Weekend in Iowa

 At the end of June, we took a road trip to Iowa to visit the Flamings. We arrived Friday afternoon, and the kids immediately started playing together like no time had passed since our last visit. They put on skit, made a fort with the nugget, and played video games. 

The little girls were inseparable for the weekend, putting on fashion shows, learning about Pokemon, and playing outside. 

Meanwhile, the adults stayed up late playing board games- our favorite thing to do together. We taught them a new favorite, Everdell.

Because of a few issues going on in the Flamings' home, we stayed at a hotel during our visit. Samuel was stoked for hotel breakfast. He can put the food away at breakfast!

The kids swam on Saturday morning, we had lunch in our hotel, and then headed back to the Flamings to play games for the afternoon/evening. 

These cousins seemed to read each other's minds and dressed alike on Saturday. 

Jeremy, Anna, Matt and I played lots of games on Saturday. We played Master of Orion, Zombie Fluxx, an online app game, and ended the evening with learning how to play Castles of Burgundy, which kept us up way too late (maybe we should have taken the 25 minute YouTube rules explanation as a sign that it was a complicated game, ha!)

We wore Little Bit out that night!

We pretty much repeated the same routine on Sunday. We're pretty predictable. 

The kids played telephone at every meal. 

They played really well together all day. Amelia introduced them to a new online app game where they answered questions, played pictionary, wrote jokes, etc. It was a fun way for the four big cousins to play all together.

Meanwhile, the adults defeated Voldemort. Jeremy taught us their Hogwarts Battle cooperative game. 

We also replayed Masters of Orion, Castles of Burgundy and ended the night with another round of Everdell. So fun!

We might have kept the kids up way past their bedtimes, but since they were playing video games, I don't think they minded it too much. They were all begging us to start another game at 10:00 that night when we were trying to say goodbye. 

Samuel asked for a goodbye picture with Pearl. 

For a variety of reasons, we went through a bit of a drought with getting together with the Flamings, but I'm so glad we're over that! We already booked our next visit in the Fall. 

I always will wish that my mom could watch these precious kids grow up. She was so proud of them. I also know she'd be proud of me and my brother for keeping the family together even without her physical presence. 

We were worn out in the best way on Sunday night. 

We drove home on Monday morning to get ready for our annual Fourth of July party!