The traditional photo by the pool with all five cousins

We spent the past week in West Des Moines visiting Marcy’s family. Marcy, Anna and I arrived on Monday afternoon meeting up with Jude, who had flown out four days earlier. While it looked as if the weather might not cooperate we actually had a great week with just a couple of thunderstorms. As always, it was great to hang out with everyone and spend some time in the pool.

Waiting for the West Des Moines July 4 parade

Nate and Mandy took all five kids to Adventureland one day where they went on roller coasters and spent some time in the water park. On July 3, there was the annual West Des Moines July 4 parade. Ella and Chloe where in the parade on the VFW float and there were plenty of politicians as well. Marcy even got to shake Bernie Sanders’ hand.

Sparklers on July 4

On July 4 Nate and I went and played golf while the kids spent the day at Baba’s house in the pool, having a water balloon fight and then doing this fun food challenge based on Ellen Degeneres’ show. The kids were in teams of two, both blindfolded, with one tasting the food and then the other asking questions trying to guess the food.

Anna doing the blindfold game with Chloe trying to guess the food she is tasting (cinnamon)

On Friday Nate and I were gone all day, playing 36 holes of golf while all the kids went bowling with Baba and Grandpa. Then it was off to Dairy Queen for dessert.

Enjoying some DQ

Saturday was our last day and the kids decided to go to Living History Farms, where they have an 1850’s Iowa town and some working farms using 19th century technology. We visited various farmhouses, a church, a school and many of the businesses in the town. This also happened to be the place where Mandy and Nate got married so the kids posed for a photo under that very gazebo.

The gazebo at Living History Farms where Mandy and Nate got married