Illinois & Iowa

What's better than going on a vacation to two states and seeing one set of grandparents? Going to THREE states and seeing the other grandparents, aunt & uncle and cousins. At the VERY last minute (as in less than 24 hours) we changed our plane tickets and decided to fly to Illinois instead of Iowa to see Michael's family. The original plan was for the boys and I to leave on Thursday and fly straight to IA. However, Michael had another trip come up that was going to have him leaving from Tuesday through Friday. On Monday, we changed our tickets and quickly packed to tag along to the airport Tuesday morning so he could help me get all the luggage and kids checked in for our new flight to Illinois. We spent two days with Michael's sister's family and his parents who have been visiting there since February. The boys had such a fun time playing with their cousins, but the two rat terrier dogs caused them both a little anxiety and Mikie even tried to climb my leg/side one time when the dogs got too close.

On the plane to Illinois: Goldfish and BeBe & Bashi picnic

Zachary rides cousin Halli's stuffed horse. He would move the reins up and down and then fall off and laugh. Of course, he stopped as soon as I hit the video record button.

Ryan, Mikie, & Zachary on the dock by their house playing in the water

Cousins
Ryan, Mikie, Dylan

After two days in Illinois, Michael's parents drove the boys and I up to my parent's farm.

IOWA

My mom thought she would enlist the boys' help in planting her garden. I think Mikie actually planted about a dozen onions and stepped on a few potatoes before giving up to go play.

Zachary couldn't quite get his balance in the clumpy soil and didn't enjoy the garden experience very much.

Cooperation: amazing and rare!

Mikie was much happier inside baking cookies with Boagie.

After meeting my dad's sweet red healer dog "Reba" the boys quickly got over their dog phobia and played ball and tug of war with her everyday.

Even though harvest is my favorite time on the farm, the spring planting season is just as busy and interesting as well. Mikie and Zachary enjoyed helping Grandpa get a few rows of corn in the ground. I'm sure my dad is looking forward to the day they can drive the tractor on their own.

The expressions on the boys' faces in the next two pictures make it look like my children are being tortured. I can assure you they are not! The wind was exceptionally gusty that day and the boys had been given the job of assisting grandpa with talcum powder. We tried to tell them to pour the powder low in the containers; but, they were so excited to help that most of the time the wind blew a powder cloud straight up into their eyes.

This monument was recently constructed at a church in a neighboring town (by that I mean 40 miles away....we are in Iowa you know). Since we had just celebrated and discussed the meaning of Easter this was a perfect life experience for Mikie. God does have perfect timing as we managed to snap a few quick pictures and return to the truck right before the rain started to fall.

Mikie attempts to "roll the stone" in front of the tomb

Boagie measures Zachary on her new growth chart

Mikie points to his line

Pillow fight with Grandpa!

As evidence from the video above, I'd say everyone enjoyed our time on the farm.

Now it's time to kidnap Boagie and fly to paradise.............(next post will be Hawaii....finally)