Man, what a trip the last few weeks have been for me! To start, this picture describes our wonderful 4th of July trip to Estelline the best:

Tired Kids!

We parked at the City Park in Estelline. It was awesome! Playground, pool and so close to my Grandma’s house. We went to the Jongeling reunion at my cousin Todd Jongeling’s house. I didn’t get to stay as long as I would have liked to. My kids needed a nap and the plan was for Richard to stay with them while sleeping so I could get some packing done at my Grandmas house. Richard was so wonderful! He hung out with the kids and my cousins daughter all day long and my family knocked out so much of the packing that day. Not much of a holiday but it was so much fun to be with my 2 uncles and aunt that came up from Oklahoma and Texas to help.

I did get my much needed firework celebration that night too! Richard, my brother Jeff, the kids and I met up with my old friend Jared at Pelican Lake right at dusk. His friend took us out on his boat and we watched fireworks all around us! I was so blissfully happy….until my “darling” daughter decided she was tired, hungry and didn’t like the noise of the fireworks. Her whining put quite the damper on my good spirits! Levi was great about the fireworks. He had so much fun. I hadn’t seen Jared in about 6 years. We were long time family friends and it has been great to reconnect with him. The joys of Facebook!

Another high-five to Facebook – I was able to meet up with my life long friend and old South Dakota neighbor Naomi too! She and her family came over to our RV spot the day we were heading out. Our girls are only a few months apart in age and they were simply adorable to watch running around the playground together. I enjoyed my visit with them so very much. If Naomi and I lived close to each other, I get the feeling we would be the best of friends. She and I just “get” each other. I wish things were different for us but alas…there is always Facebook!!

We got back to work in Sioux City Iowa right after our mini vacation. Conveniently, we decided to pass out flyers at a music event called Saturday in the Park. When we saw the line up, I was happily surprised to see Gary Clark Jr on the bill! He is an Austin local favorite that I have seen many times. I felt close to Austin that day, I miss my home city a lot.

Saturday at the Park

Richard was going to go market in Council Bluffs for several days so I decided to head back up to South Dakota and help finish out the move. The drive from Sioux City to Estelline is only 2hr and 45min. I just can’t pass up these last few chances of seeing my family there while I am this close! My aunt Linda took off of work one day and brought Grandma over and we really got a good hold on the last of the packing. I spent 2 whole days at the house, by myself with the kids getting it ready for my brother to move his stuff in. My brother works long hours this time of year but we were able to see each other every evening. I picked up his daughter Emma on Thursday and she stayed with us until Saturday. I slept in a room with all 3 kids and we played and laughed for days! I will cherish these moments forever. I wish Emma could live closer to Texas but I do feel I have made the best efforts possible to form solid memories for the kids to look back upon fondly.

Emma, Piper and Levi

My last day in town was quite a big day! It was Saturday and Jeff was off work so we did more work around the house. Then I went to my friend Jared’s house to show my kids his goats! They had a great time there. He had a garden and that inspired me to put my garden back in Texas on my priority list when we get home. After that visit, I met Naomi in Brookings at a playground. She didn’t have her daughter with her but my children played and we talked like time stood still. I had planned on a fairly short visit but the weather was great and our words were flowing and I had no idea how much time flew by! I could have still spent several hours there at the park but Levi’s need for a nap snapped me out of my amazing conversation trance. Next, we stopped at Grandmas new apartment to drop off one of the last loads of stuff. When the Levi climbed into her lap to give her a hug, this is what happened:

Happy Great Grandma!

He never moved! He just curled up on to her and CRASHED! Great Grandma was one happy lady!

Now, home sweet home. That is too long for me to be away from Richard. I really love my life, family, friends and husband!