Cousins from the West

We were beyond thrilled when we learned that the Andersons (my older brother and his family) would be making the trek to Iowa to come and visit us.  It was so much fun to see them and to get to spend time together.  Since we both got married, our families have always lived far apart, and so it was just great to really get to know them better.  Of course, I adore my big brother...he reminds me a lot of my dad and is patient, kind and hard-working.  My sister in law is amazing, too.  She is so fun to talk to and has had to put up with the 3 Anderson sisters for all these years!!  She is an exceptional mother, and I learned a lot just from watching her.  She can do dishes and clean faster than anyone!  They have 4 fabulous kiddos who were polite and helpful and entertaining.  The cousins had so much fun together! Seriously, I was so impressed with this family.  They were excellent house guests, and we would love to have them back at any time!!!!
We stayed busy with lots of different things while they were here.  We tried to give them a "snapshot" of our Iowa life.
Our first stop was a tour of the lock and dam on the Mississippi River.  Everyone (except baby Beth) found it to be very interesting.  Beth didn't appreciate not being able to get down!

Then it was on to the Arsenal museum.

Finally, we cooled off at the splash park...and got to watch some trains, too!

When we got home, everyone needed a break...these kids got a long really well and were so good at sharing and playing together. It was kind of unbelievable!

We love having this group join us to go to church and for Sunday dinner. Aunt Marieta had brought some games and crafts to keep everyone busy on Sunday afternoon. The kids loved playing "Mancala"...it's a new family favorite. Regan and Uncle Chris worked endlessly on a paper frame together.   And we finished the day with an Anderson family tradition...a long walk.

The next few days were a flurry of activity. Ashton had basketball camp, so we had to work around that, but we got to do several fun things. We rhode the Channel Cat water taxi over to see the John Deere equipment which we all enjoyed!  We had a picnic reminiscent of our Helper days complete with salami, pickles and cheese.

That evening we all got to go to Jordan's softball game...it was great to have family be able to watch one of our kids at a sports event. A rare treat! The next day we had another picnic this time at Wildcat Den State Park. We hiked and played in the creek and just enjoyed the beautiful scenery, weather and company. I had to keep pinching myself to make sure it was all really happening!

For our last night together, we dined at the Iowa Machine Shed...for a truly "Iowan" experience...we drank from Mason jars and the kids meals were served on toy tractors. The waitresses even wore overalls.

(And don't worry, Andersons, the Snarr's "awkward family photo" will be revealed at a later date!)
All in all, we had such a great time together and made some amazing, unforgettable memories.  When it was time to leave the next day, the kids (and adults!) were all wishing it didn't have to come to an end!  Andersons, thanks for braving the drive and being willing to come and see us.  You are welcome back anytime!!!