Tag Archives: Eleanor

Decorah 2017, part 2

With everyone sleeping in the same hotel, mom is kind enough to take the earliest wakers out for a morning hike

It took a while to finally fall asleep the night before, so Des slept in with dad

After American Hot Breakfast at the hotel, everyone makes their way over to grandpa’s house

Des is just happy since Cal brought even more cars and ninja turtles to play with

Grandma reads an opera “adopted for children”

…which puts Eleanor to sleep, so it’s time for naps back at the hotel

After a good rest, everyone is ready for the pool!

Despite the apparent face of apprehension, Ella was all too happy go splashing

Back at grandpa’s house, the boys rediscover the pool table (a prominent fixture in aunt Kellie and dad’s childhood memories of Decorah)

Gathering around the end table for hors d’oeuvre, like the generations before

Des patiently observing as Cal plays with his new car trailer

Eleanor not sure of what to make with dad plinking on the piano and signing

Time for PJs

and some standing with grandma

Des and great-aunt Molly reading Dragon’s Fat Cat

Cousins being silly

Decorah 2017, part 1

Early Saturday morning, the family set out on the first road trip as four to see great-grandpa Irv in Decorah. The long weekend also coincided with a wedding in Des Moines for one of mom’s cousins.

Eleanor (thankfully) slept all the way to Des Moines, but was awake and all smiles at the church.

Des and dad read his new book at the reception, What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night (thanks Katie & Stephen!)

All the great-grandchildren with great-grandma Jan

Des playing his first round of putt putt. Hitting stuff with balls is always a win.

Des exclaiming, “woohoo!” when he knocks the ball in

Mom putting around the toddler hazard

First official father and daughter dance ❤️

Ma showing another Meysenburg girl how to dance

Dance like nobody’s looking

Des pushing around a chair, moments before climbing on it, toppling off and scuffing the scab on his nose. This marked the beginning of the departure and resuming the road trip

Living the dream, both kids asleep in the car

…for about 14 minutes before sister needed her first rest area stop.

Des exploring and enjoying his own personal picnic shelter

Riding the wave of sister’s temperment/sleep, Des exploring rest stop #2

It was a rough final 45 minutes, but everyone made it to the hotel alive. While the girls were going to sleep, Des and dad decide to burn off some pent-up energy with a nature walk

Decorah’s characteristic limestone cliffs paired with an Iowan sunset was the perfect end to the day.

He had to get one more picture on the way back, this time with lights

June 1st, 2017

Checking out the progress the crane truck is making at dad’s work

At dad’s new office’s open house, Eleanor discovers hummus. After that, she demanded it.

Desmond laughing, despite his new road (sandbox?) rash

May 30th, 2017

After finishing up an intense work project, dad joins mom on a walk to pick up the kids at daycare. Des, ever the helper, pushes the stroller.

These two!

May 29th, 2017

Daredevil in the making.

“Whee!”

Rock climbing

Brother playing peekaboo with sister

Not sure what to think of her first taste of peanut butter

Grandma and Eleanor have a tongue-sticking-out contest

Nothing wrong with grandma’s lips, just sputtering back to Ella

“Watch out for bridges and hop-ons. You’re going to get some hop-ons.”

May 28th, 2017

Perfect weather for a back porch “picnic”

Des helping dad replace the lawn mower blade. Each turn of the socket driver was accompanied with a, “spin…”

Des is still trying to figure out how to play with baby sister.

The (recently planted) lawn growing so long, Eleanor nearly got lost in the front yard

Ella was a big fan of avocado and beans

Chewin and a splashin’, ya ya ya 

May 26th, 2017

Eleanor’s new placemat at daycare (note the meta cracker)

Brother and sister being silly at dinner with ma & pa

Counting boats with ma

After the bounce house excitement wore off at the site of the toddler-impossible ladder, an older boy helped Des to the top. To say he enjoyed sliding down is an understatement.

Omaha Gives 2017

A key event each year for the Omaha Community Foundation is “Omaha Gives!” This year, mom jailbroke Des from daycare early to join her on several non-profit stops.

Des gets an inside peak at the Benson Theatre restoration project.

Visiting eCreamery, cause why not?

Ironically following by a stop at the Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance event, with hopefully in 2018, Nebraska Representative Kara Eastman

Coloring at the Grief’s Journey event

 Meanwhile, dad is cuddling with a snoozing girl