Taking the dog for a walk, in our pajamas
Wildfires in the pacific northwest and Canada cast an eerie, yellow glow late morning through the afternoon
Getting ready to throw candy at the Labor Day parade and pa’s electrical union
A momentous afternoon and first archery encounter
Shooting his cousin’s birthday bow, hit dad’s makeshift bark target jammed in the tree
Post-nap giggles with ma
Des conned great-grandma Jan into sitting on her lap and eating lunch
A girl, her pa, and her brother’s hat
The annual start to Dundee Day with pancakes (and pouch)
Since the last parade, Des is freshly aware of the potential for nabbing candy at these shindigs. Which made it that more dramatic that the first few groups did not have candy to offer.
Oh yeah, now we’re talking!
High-fives for tigers (Des may one day be a Dundee Wildcat)
Liam and Viv offering cousin Ella the softer blocks to stack
Hanging out with Mark and Penny
Cousins aligned for dinner
Wishing pa a happy 60th birthday
At the realization there was homemade ice cream too:
Generations…
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
Desmond finding new ways to get stuck under furniture. At least it was less crying this time.
Cousin love
Ella exploring new heights and toys
After brunch, the cousins popped out on the deck to see the chicken’s they could clearly hear while eating
A bit later inside, the front door was heard closing while Liam and Viv were in plain site. About 30 seconds later, it registered with dad’s classroom management spidey-sense that “door + cousins visible = des somewhere unknown.” Scurrying out the front door and jogging right to the backyard, a gate was seen standing open. Des had made a run for it. Pushing further into the backyard, everyone finds that Desmond (on the lamb) had also jailbroken the chickens from their pen. Shown here is Desmond and his accomplices looking up at the onlookers on the deck above- all looking down in astonishment in what he had accomplished in under two minutes.
Desmond, ever the big helper, assisting Liam with corralling the chickens back in the coop
Des temporarily commandeering a game of Stinky Pig
Unaware of the recent shenanigans, Ella hangs out with pa after her nap
All smiles
After nap time and the storm clouds pass, it’s time for a picnic with the Sobczyk’s at Stinson Park. Des and Ernie steer the playground
Abruptly warm, the kids were eager to run free
…and seek out puddles to jump in.
Dotty, Ernie and Des looking down at the alligators resting below (?)
Massive bubbles to chase and pop
…we all fall down
Lots of open space to just run
When two huggers say good-bye…
Eleanor sitting up by herself, seconds before falling backward
Morning nap with dad while mom is at yoga
Meeting Tim and Tita Jones at the farmers market
I’m too sweaty for this shirt (even at Bed, Bath & Beyond)
Hanging out with great-grandma Jan
Sunday with family
Des and grandma Mike
This year’s theme is “sleeping.” Mom and Des and a morning nap
Dad and Des napping while mom was at yoga
Right before the sky opened up at the farmers market, Des is concentrating on baguette inspection
Lunch with ma, great-grandma Jan, and pa
Back home opening cards, Des is much more interested in chewing on the envelope
Playing with the car the easter bunny brought
Smiling with great-grandma Jan
Des and Aunt Megan
Jumping with ma
