Iowa Trip 2011

This year I went, once again, with my cousin Cathy Callan to Des Moines to run the Dam to Dam. Cathy's sister and her daughters, as well as her nephew live there. Cathy's parents, sister and her family live about an hour away from there, so I get to see lots of family while I'm there. Cathy, Cael, and I left on Friday around noon. It's usually a 4.5 hour trip, but due to an accident on the interstate, then an accident on the detour, it was a 6.5 hour trip. Luckily, Cael is an excellent traveler, and was very patient through the whole traffic jam. We ate at Panera with Karen and the girls for supper that night. Cael loves their house because they have a trampoline and a dog that chases a big blue ball everywhere. He plays with both of them constantly when we're there. Saturday, we headed downtown Des Moines. Uncle Kenny came with us to watch Cael while all of us ran. Cael ate 2 bags of popcorn during our race. Here's Cael stretching before his race. Here we are after the 5k. Emily, Sarah, Me, Cael (didn't want his picture taken) Alison, Cathy, Uncle Kenny. Cael lined up for the 5 yr.old race. He ran so well! He got a ribbon! Uncle Kenny got some toys out and was playing with Cael. This was at their house in Marshalltown. It's been quite a while since I was there. It was fun watching the two play. I'm sure my dad would've been right in the mix. Saturday night we went to Doug and Cheryl's house for a bbq. Aunt Shirley's cousins were in town for a visit, so I got to meet them. Cael, Caleb, and Zoey were busy playing together blowing bubbles, and lots of other stuff. Cael thought he'd have a bubble for dessert. Cheryl had a farm set. Cael had to show those city girls how to wrangle some horses. Sunday, we went back to Des Moines to drop the girls off, and headed home. It was only a 5 hour trip, since we stopped to eat lunch at Council Bluffs. We got home around 5pm. It was a fun weekend!