Tag Archives: Great-Grandpa Irv

Decorah 2017, part 3

Last morning hike

With all the kids in good morning spirits, it was good opportunity for a couple family photos

Great-grandpa Irv and the boys

The original grandchildren crew

The morning adventure was to the Decorah Fish Hatchery

There were indeed tons of fish, eager to eat the pellets tossed their way

Waterfall at nearby Siewers Spring state park

When leaning over a stream, always hold grandma’s hand

After naps, another trip to the pool

Drying off and snuggling with mom

Back at grandpa’s for dinner, the boys read Des’ dinosaur book with great-aunt Molly

The cousins discover the piano

Coloring ensues while the grownups are at the table looking at old photos

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, part 3

IMG_5937

IMG_5860

IMG_5868

Three generations: David Irving, Desmond Irving, Irving Anthony

IMG_6727

IMG_5886

IMG_6734

IMG_5835

Pit stop in Ankeny, Hawkeye Park

IMG_5892b

Driving by 1311 W. 1st St, Dad’s second house until age five and moving to Council Bluffs

IMG_5902

…shared a room with great Aunt Molly, helped put her belt on, dug a hole through the basement room wall with the door stop (Mom patched for the umpteenth time before moving), walking to the library with pond, my dear blanket, drank koolaid and ate popcorn w/ ketchup while mom was pregnant (and mint chocolate ice cream), met my sister, learned how to ride a bike, Mr. Good, watched Dan Rathers while eating Mac & Cheese, corn and fish sticks, picnicked out back with Kellie and wicker paper plate trays, eating frozen grapes, big wheel parade, annual broadcast of the Wizard of Oz on TV, Kellie stuck under the TV cart, first Halloween costumes, vacuum cleaner, bouncy rocking horse, picking grapes from the bushes, played with Jason England’s Star Wars figures (“lost” during the move to CB), rode several blocks west to Jason’s house on a big wheel, asking mom if we were taking a nap to determine the feasibility of sneaking upstairs to watch TV while she was sleeping

A boy reunited with his dog

IMG_5943

Decorah, part 1

On June 7th, 2015, we drove from Iowa City to Decorah to visit our (great) grandparents. Dad, Mom, Desmond, and Grandma Anne had just traveled to Iowa City to celebrate Calvin’s fourth birthday. It was Desmond’s first road trip and he slept all the way to Decorah.

IMG_5515b

IMG_5528

Aunt Kellie and Calvin re-enact a game great aunt Molly first taught us as kids: telephone with the pantry beads.

IMG_5552

Dad and aunt Kellie also spent many happy hours playing pool on trips to visit great Grandma and Grandpa.

IMG_5557

IMG_5558

Aunt Kellie and great grandpa Irv

IMG_5576

Desi and Cal

IMG_5579

Des and Molly

IMG_6682

Great grandma Jane and grandpa Irv’s 60th anniversary

IMG_6698