Iowa 09 Trip - Tuesday 6/30 - Mark and Erin

Mid-Afternoon I took the kids to visit my best friend from high school - Erin.

(Dan headed to his parents house to check up on work emails)

Erin and her husband Mark have 4 kids.

Aleck, Haley, Charlotte, and Lewis.

Snack time for the gang

Haley kindly read the girls a story

This is Lewis. He is going to be quite the character!


Aleck and Ethan share a love for the game of chess
Charlotte and Krystin hit it off nicely

It was fun watching my friend interact with her baby.
Erin is SUCH a good Mom!

Two sweet girls: Kaylin and Haley

Aleck is SUCH a mini-Mark.

I asked him to look like he was concentrating on the game so I could get a picture.

This is what he did: the over-acted "What should I do THERE" pose.

(I should note that Aleck is a very nice boy)

Charlotte

Haely took the girls down to the basement to show them their rodents... er, I mean hamsters - or gerbils - or whatever they are. Erin was always the all-animal lover ;)

Aleck giving Ethan a close up view

Just before we had to leave, we went out back to play in the sandbox and light sparklers

I like this shot. It shows all 7 kids.

I drove the kids back to Grandpa and Grandma Collingwoods, meeting up with Dan. I quickly freshened myself up because Dan and I were headed out to meet up with Mark and Erin for supper at Granite City. (Mark and Dan were good friends in H.S., too)

We had a blast! The evening went WAY too fast :(

Was great to see you Mark and Erin!

Wednesday, July 1st

This was a "Collingwood" Day. But it was spent just relaxing and I didnt' take very many pictures. However, Dan's Great-Great Aunt Laverna Hannum (age 97) drove from Ames so she could see us. I hope I'm like her in my 90's and don't lose my spunk, either!

Thanks for making the effort to see us Aunt Laverna - was great to see you :)

I did get one good pic of relaxing around the house.

Dan and Ethan had a great time playing "Mario Party" on the Wii

(thanks Chris and Christina for bringing it over!)