by unscathed though....

Lil Miss woke up the day of the wedding with a 

bug bite that had swollen her eye shut. 

It didn't look pretty but she pulled off the puffy eye look like a pro.

(Our trip included 3 trips to the 24 hour pharmacy -- allergy medicine, benadryl, and children's motrin)  My kids outdoor allergies lit up while in South Carolina.

 {Aunt Ashley (#1), Mother of the Groom aka. my Mother-in-law, and Me}

 {The Bride and Her Junior Bridesmaid}

Gigi was overjoyed to be a Junior Bridesmaid. 

She loves her Uncle Neil and couldn't have been happier to spend extra 

time with Ashley. 

 The girls got pampered and the boys played some golf. 

Could the weather been any more perfect for a wedding?

My daughter looked amazing coming down the aisle. 

That smile.

I have to note that she walks better in heels than I do.

{the Junior Bridesmaid and Junior Groomsman}

{Mr. and Mrs. Schulte}

{Nate with his parents and brothers}

{Nate and His Dad}

We all had fun on the dance floor. 

The booty shaking fast dances and the slow dances.

The nieces and nephews all had fun dancing with their Aunt Ashely (#2).

We had to drag most of them off the dance floor at the end of the night. 

Bubba showed everyone his new dance moves. 

At one point he even did his front handspring.

I don't even know where he comes up with these moves, but he was definitely 

fun to watch as he moved to the beat.  

I had to fight my way to get a mother/son slow dance with him.

Lil Miss and Daddy found the sugar, no surprise. 

Smores out by the fire pit. 

The celebration for Neil and Ashley couldn't have been more perfect. 

We clean up nice, don't we?

 Our family took an extra day in Charleston to sight see. 

The only thing on Mommy's must do list was seafood. 

Daddy wanted to tour the USS Yorktown at Patriot's Point 

I took this tour about 20 years ago with my parents on a visit to Charleston. 

It's always surreal that I get to enjoy in these same things with my kids.

Before we knew it, we were packing up to go home. 

I made the kids were lots of layers because the weather in Iowa was 50 colder at home.

It was a shock to our system.

Our flights home went smoothly. 

We only had a 45 minute layover in Atlanta and there was 

a little panic, but running from gate to gate... we made it. 

At one point, Gigi was holding on my hand running with all her might 

and said it was like a scene right out of Home Alone. 

Then she held on tighter and told me not to leave her in the airport. 

 AND this is what we came home to. 

9" of snow. 

The kids didn't wait 15 minutes go play in the snow. 

Straight from the beach to the snow. 

Congratulations Uncle Neil and Aunt Ashley! 

We love you and couldn't be happier for you two. 

and so the adventure begins

It's that time of year.  

We get ready to live weekends in our second home. 

The camper. 

The first camping weekend of the year is always the most work. 

Finding all the things that we took out of the camper always requires a little digging and 

a whole lot of memory power. 

A few things are usually forgotten.  Such as: salt and pepper, butter, 

my daughter's socks, and enough blankets for the cold nights.  Ooops

  By camping trip number 2, I've usually remedied the situation and we are more prepared.

 The kids are always excited to camp. 

They see camping as playing outside, hiking, and eating smores.

 Mom sees camping as living outside (as close to my dream treehouse as I'm going to get),

hiking and exploring, and nights around the campfire with the hubby.

Sounds like a dream vacation to me. 

 Of course when we return from a camping trip we are a little dirty.

Some of us more than others...

And no camping trip is complete without smores. 

New Trick: Marshmallows between fudge stripe cookies.... mmmmm

Thanks for the tip Aunt Dini. 

So be warned the camping post will start because that is where we spend the weekends. 

In the Great Outdoors.

Walking by Faith

Blessed is she who has

believed that the Lord

would fulfill his promises

to her. 

Luke 1:45

A week ago our house was  full   fuller more than usual with 

family in town for Miss Gigi's First Communion. 

The weather couldn't have been more beautiful and we enjoyed our 

time outside catching up on the deck. 

On Saturday we took the family around town to a few "must see" attractions in 

the QC.  We saw American Pickers in Leclaire, John Deere Headquarters, 

and a local brew pub (because that was a necessity).

You can't come visit us for the first time and not see a little John Deere "green".

I've lived here almost 4 years and the Hubby had never taken me to Headquarters, so 

I was excited to see the Rusty Palace.  In college, I had actually studied the landscape plan for the 

building which was developed by Hideo Sasaki.

    None of our family lives close, so they all had to travel great distances to 

come all the way to Iowa.  We feel very blessed that they all took the time to 

share in this celebration for our daughter. 

Our girl felt like a princess. 

She wore her sister's first communion dress (the awesome thing about having 3 girls) 

but I surprised her with her own tiara/veil.  Since that day, the veil has been 

part of her day to day attire while at home.  Pretending to be getting married 

in the living room, she lives in her princess world daily. 

I am a princess, 

not because I have a prince

but because my father

is a King

and He is God. 

  

{ Hubby with his parents}

   {God-parents}

The weekend was over way to soon, and all was quiet again.  Okay, 

not really because is it ever really quiet here?  

A special day to remember. 

Mommy SOS

This week I have been lucky enough to have my mom come and visit. 

I don't know if it was the winter weather, the constant onslaught of 

activities for 4 children, or just me but I was feeling a bit overwhelmed. 

My mom saw the bat signal I was lighting up 

and came to my rescue. 

 It is always fun to have Grandma Judy here. 

She has helped be an extra set of hands and my laundry has never been 

this caught up!  The kids LOVE having Grandma Judy here.

 While she was here she was able to see Rosie perform in 

an orchestra concert, Bubba's last basketball tournament for the year, 

Gigi and Bubba's acts in the talent show, and see Lil Miss 

dance her heart out in dance class. 

 Grandma also was able to volunteer in Lil Miss' preschool 

class on Monday and my little girl couldn't have been happier to 

have Grandma Judy there!

 For a treat for my mom, we went out eagle watching. 

I was so excited because we saw over a dozen eagles 

on our trip to the Mississippi River shore. 

 My beautiful mom.

 Grandma Judy brought along spring with her when she flew out to Iowa. 

The weather has been warming up since last Thursday.  

The snow is almost all melted and the birds are chirping all in full force. 

This weekend my Mom was a big help while Nate and I attended a fundraiser and 

she took two of the kids to their talent show.  

 Gigi performed a Raas dance with three of her friends. 

 And Bubba danced to the Superbowl Shuffle with his buddies. 

Even though we couldn't be there to see them perform, I was glad 

Grandma was there to cheer them on. 

Nate and I got a night out. 

It was wonderful.  I had my hair and makeup done so I felt 

pretty as a princess! 

 Bubba especially enjoyed his momma all dolled up with lipstick!

 What is better than going out with the hubby AND supporting a good cause?

Pretty much nothing.

We attended the Gigi's Playhouse Gala, which supports programs to help 

children with Down Syndrome.  Of course my mascara ran as families 

told their beautiful stories. 

It was a good reminder of hope and love.

 So we are grateful that Grandma Judy saw our SOS and came out to help. 

I couldn't ask for a better mother. 

After a week with her here, I feel like such a better mom just following her example. 

Spring is here!