Wisconsin Dells!

We drove up to the Wisconsin Dells to spend the last few days together.  We had a blast playing on all the water slides, rides, pools, blowing bubbles, eating, and just hanging out, etc.  I realized, now putting this on my blog, that Josh and I aren't in any of the pictures!!  It's mostly the kids, which is normal, but I should probably do a better job this year of not being behind the camera too much!  I promise, we were there, too! ;)

 Grace and Lance going down a little water slide

 in the pool with Papa

 Solon and Auntie Erin floating in their tube!

 Poor Vera, so sleepy, but cute as ever!

 Erin, Scott, and Solon

 Beautiful Miss Vera

 Blowing bubbles with Aunt Angee and Papa

 Lance enjoyed giving Vera rides around the house, especially when wearing moose antlers!

 Uncle Paul and Lance in the pool

 Papa and Nana with the grandkids - attempt at one last picture before we all leave

The four grandkids

An early birthday celebration!

Lucky Lance has a birthday in July, so when we go back to America, he gets some early celebrations with the grandparents, etc!  Papa wanted to take the grandkids (minus Vera - too wee) for a little ride in his new "toy" with the top down!  They of course loved it and were jamming out to the Beach Boys when they returned!  SO DAD!! 

 Boys in the back!

 Grace got the front with Papa!

 See ya later!

 After they got back, we had some Angry Birds birthday cake and Lance opened some presents

 cousin buddies

 Mmmmmm.......Angry Bird cupcakes from "Scratch Cupcakery!"

Cars Legos!

On to the Port side...

We drove to Cedar Falls and spent a couple days there.  We were able to attend my dad's retirement party and some new family pictures were also professionally taken.  Our last pictures had been at Paul and Angee's wedding and Vera was still in Mommy Erin's tummy!  The times when we are all together are few and far between, so we need to take advantage of those times!  These are just a few Josh and I took while waiting for the photographer, so they're not that great, just some randoms!

 Lance and Solon are like true brothers!  They love each other so much, but also can fight and wrestle like real brothers - it's hilarious!!

 Beautiful Grace!

 Random shot of the girls

 Lance patiently waiting his turn

 with the grandparents - I love how Lance is holding Solon's foot! ha!

 the 4 grandkids

Vera was loving checking out the grass

Partners in crime!!  They have matching shoes and Lance STILL asks to wear his "shoes like Solon's"

A visit to ISU!

Our last day in Ames we visited our Alma mater - Iowa State University!!  We love taking our kids there and telling them about college and where mommy and daddy met!  In case you didn't know, Campaniling is an ISU tradition where you become a true Iowa Stater once you've been kissed under the campanile while the bells toll midnight!  Well, of course I had to become one, so there was a "mass campaniling" night my freshman year and Josh and I actually got photographed and published in the paper campaniling!!  So embarrassing!!  We took a lot of heat for that one!  Great memories, though, right?! ;)  Anyway, we were showing our kids this, so they decided they would try it too, ha!!!  So young and innocent!

 Under the campanile with grandma and grandpa

 on central campus

 we also had to feed the swans (Lancelot and Elaine) at Lake Laverne!  Another tradition!

 We came home, had dinner, and made some s'mores.  Lance opened a few early birthday gifts as well!

Having fun with cousins

While we were in Ames with Josh's side, his sister Lis and her two kids, Stella and Graham, stayed to hang out with us.  We went to the local pool, played at parks, and just hung out.  Some fun cousin memories!

 having a snack at the pool with Stella

 being cheesy!

 Stella modeling the hat we got her

Baby Graham

Back to visit the Good Ol' USA!

At the end of last June/early July we traveled back to visit our families.  We were only gone about 2 weeks, but it was a jam-packed, full of fun, 2 weeks!  We first landed in Des Moines, and stayed in Ames with Josh's family.  We then traveled to Cedar Falls, celebrated my dad's retirement, and quickly drove up to the Wisconsin Dells to spend time with my family.  We finished the trip in Minneapolis where we saw more friends and family and then flew out of there back to Sydney.  Whew!  And to think we're doing it all over again this year!!  ;)  One of the highlights of our trip was meeting our new cousins/nephews.  Ben and Jill had their 2nd little boy, Elijah in June, and Lis and Josh had their 2nd, Graham in June.  It was fun to be able to see them while they were still so tiny.  We also have lots of birthdays in June/July on this side of the family!  We had a mini celebration for Ben, Stella, and Lance with some of Josh's Aunts, Uncles, and Grandma Stella.  Here are some highlights of that day.

 Elijah and Graham

 The birthday cake for everyone!

 Lance is ready to blow out those candles!!

 A picture of all of Grandma Stella's great grandchildren on the Malin side.  (We've since added little miss Quinn (Andy and Erin's first), so will hopefully get another picture this time!)

 4 generations!

 Grandma with her 4 Malin grandchildren - Josh, Lis, Andy, and Ben

Stella, Graham, Elijah, and Jonas