Iowa... a collection of photos...

It wouldn't be a recap of our vacation without a few photos and by a few, I guess I mean quite a few.

Here's a few images that capture the fun we had...

BAPTISM: First off the Baptism... the reason for our trip.  The boys did a great job and listened carefully as the Pastor told them about what it means to be baptised and as the boys put it, now they are "closer to God".

A celebration at the park... I guess I was too busy talking as I only snapped a few pictures that day.  The boys had a blast and I forget what it is like to live in a small town where you can let kids run and play without fear of them being abducted or worse.  The boys had a blast and ran from the moment we go to the park until about 9:00 p.m. (the sun is still up then in Iowa).  Needless to say it didn't take them long to fall asleep that night.  It was great to see so many family and we were so thankful to all of our family and friends who stopped by to say hi.

Here's Katherine "Kat" and Claire pushing the boys and Alex their cousin on the tire swing.  The boys LOVE LOVE LOVE Kat and Claire and are begging we take a trip to Chicago (where Kat and Claire live) just so they can play with them again.

Again, we are so thankful to the family and friends who traveled great distances (including New York and even Phoenix) to be there as we celebrated the boy's baptism).  Thank you again!

Michael with Barb and Bob.  This is the Bob, whom the boys like to quote with the phrase "Ah well, there you go!"

This was Gabriel moments after walking into Grandma and Grandpa's house following our day at the park

Camping, Wisconsin Style... I guess I don't know what is exactly different about camping in Wisconsin versus everywhere else in the country, wait, I do know..the mosquito's are much bigger there than everywhere else!  Joking aside, the boys were thrilled with the idea of camping in Megan and Adam's backyard.  We decided to spend the 4th of July with them and no 4th of July is complete without fireworks.  Adam did not let us down and put on a spectacular show for us and his neighbors.  Even if the fireworks came a little too close to call for my nerves (that's another story), it was impressive no doubt. 
But before the firework festivities started and before the sun went down, the funniest part of the night was setting up the tent and  peeling the corn on the cob after cooking it the grill. Here's a few videos that recap what happened...

The guilty party that watched and provided commentary while the others set up the tents.

Does this face look like trouble or what?  This is after he "sneaked" into the tent and got caught.

Wisconsin Cheese Factory Tour... you can't go to Wisconsin without going to tour a cheese factory.  So that is exactly what we did.  We learned a lot including the fact it takes 8 hours to make a block of cheese... who knew?

This huge vat of liquid will eventually become cheese after hours and hours of stirring.  For 10 gallons of milk, you get 1 pound of cheese.

Of course we couldn't leave the place without buying a few things.. including these really annoying "toys" (the one you see Gabriel holding there) that makes the sound MOO every time you turn it over.  Why would anyone in their right mind invent this toy to give to children.  I know a Grandparent must have invented it... because they get to send their grandchildren home with it to drive their grown children crazy.  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa, the boys LOVE to make the cows say MOO.

Farmers market and petting zoo.. On our way back we visited a farmers market and petting zoo that was recommended to us by Jarrett's Aunt Sara and Uncle Wayne.  It was a great place and the boys enjoyed it immensely...

While Michael was interested in touching, chasing or feeding every animal, Gabriel enjoyed watching the baby deer the most.  We recently watched Bambi and he's become infatuated thinking every deer is the one and only Bambi.

Madison Children's Museum... and before leaving the great state of Wisconsin we fit one more activity into our day.  We stopped at the children's museum where the child in all of us was allowed to play...

Does anyone look a little tired?

Speaking of tired... I'll post more about our trip in Iowa... a collection of photos pt 2.  Coming soon!

Until next time,

Angie