Iowa Bound and Back

ast Monday I got on a plane and headed to Iowa to spend a week with some of my favorite people on the planet - the Meijer family.  They had just moved from Des Moines (where Angela and I illustrated our first three DoWho books last summer) to Ankeny to be nearer their church, Heartland Fellowship.

It was a laid back trip, with lots of color, play and bonding.  Tuesday we painted a 6' x 6' piece for Helen's birthday that will hang in her family room.  (left to right: Angela, Helen, me)  Helen and her family have become fast friends of the Meijer clan, and it was fun to get to know them all.  Our painting was in honor of Helen's birthday, which was the day I got in.

I had brought Angela a piece I made called "North Beach" - where I basically glued sand to a canvas.  She loved it and put it up immediately by her huge paint brush and under a piece called "Truth" (I think that's the name - or "Trust" or something that starts with a "T".)

Wednesday we took it easy and enjoyed the beautiful weather.  We walked to the park and the twins thoroughly enjoyed plaing in the mud puddles that the swiftly melting snow provided.  Then, Thursday we joined the Trotter clan (Helen has three boys) to go to a park near a lake.  It was gorgeous and we had lots of fun.

After playing at the park we went to see the Saylorville Dam, which was pumping water through at 17,000 cubic meters per second. It was powerful and amazing to see all that melted snow in action.

Thursday night and Friday we attended a conference at Heartland Fellowship.  Then Friday night, it snowed!  (Just for me - I had prayed it would.)  Saturday was more of the conference, with it commencing that night with Angela painting on stage for the first time there at Heartland.  It was a fabulous day!!!

Sunday and Monday we pretty much vegged and hung out, watching movies and being together.  We stayed up way too late the whole week, and thoroughly enjoyed each other's company. The snow had almost completely melted by Monday, and on the way to the airport, Angela, the twins and I had a photo shoot at the downtown Des Moines sculpture park.  It was so much fun - pictures of that will follow.

It was a fabulous trip, and I'm so thankful to have such amazing friends in Ankeny, IA.

Princess Masquerade Tea Party

Alison Genevieve had her first "all girls" birthday party on Saturday.  We had a dozen 6 or 7 year old girls join us for a dress up masquerade tea party.  Gina and I decorated 15 masks that the girls got to choose from and we had beads for every girl (thanks to the Mardi Gras party.)

We played musical chairs...

... and Sleeping Beauty...

Then had tea.

Played Princess, Princess, Queen.

And opened presents.

A good time was had by all (except Rachel, who wasn't too keen on the decible and pitch that a dozen girls can make.)

And then, they all went home!  And Alison reveled in her gifts.

And we all lived happily ever after!

Betsy Ross Take 2

On Wednesday, Samantha had her Kindergarten Patriotic Play.  She was Betsy Ross, just like Ali was last year.  Here some pics.