Sista girl

For me, another highlight of our trip was to get to spend much time with my sister-in-law, Ashley.  She was in from CA and we got lots of time together over the few days we were there.  I've always loved that girl, full of energy and spunk.
One beautiful evening we headed out around town to try and find some fun places to take pics.  She is extremely photogenic and fun to practice on.

Chaos

Dear Friends

One of the highlights of our trip was getting to see some dear friends from our days in Wisconsin.  Joel and Tanya and their kids lived right below us in our apt. complex at the YWAM base.  We literally spent every day together back in those days.  Claudia and their oldest, Teya, are the same age and were the dearest of friends.  I had the privilege of being at the birth of Tanya's son...we have so many good memories together.  They live "right around the corner" from Buffalo Center, just across the Minnesota border.  It was so sweet to see them again, we cried like 2 little school girls.

They've got their own little farm going on.  The kids all enjoyed feeding the chickens.

Aaron was in love with this "Bible Man" mask. 

Both our broods 

Miss you already, friend.

Some family

The second night we were there we got to see Steve's dad side.  Here are the girls with their 2nd cousin, Jackie.  She's just a few months older than Claudia

Greta seeking some attention for her "boo-boo"

Success

Steve's Aunt Jorjia

Aunt Joyce.  Little Greta took to her like candy.  

Finally Home

After a long week of travel, 7 states, waaaaay too much fast food, much family and friends, we are finally back home.  It is good to be home, I love home...but it is also a bit sad.  It was so much fun to be back in the midwest.  Steve was born in Buffalo Center, Ia.  He mostly grew up in Colorado and then came back to IA for high school.  It's also the town where his dad and both sets of grandparents live and the town where we spent the first year and a half of our marriage.  It's such a sweet little town, compared to the east coast there's nothing quite like it.  The town population is something around 1000 (ohh...I'm so mad, just realized I never got a shot of the population sign going into town.)  In the midwest, each little town has their own population sign, something you never see out here.
Anyway, we had such a great time seeing family that we haven't seen in 5 years.  Poor Claudia was in tears, she did not want to leave Iowa.  As I was putting her to bed the night before we had to leave, she was telling me how much she was struggling and then said, "Mom, I'm trying to remember something that Dr. Suess said, 'Instead of being sad that it is gone, be happy that you had it in the first place'."  She's such a sweetie.

I downloaded my pics today and had 1000!!!  I deleted many of them, but it will certainly take me days  to get them all on here.

This was the first pic that I took in Buffalo Center.  We left PA about 12:30 on Sunday afternoon and arrived about 5:15 the next morning.  The trip took a little less than we thought and it went super well.  

This is Steve's grandma Heitland, his dad's mom.  She is a very sweet woman, it was great to see her again.   She was very happy to finally get to meet Aaron and Greta.

Love these 2, they are so cute!!  (Steve's brother Seth and his girl, Keely)

The BC water tower.  Steve and Seth and the kids walked back from lunch out and I snapped this as they were walking away from us girls.

This little bridge sits outside of Grandma Heitland's house.  It's been there since I can remember.  Wish I would have pulled Greta's shirt out of her diaper first!!

Road Trip

Photos by Claudia