Brisk Me Away

7.31.2012

Week of /22: Iowa Continued

We spent the remainder of last week continuing to visit family in Iowa. Henry meeting the grandparents was very special! He did great on all the drives, except on the way home when he cried A LOT! We were in the car for about 13.5 hours, so we understood how he felt! I think we were more traumatized than he was, though:) Babies quickly forget, while we can still hear him crying I think! Our weekend was spent recuperating and relaxing. Our visit was a good one, but there really is NO place like home!
We met up with Steven's dad in Emmetsburg. Here is Henry meeting Grandma Hough!

Kenslie is Steven's cousin's baby. She is one week younger than Henry, so we had fun getting them together.

We all got a kick out of Kenslie pulling on Henry:)

Time with Grandma!

Cuddly baby...ready for bed!

Grandpa and Kaia talking to Henry

Jimmy and Layna...I never get a picture of Jimmy for some reason! Tah, dah! Here he is!

Great Grandma, Grandpa, and the four grand kids!

Aunt Heather and Henry making the same face:)

We had fun riding the four wheeler around the farm...it was a refreshingly windy day here, so we enjoyed being outside. I drove the four wheeler, but Henry just watched...don't worry:)

More outside play...this one show the surroundings...corn fields everywhere!

We had fun getting some pictures of Henry outside...the wind made him feel giddy!






Momma loves her baby!

Shucking corn...can't beat some Iowa corn on the cob! "Iowa, Iowa. That's where the tall corn grows!"


The whole crew!

Pictured here....Grandma Hough, her son Jim (Steven's dad), his 2 kids (Heather and Steven), plus spouses and their kiddos:)
Four generations!

Henry's middle name is Lawrence, so we had to take a picture of his namesake's gravestone. Lawrence is also Steven's and Jim's middle name.

Saying goodbye on Wednesday morning...the Bushes, Grandpa, and Peggy headed to St. Louis for a ballgame and we headed back to the DeWitts for a little more time with them.

Talking to Grandma DeWitt

Their cat, Squeak, came up and meowed and meowed while Grandma was holding Henry. He was complaining and showing his jealousy! :)

We also headed back out to Laurel for a tour of the farm and surrounding area where Grandpa and Grandma DeWitt used to live. We stopped by the cemetery where SO many of the family are buried. Pictured above is Grandma DeWitt's father and mother's gravestone. Carl would be Henry's great, great grandpa they share a birthday...Feb. 26!!

And here is her grandparent's gravestone...Henry Sietmann would be our Henry's great, great, great grandpa. Henry and Catherine lived right next door to Carl and Ethel in Laurel. Grandma DeWitt was very close to them, because she was just a stone's throw away from their doorstep!

All around the area are these windmills that generate energy. There are 52 right near the family farm. The are HUGE...like 400 feet tall.

Cornfields and windmills!

We went to eat lunch at a Chinese restaurant while we were there. This family owns the restaurant and are close with Grandma DeWitt. They would visit her when they lived in the apartments behind them. She would help them read since they are just recently here from China and are learning English. Such sweet kids!

We also stopped at Taylor's Maid Rite while we were in Marshalltown....a local attraction! They offer a tasty sandwich called a "Maid Rite". The seating surrounds the workers who cook right there.

Here we are enjoying our Maid Rites....and their yummy milkshakes, too!

A shot in front of the sign...RAGBRAI was going on while we were there. It is a bike ride across Iowa, so we saw lots of them since one of their stops this year is to Marshalltown.

We headed back South on Friday...here is Henry back in the car (again!) at 6am. This looks like he is saying, "Seriously, guys??!!"

At least he was able to entertain himself some by blowing bubbles/making noises with his mouth.


7.30.2012

Week of 7/15: Iowa, Here We Come!

Well, our week was a good one with not much happening except gearing up to head out on a big trip to Iowa to see Steven's grandparents and extended family. Our boy is a good traveler! We had a good trip. See below for some pics from the week!
On Wednesday we went to visit Pat, the lady that our small group helps. Henry had been once before, but I forgot to take my camera! Pat loves her some Henry. :)

Henry is having some tummy time here...he rolled over for the first time this week from his tummy to his back. I had read that good stimulation for this age is to put a mirror so they can see themselves. As you can see, he was thoroughly entertained!! He "talked" up a storm...screeching, squealing, and jabbering.Oh, and I spy a dimple!

Pleased with himself for sure!

On Friday, we headed to TN so that we could leave early with Steven's mom on Saturday morning for Iowa. My super, duper friend Abby hosted a get-together with friends that night. It was great to see so many from high school and eat together and hang out. I enjoyed it so much I guess I forgot to take many pictures...at least I got a few! Thanks again, Abs, for hosting!:)
The Gordons dropped by on Friday to say hi and meet Henry...this is the wonderful couple who have the school Steven and I met and attended high school. They are both such special people to us, so it meant so much to be able to show Henry off to them!

We headed out on Saturday morning at 6AM for the long trek to Iowa....doesn't Henry look thrilled??!! He actually traveled very well and we made it in about 10.5 hours.

Meeting Steven's grandparents for the first time...

Checking out Grandma DeWitt...


Hey, I think I like these people.

Yeah, I really do!!

Jimmy, Heather, and the kids made the trek from Lexington and met us in Marshalltown. Here are the cousins saying hello!

Guy cousins!



Grandma DeWitt getting in some Henry holding!



What cute kiddos!

On Sunday, we went to church in Laurel, IA where Steven's mom grew up and where her parents still worship. Much of Grandma DeWitt's family attends the church, so we got to say hello! This is Betty, Grandma's oldest sister. At 89, she still lives out on her farm and is an avid reader. She is so sweet...I love talking to her about what book she is currently enjoying. She was excited to meet the newest addition to our family!

What a good looking crew!

Iowa was having some super hot weather just like in Alabama, but we still managed to get outside a little bit!

Steven's mom recognized the outfit that Henry wore to church on Sunday...it was his as a baby! There is a professional picture of Steven in this blue sailor suit and the back says that he is 5 weeks old. Here, Henry is 5 months old! I guess Steven was stout, because Henry is no lightweight!

Meeting up with the rest of the family for lunch on Sunday...this is cousin Lisa.
Lisa again with Maddie, Kaia, and Henry. We put Henry in his sporty Puma outfit to impress this side of the family since they are all so athletic:)

Sara (who made Henry's beautiful dedication outfit), Dennis, and Diana

Riley and Camden

All the boys (minus Henry, I guess!): Riley, Cayden, Camden, Jack, and Carter

All the girls: Layna, Cammie, Maddie, and Kaia

Here are Grandpa and Grandma DeWitt with all TEN of their great grandchildren!! Pretty impressive!!

Cute Cousins!

Grandpa and Grandma with their four grandchildren: Steven, Heather, Joellen, and Luke

Henry rockin' with his Gram

The boys all got outside for some baseball

Richard (Grandma's brother) and Donna (not pictured) came by to say hello. It is so nice to have so much family in the same town!

Chillin' with my niece!

Joyce (Grandma's younger sister) and Dave (not pictured) also came by to see everyone!

What cute girls...they got warmed up to each other after a bit. It is tough when you only see each other once a year!

The boys....about to head out the next morning 3 hours to the northwest corner of Iowa to see the Hough side of the family.