Spring Break 2016

We traveled back to Iowa to visit family during Spring Break this year. We left Friday about noon, stayed in Omaha overnight, and drove the remaining two hours on Saturday morning to meet Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Joe, Aunt Jen, Joely and Kallista in Des Moines for the day. We started at Monkey Joe's jump house where the cousins had a great time burning off a lot of energy, and then made our way downtown to eat out before seeing Star Wars at the IMAX theater. Unfortunately, all three of our kids were scared of the IMAX experience, so our family didn't make it very long into the movie, but it was fun to have an activity packed day-trip with the fam.

We stayed in Fort Dodge for the next few days, catching up with family, giving the cousins plenty of playtime, and visiting with Great Grandma and Grandpa Steck. When it was time to leave, Sydney was asking if we could move to Iowa. The kids loved spending time with our Fort Dodge family!

 Grandpa Steck telling Gilby about his recent Honor Flight to Washington DC.

On Tuesday afternoon we drove to Cedar Falls to spend the next two nights with Great Grandma and Grandpa Haugen at their place at the Western Home. The kids thought this was heaven. They love staying in hotels, and the Western Home was like a luxury hotel to them. While eating dinner in the dining hall the first night, Sydney asked if we could move into the Western Home. We told her that she wasn't quite old enough. She thought for a bit and then asked, "Maybe when I'm 16 I can move here?"

While in Cedar Falls, we worked on art projects, baked cookies with Great Grandma, played Disney DVD Bingo more than once, went out to a movie, took turns riding on Great Grandpa's walker, ventured downtown for Scratch cupcakes, and went to a movie. The weather was not nice enough for any outdoor play, but we explored all the Western Home had to offer.

Baking cookies with Great Grandma.

 Getting a ride from Great Grandpa.

I am so thankful for the time we get to spend with all of our family, but it was especially special to see the kids getting to know their great grandparents better. Now that Sydney and Myles are at ages to remember these trips for years to come, it is important to us that they experience the people and places that are near and dear to our hearts.

World Down Syndrome Day

In recognition of World Down Syndrome Day this year, our family went to the Capitol building for a photo with Governor Hickenlooper and celebration of the Down syndrome community. I spoke on behalf of the Sie Center for Down Syndrome with Myles by my side. We are blessed by our little boy and the community he has introduced us to!

Sydney Belle

Sydney has been writing her whole name recently on her school papers. She has since learned the correct way to spell it, but early on this is what it looked like. Just call her "Sydney Bal!"

Children's Museum

In March we went to a Low Sensory Morning at the Denver Children's Museum in March and had a great time. It was an opportunity for kids with disabilities and their families to enjoy the museum without such large crowds. Myles loved the zipline!

Visit from the Wains!

In March we were blessed with an almost week long visit from our great friends, the Wains. Jason, Jamie, and Gilby all worked together at Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp in Iowa years ago and became best of friends. Jason and Jamie were the first people that Gilby introduced me to after we met, and I could tell right then that it was really important to him that I get their approval.

Fast forward 11+ years, 2 weddings, and 5 kids, and it was as much fun as ever spending time with them. The Wains live in Australia, but came through Denver to see us during their extended stay in the US. We spent the first couple of days at our house, and then went up to YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park and stayed in a cabin at the family camp for a few days. All five kids got along like they've been playing together forever, although it had been 5 years since we had seen them, and the two youngest weren't even born then!

Kai (7), Myles (7), Sydney (5), Lyla (3), Ryker (3)

Playing games at the cabin!

The little ones. 

Ryker was very intrigued by their Australian accents. While sitting across the breakfast table from Jason the first morning, and after listening to him speak for awhile, he very intently asked, "Are you speaking Spanish?" It was so funny!

We happened upon the camp library right at story time. The kids thought it was great!

Thank you for the visit, Wains. We love you!