O Blessed Day!

Last Sunday we blessed Ireland in my home ward in Iowa City. Brent's parents flew in for the occasion and my brother Logan drove down from Cedar Rapids to be there for the event. It couldn't have been more perfect! Ireland was calm throughout the blessing and Bishop Jeppsen noted she had her eyes transfixed on Brent as if she understood the importance of it all. The ward gave us lots of love even though we were just visitors. Dorothy had it right: there's no place like home.

Our little family was able to spend a week in Iowa where my parents absolutely spoiled us. I'd wake up and discover I'd slept in to find my mother with Liesel who was dressed, fed and had an adorable hairdo. They watched the girls while we went to see How to Train Your Dragon and to go to the Nauvoo temple. We ate at all our favorite haunts from HyVee (local grocery store) for a cheap and delicious breakfast to the Lighthouse with Brent's parents. The weather was amazing so Liesel was able to play in their big backyard and we were able to take the Mustang out for a drive along gorgeous country back roads. Iowa was positively neon green and I'd forgotten just how nice everyone is! The girls received loads of attention and compliments. Ten minutes after dropping us off at the airport, my dad called to tell us he was already homesick. We are too. Liesel is still asking for her cousins who she was able to spend some time with at the Children's Museum. When we landed in Boston she asked us repeatedly about Logan and everyone around us was so impressed she knew the name of the airport. It was so cute.

Ahhhhh, back to the grind!