Trip to Iowa--Time in New Hampton on the Nosbisch Farm

On our last day of our trip, we went to the Nosbisch farm. My dad grew up on this farm and now his brother, Tim and his family live there and run the farm.

I can remember having a lot of fun there when we were little! Mostly, I remember getting electrocuted, scaring the cows, watching my Grandma and all her kids move the bull, riding the snowmobile, building HUGE snow forts, playing cards, playing tag among the bales of hay with my cousins and playing with (or trying not to get bit by) the dog, Ben. They named every dog Ben it seemed like! I also remember a story of when my brother and I tempted my sister to stick her toe in the auger, but that is a whole other story! =) I think that story was even mentioned over this last weekend. Not proud, but it was a memorable one!

Here is my dad next to the Nosbisch Family Farm sign at the end of the driveway. We were able to attend the Threshing while we were there. I am not exactly sure, but I think it had been about 10 years since they had the last threshing and since the farm turned 100 years old, it was a fun way to celebrate!

Cash and the thrasher. I don't know...its called a thrasher, but its called threshing.

An old machine...first belonged to my Grandma's father. Still works though!

Threshing in action...

My Grandma, Cash and Dad.

My dad and his brothers and sisters with their mom, minus one brother and two sisters.

Lynn, Tim, Don, Wayne, Mike.

Linda, Grandma and Joan.

Me, my brother and my cousins with our Grandma, minus 17 others!

Craig, Adam, Robert, Keith, Randy, Amy & Jason.

Ellen, me, Grandma and Scott.

The kids had fun playing on the swings. Tripp may have been a bit of a swing hog because he would not get off! He was probably on that thing 4 out of the 5 hours we were there!

Thanks to Grandma for pushing him most of that 4 hours! Craig took turns taking all the kids out for a ride on the Gator. The cows were in another pasture so he took them out to see them. Thank God because Riley was really bummed when she got to the farm and saw no animals!

Here is Cash with his cousin, Becca going for the first ride!

Thanks Craig!!!

Grandpa jumped on with Riley and Tripp.

Cash playing on the rock pile with 2nd cousins Evelyn and Jaden.

Randy let Cash get up on the tractor and try it out which he was very excited about.

Then they had to spend a little time pretending to drive the Gator around. Cash told me to jump on and he would take me out to see the cows!

We were all pretty worn out, but we couldn't leave without some Iowa sweet corn. Uncle Tim drove Uncle Wayne and my dad out and they picked a ton of it for us! We still have a few ears left and it is awesome!!!

We said our goodbyes and got everything packed up to head back to our hotel. We were all desperately in need of baths and some air conditioning! The kids were totally wiped and had a lot of fun! It was really good to see everyone as well!

We were in the van ready to drive off and Cash started yelling that he had to say goodbye to the farmers! So we rolled down the windows and he yelled out "goodbye farmers!"

Thanks for the fun on the farm!!!

Trip to Iowa--Time in Cedar Falls

My mom and I spent one day checking out Cedar Falls which is where I went to college. We drove past my old house which has lost its great front porch! Sad. That was a great porch, but I guess the landlord didn't like all the traffic from "The Hill" that it attracted.

We also visited the WRC to see the pool that I spent many hours in during some of my swimming years. I really wanted to get into the East Gym and see that old pool, but didn't feel like trekking my kids through campus especially when it was probably locked up.

Cash and Riley were really wanting to so swimming.

Actually, Riley was a little freaked out by the glass panels you see here. I guess she didn't see them and when Tripp came walking down the stairs, she got really nervous and didn't want him to go any further. She was just protecting him from what looked like could result into a fall into the pool from very high up. It was pretty cute.

Playing outside The Dome. We tried to get in, but couldn't find any open doors.

Leaving a note under the door for my college swim coach.

After our tour of Cedar Falls, we went to my sister in law's parent's house for dinner and some playtime.

Here are our corn shuckers!

After dinner and some yummy peach pie, Rachel's dad broke out Dance Party on their Wii.

Becca was really good. The kids all liked to dance to the music. It was fun to watch them.

So we had fun in Cedar Falls and it made me miss college! Not really classes, but I had a lot of fun in college and really miss all my friends. I called Darin while I was driving around CF, visiting all the places I used to go so often while I was there 10 years ago. I told him that it was weird driving around here...in my minivan...with 3 kids...pregnant with a 4th.

He told me that it probably was weird, but that I should feel proud!

And I do!

Trip to Iowa--Time in Charles City for RAGBRAI

My Dad and my brother ride in RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) every summer. Their team is called "The Moonshine Gang" and usually consists of those two along with my brother's wife and her dad and brother.

They usually ride the entire week and come up with a theme for their team. Last year they were cowboys and this year they were pirates. Biking 50-80 miles a day in those get ups sounds nice and cool to me.

Anyway, I usually try to take my kids up to Iowa for the week and we stay with my mom while the team rides. We visit them in the different towns when we can. It is a pretty fun deal. Probably more fun if you can partake in some of the activities without kids in tow, but they had fun too.

This year they only rode two days and my sister-in-law didn't ride since she is due with their 3rd baby in a few weeks.

We visited the Pirate Moonshine Gang while they were in Charles City.

We came with our pirate flag and all...

My brother, Adam instructing us where to go amidst all the bikers!
The Pirate Moonshine Gang...
Rachel's brother, Steve
Rachel's dad, Joe
My dad, Mike
My brother, Adam
They had another team member who was a coworker of Adam's who is pictured in the next photo so there were a total of 5 pirates and they were quite the hit!
As we walked around with them, they were stopped many times so people could take their pictures with them. They heard a lot of pirate jokes too!
A little worn out after many miles and many photos!

My friend, Nadine rode RAGBRAI with another team which was riding for Parkinson's Disease. We met through our college swim team. She now lives in Colorado and this was the first time we had seen each other since my wedding in March of 2006! It was great to see her and meet her daughter, Reese. Can't believe it has been that long because it didn't seem like that at all, but we try to keep in touch over the phone and good old facebook which helps.

Next time we will have to do better planning and spend a little more time catching up in person!!!

Grandpa passing out his booty to the grand kids.

Grandpa with 4 of his 5 grand kids...Libby wasn't feeling well and stayed home with Grandma Mary Ann.

My brother and his wife, Rachel.

Cash enjoying some of the expensive RAGBRAI cuisine...yellow watermelon.

Fun times! Can't wait to see what the gang will be next year!!!

More from our trip to Iowa to come!!!

Trip to Iowa--Time in Des Moines with The Oertli's

With our close family friend, Thomas leaving for Afghanistan, we took one night to meet up with him, his parents and his fiancee. We went to Incredible Pizza which couldn't have been more perfect for my kids. Actually, we all had fun playing the games and collecting all our tickets! We all took turns chasing after the little ones. Laverne pretty much chased around after Tripp the whole night. They really liked this little car ride.

This was the cutest. It was a bowling alley that was the perfect size for little kids. Cash loved it and I wished they had one of these near our house!!!
Sarah took Cash for a ride in the go carts. He was loving it!
Sarah and Thomas playing a little air hockey.

Thomas and Hailey collected all the tickets and picked out all the kids prizes. They picked out the perfect things for each of them. Cash got a Buzz Lightyear, Riley got bracelets and Tripp got a big, inflatable camo bat. Really cute. They also got them some candy which is always a big hit!

Here is a group pic of all of us at the end of the night!

Me, Thomas with Tripp, Mom, Joe & Laverne (Thomas's parents), Hailey (Thomas fiancee), Dad with Riley, Sarah & Cash.

So I wanted to get this post up today. Today was the send off party for Thomas. He will be in Mississippi for a month (I think that is right) and then he leaves for Afghanistan. He has told me twice exactly where he will be, but I can never remember the name of the place. Wherever it is, it is too far away from all of us who love him.

He is a good kid and we will pray for his safe return back to Iowa.

Be safe Thomas!!!