Quickest trip to Iowa ever. We got there Thursday evening, watched Sam and Paige graduate Friday morning and were back on the road shortly after lunch time. Sam and John headed home while Holly and I drove to Wisconsin with Doug and Sue. Holly's new in-laws wanted to throw her a shower in Illinois and the timing worked out well to do it while we were there for graduation.
Before we left, we checked out Paige's senior project, a "coffee shop art installation."
We also got to see Doyle and Susie (super quick) as they were in town for a funeral. Holly and I met up with them in a gas station parking lot for a quick hug before they drove to Dordt to see John and Sam.
It was fun driving back with Doug and Sue. They actually stop for reasons other than to refuel while road tripping - what a concept! I have literally always wanted to stop to see the Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth, Minnesota.
Dream achieved. Yes, that is me underneath the giant. There was actually a museum there too dedicated to all things Jolly Green Giant. It was closing time, but the nice lady staffing it kept it open just for us - only in the Midwest.
John, Sam and the Corkill family were playing tourist too. They stopped at Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming.
John also sent this photo of all of them at Culvers to try and make me jealous
Little did he know that at that very moment, I was enjoying my own Butterburger and custard.
Extra bonus...the flavor of the day just happened to be Totally Reeses.
I go this one from John too. Apparently, no road trip is complete without a stop at Taco Bell.
They made it home Sunday. Sam and Keith reunited.
On May 12, a little bourbon burial ceremony took place. When we were on our Kentucky bourbon vacation this past fall, we found out that legend has it if you bury a bottle of bourbon exactly one month before your wedding, it won't rain.
They put it in a spot where we could remember so after the wedding, we can dig it up and celebrate!
Meanwhile back in Wisconsin...
Holly and I got to hang out with Mom Hiemstra for a few days. Saturday morning we drove to Glenview, Illinois for Holly's bridal shower. Kind of amazing that James grew up so close to where John grew up! The shower was held at Wildfire, a modern 1940's dinner club. Everything was beautiful and the food was delicious.
It was so sweet that Grandma Hiemstra, Aunt Elaine, and Aunt Janet (who drove all the way from Pella) could be there too. Unfortunately Aunt Sue couldn't be there.
They played the shoe game. James's mom played the part of James complete with a cardboard cut-out of his head.
Everyone had their gift sent to James's place back in Washington but they had wrapped a picture of it so it was still fun to open! She got some lovely things.
The little girls loved collecting all the ribbons and recipes.
James's mom (on the right) and his sweet aunts who hosted the shower. They have been so welcoming to Holly and I am so thankful that she gets a whole other family to love on her.
James only has four cousins - all girls.
Sunday morning we went to church and then had a lovely Mother's Day lunch at Doug and Sue's place. Monday we took a long drive with Grandma and ended up at the ice cream shop!
Holly and I flew home on Tuesday afternoon. It was literally the strangest thing ever. When we booked our flight, we noticed that we would first take a bus from Rockford and then board a flight in Chicago. When we got to the small airport in Rockford, there was literally a bus at the end of the jet bridge. There were five of us waiting and the ticket agent actually got on the microphone and did the whole spiel about carry-ons, consolidating items, and only boarding when your zone was called.
We already had a long lay-over in Chicago but then our flight got delayed a couple more hours, so we had lots of time to wander. There were these popcorn machines all over and Holly made it her goal to eat some of the leftover that hadn't made it into the bag.
James picked us at the Portland airport a little after midnight and we spent the night at his place in Battleground. I had to laugh when I woke up the next morning and saw Raina his dog waiting for Holly outside the bathroom. She loves Holly and follows her everywhere.
James had to work but Holly and I had time for a nice breakfast at a super cute coffee shop and some shopping in downtown Battleground before she dropped me off at the train station.
John and John (James's dad) picked me up from the train station. He flew into town from Florida for a couple days just to meet us. I have no pictures, but it was such a nice time of getting to know him before the wedding.
