Dudley Happenings: Iowa Trip Part 1

We are home from another trip and had a super time! It was quick but great to see family and friends. Shaun, Rylan and I left last Friday morning after Shaun got home from working all night. The trip out was pretty uneventful. Ry has become a champion traveler, only getting fussy once in a while. I did get her a few small new toys and that seemed to entertain her. By the time we drove out of South Dakota we were exhausted and Mom called to say that we should just stop at my Uncle Dick and Aunt Mary's house instead of going on to my Aunt Debbie and Uncle Adam's place. It meant only another hour and a half instead of over two hours. Totally worth it!

Saturday Shaun got to go golfing with my Uncles and Dad and Mom, Ry and I went out to Debbie's. On the way we stopped at the Coffee Attic/Book Cellar, my absolute favorite coffeehouse. I don't know why I like it so much. Maybe because it was a happy place to visit friends and relax when we were back to see my Grandma Elsie one last time and for her funeral. They have good coffee and it's the place I picture when I'm thinking about my library coffeehouse. We spent the day visiting and made it back to Mary and Dick's for supper, then drove back to Debbie's again to stay the night there. Shaun put Rylan down and I sat around making s'mores at the bonfire. I'm not one to ever miss out on marshmallows and chocolate!

Sunday we got up bright and early and met my parents in Iowa Falls to go to church where their friend TJ preaches. It's also where we went to church when I was around 3 or so. I didn't think I remembered the place, but as soon as Shaun parked the car and I looked the scene over I had a vivid memory of skipping down the sidewalk in my fav brown sandals. It was fun to visit, a great sermon and Ry enjoyed singing with the music. Lots of people commented after the service that they could hear her oohing and aahing along!

Straight after church we headed to the Reunion picnic in Owasa. It's really strange and hard to visit that tiny little town and not see Grandma Elsie or stay at her house. I miss her. On the way to the picnic I was trying to tell Shaun which cousins I thought we might see and he realized we should have started the Nehring Family Tree education much sooner! I was nervous that I wasn't going to know who people were, but it wasn't too crowded and we had nametags so it was all good! That evening I decided to stick with Shaun one more night and we followed my parents up to my Great Grandparent's farm in Minnesota. My Grandma Wilson was in need of a ride back to WY and Dad thought it would be easier to just leave from there the next day. So 3 nights, 3 different places to lay our heads. Shoo! Shaun had never been back to Iowa or Minnesota with me, so I am grateful I got to show him the places of so many of my childhood memories, but again, it was hard and just didn't feel the same without my Grandparents there.

The next morning Shaun left with the 'rents and Rylan and I slept in a bit then went to visit my Great Grandpa at his nursing home. It took him a minute to process who I was, but I'm sure it would take me a while to remember faces if I were 98, too! We only stayed for a little bit (it's hard to contain an active 16-month-old in a small room with lots of "nos") and then hit the road again to Elizabeth and Dan's house. That trip and pics will have to wait for another post!

My second cousin Tanner was great with Rylan-she played with her all afternoon. At the bottom of the slide is my cousin Shelly, Tanner's mom, and my cousin Benita's son Jaylen.

It's hard to get Rylan to stay away from the slide once she gets started!

My Uncle Harry helping Rylan cruise the park

The merry-go-round is another one of Ry's fav things to do at the park!

Teeter-totter!

Mom and 5 of her 6 siblings-Dick, Charlene, Harry, Angie(missing), Debbie, Mom and Betty Jo. Angie was 20 miles away with a massive migrane. They took her to the ER the night before but she was still sick on Sunday. :-( We missed her!

Apparently Rylan is a lot like her Auntie Daunee' was-she prefers her own crib, complete with fan noise and a little music to sleep. I had to take her away from the action and fight her to get her to go down for even 30 minutes!