My Hometown

When I realized how expensive swimming lessons are around here, I decided we'd head back to Iowa City for a couple of weeks to take advantage of the bargain swimming to be had there. Mom and Dad were eager to spoil the girls- starting with salmon and cupcakes for dinner the Sunday we arrived. 

There is something very healing about Iowa City for me, especially since the two long years we lived there while Mom and Dad were serving in South Africa. It's now considered home for the girls too and they had so much fun seeing their old friends and going to our old haunts. Some people summer in the south of France, some people summer in Martha's Vineyard, we summer in Iowa City (which we think is even better). 

Oh my was Brigitta excited for swimming! It was actually a major impetus in getting her potty trained. We were able to get special permission for her to be in the 3 year old class even though she just missed the cut off by a couple of weeks. They all worked so hard and I'm so proud of them. Liesel and Ireland were excited to jump off the diving board in front of Grandma and Grandpa on the last day.  

One of the parks we used to go to had a new rock climbing wall. Liesel and Ireland attacked it even though they were just in sandals.

I'm in love with the way Sydney kicks her foot when she's just hanging out. Seeing the girls crawl all over my dad made me cringe-- I just kept picturing the scars on his chest from the open heart surgery. He didn't seem phased by them though and really relished having little ones around.

Dad has a long history of entertaining the girls with electronic devices.

We were all SO excited to see Amanda! We stopped by her work to say hi (and ask if she could reprise her role as star babysitter) and Ireland flew into her arms. Oh how I love this girl! On Sunday Ireland was back in her lap and all was right with the world again. I almost didn't make it to Sunday School because I was so busy catching up with the good people of the ward.

Cupcakes were ubiquitous as we frequented both Scratch and Molly's.

Steve and Sarah came up for the weekend and we rented a pontoon boat on Lake McBride. Even growing up as a kid, we'd never done that and it was neat to experience something new and different in my old hometown. There were some beautiful homes edging the lake. Brigitta ate her weight in cheese curls.

She's so fancy! Big, Jackie-O-type sunglasses just cruising the lake.

I love how these two wear matching shirts. It's such a cute old couple thing to do!

Logan and Krystal were able to make a visit and Harley was the magical element that kept these two sisters from fighting. They were absolutely taken with her.

From the get-go, Mom and Dad wanted to rent these things at the mall which ended up giving us some insight into the girls innate driving abilities. Look out for Liesel (takes after Brent). She kind of drove looking over her shoulder despite Mom's directives to watch where she was going. Not long after her 10th reminder, she rammed right into a sign. As if that weren't bad enough, she didn't have the good sense to stop so she dragged it for a while with the sound of metal clanging on tile echoing all the way down the hall. Ireland on the other hand is a natural (takes after me). She practically floated around the mall on that elephant and deftly avoided collisions with a very distracted Liesel.

My honest little Syndey.

As a mom, it was so nice to have MY mom around. We always made sure to clear our places at meals and generally keep things clean. However, dishes were magically done. Laundry disappeared down the shoot only to reappear clean, folded and in tidy stacks. Meals, which are the bain of my existence, appeared hot and delicious on the table. I had many great conversations with Mom during swim lessons and gathered her insights on the girls.

Going forward, we are definitely making summers in Iowa City a tradition.