Iowa - July 2021
July 2, 2021
Mom and Dad headed out for Iowa first in order to pick the kids up from the airport. Jenna and Bradley flew into Omaha. All of them arrived earlier in the evening, where the kids were able to see their new bed in the computer room for the first time. I arrived shortly after midnight to find Dad waiting up for me, and everyone else tucked in their new beds asleep.
After waking up around 10AM the next day, we headed to have lunch in Corning. We stopped at ACS to snap a few photos with no other fans around. We swung by Three C’s to pick up our lunch and headed over to Lake Icaria State Park to enjoy the breeze by the picnic tables overlooking the water. We ordered loins, mac n cheese bites, sweet potato tots, and onion rings. Oh don’t forget they have the best unsweetened iced tea around!
We took a rest at home in the afternoon before Dad and I hauled out the old mattresses to the burn pit. Jenna and Mom stayed at home mixing up Grandma Connie’s recipe for homemade ice cream. We spent time enjoying the evening out on the deck watching our pool fill and ice cream churn itself.
July 3, 2021
Our first stop of the morning was to the Corning Bakery, which I have highlighted as a must stop shop each time we are in town and it is open. Jenna couldn’t pass up stopping at Three C’s for more iced tea on our way back home. We spent the afternoon around the farm.
Jenna forced Bradley to dance with her in the living room.
Everyone joined my hillbilly pool party in the shade of our backyard tree. Bradley and I read for a while, before Jenna became lively and drew him into some kite adventures.
Grandma Pat came by the house in the evening to enjoy some ice cream. It was too hot for a visit outside, but we were able to enjoy some time together at the kitchen table indoors. We ended up settling on dinner in town at Casa De Oro.
July 4, 2021
We took a slow start to the day, after lunch we enjoyed some time outdoors flying kites once again.
After much convincing Dad allowed us kids to power wash the house, a task that took over two hours. Bradley and I agreed we would both sit down in the freezing cold pool.
Once we all cleaned up we got around and headed into town to watch fireworks. We headed back home for a driveway firework show performed by Bradley, and ended with some smores in the driveway.
July 5, 2021
We spent the morning watching home videos from our childhood. Jenna also made the family Ube Waffles from Trader Joe’s. Dad got the tractor running by noon and we all got to go out and take it for a ride. Jenna is by far a superior driver than I am.
In the early afternoon I headed out towards Wisconsin to return to work life. As I excited towards the highway I stopped by the Rock in Greenfield to view the new art that is changed each memorial day.
I made a pit stop in Prairie City, Iowa at Goldie’s to pick up some fried banana peppers and a monster cookie mixer. I arrived home later that evening. It was so good to have a long weekend in Iowa together as a whole family.