We made it to Altoona, IA without any problems!  Could it be because we had no dolly….?

Our new RV park in Iowa is very nice.  There is a little playground here so the kids are extra happy about that.  My brother from South Dakota has already come to visit over Easter weekend.

He brought his sweet daughter Emma along.  I love watching my kids play with their cousin.  We got to dye eggs, get pictures with the Easter Bunny and we had a little mini egg hunt here at the RV park.

Sweet Girls!

Oh my how I needed a little family visit!  It was sad to see them go.  However, I will be bringing the kids to Sioux Falls this coming Friday for a weekend visit.  I’m a little torn about leaving because our work here is getting very exciting and busy but the chance to see family is so hard when on the road. I’m happy to get the chance to go be in South Dakota for all the family April birthdays.  Easter Sunday we tried to get back to work but the holiday spirit was still with us and we went out and flew kites!

I am enjoying Iowa’s land and weather.  I thought I was going to miss the mountains in the horizon in Santa Fe and I do, but I am appreciating the true beauty of GREEN GRASS!  Not just the grass, but the rolling hills, crop fields and random ponds dispersed everywhere.  Iowa is gorgeous.

I am very disappointed in the recycling options around here.  I asked several people where I could drop off my stuff and they seriously had NO IDEA!  That means they don’t recycle at all….ever….REALLY!   I wish our company had time for a recycling push across the nation as well as the solar push.  If any of you out there want to start a business for good cause, I have an idea.  Go to major cities and have them pay you to educate the residents about recycling and then educate the businesses how to collect.  In Amarillo they have recycling bins in almost every grocery store and library parking lot.  I know major cities usually have a system for residential neighbors to pick up recycling on trash day, but what about the people who are traveling or don’t live in the city neighborhoods?  We need a relationship between the Waste Management and the commercial businesses.  There is a place here in town that has YOU pay to have them take your recycling from you.  I understand that the other pick up options are being paid through taxes or our city utility bills but with all the traveling I’ve done, this is the first time I have been asked to pay them something on the spot.  I did find my place for drop off after much searching.  I will be driving 20min east out of town to the landfill where they have 4 huge bins of one stream recycling.  So easy, except for the crazy drive out there.  These bins should be everywhere!!

Sarah has been here all week from Austin.  We are taking her to the airport today.  I’m going to miss her.  She is sweet, organized and a healthy addition to our work and friendship team.  We were so busy in Austin from the time she was hired in February until the day we left, I feel I didn’t get to know her very well.  After this week, I’m happy to say that I would choose my new co-worker to be my friend too.  It is really wonderful to work with your friends!

Also, my kids ask for Ryan everyday so I think it is time for him to come back. Piper told me last night that he has been working too much and it is time for him to come eat dinner with us.  She must think that he has been in an office somewhere for days just slaving away!  I told her he will be here next week and she sighed and said “BUT he is Levi and Cathy’s best friend and Levi loves him very, very much.  He needs to come here NOW!”

Off to enjoy spring!  Get out and play!!