Solon Beef Days Run

The class reunion fun lasted well into the night, but we were up bright and early the next morning to join the whole family at the Solon Beef Days Run. Beef Days have a special meaning to the Kasparek family...41 years ago a young lady named, Marie met a young man named, Don there.

Camden, Emma, and Cole are ready for the kids' mile run to begin

Cheering on the runners with the cutest niece in the universe, Miss Bailey

We told Emma to stay with Camden during the race. He left her in the dust right at the beginning and came into the finish line just after 10 minutes!

Emma was a terrific cousin and ran with Cole.  He needed a little lift from Dad towards the end :)

Emma finishing strong!

Go Cole!

Chris and I were 5K running buddies :)

The Kasparek Brothers

Me and Lori

What an awesome surprise: Camden was the 3rd place finisher in his age group!

The Kasparek runners

Camden, Aunt Jen, Bailey, Emma, and Cole

Prairie High School 20 Year Reunion

Chris celebrated his 20th high school reunion while we were in Iowa. He got to know some of his classmates even more working with them on the planning committee.  

A picture of Chris and his lovely date before leaving the Kasparek house :)

We brought a special bottle of wine from Italy to enjoy at a little pre-party 

 The fantastic planning committee: Shannon, Betsy, Melanie, Tracey, Erin, and Chris

Do you see the strawberry 1993 in the fruit platter? :)

 Who knew checking in people could be this much fun?!

 Brooke gave Chris his first kiss in 2nd grade :)

 Cedar Rapids Prairie Class of 1993

 Let's dance!

Seaward Family Pictures

Grandpa, Emma, and Camden

 Grandpa, Nana, Emma, and Camden

 The whole family

 Camden definitely has some strong Seaward genes in him!

 Dad, me, Nathaniel, and Mom

 The Seaward/Kaspareks

 Camden, Uncle Lou, and Emma

 Chris, Me, and Nathaniel

 Emma, Nana, and Camden

Catching Up With Old Friends

We had 2 Camp Adventure reunions in Iowa.  The Cramer family hosted the first one in Johnston.  It was fun reminiscing about the good old days traveling around the world during the summers.

Amy, Chris, and Mike

 The Schweinfurt 1997 crew: Chris, Chris, Gina, and Maggie

 Kasparek and Pisarik

My friend Abby, who I've known my whole life, was blessed with 2 adorable babies in December.  Emma and I were so happy we got to meet Essie and Teddy!

The babypalooza continued with Baby Kate!

Sarah coordinated her trip back to Iowa with ours so we got to enjoy a couple lunch dates catching up and loving on Kate.

Sarah and I have a famous picture taken when we were probably 18 months old. There is now a garage behind us, the shed is different, and the tree is a lot bigger...

...but here are our daughters in that same location in the same wagon!

 There's lots of love in this 34 year friendship!

 Best Friend Grandma's and their beautiful grandchildren

Next Stop: Central Iowa!

After a week of traveling around the U.S. we made it home to Iowa.  We happened to arrive on the same day as the Iowa Children's Cancer Connection and the University of Iowa Football Legends fundraiser event in Des Moines.  Needless to say, Chris was in Hawkeye Heaven!

Chris and Chuck Long
Who is also a Sam Adams fan!

Tim Dwight

 The event was held in the same room we had our wedding reception in!

 The kids LOVE the Winterset Aquatic Center, so we made a few trips there during our week long stay

Grandpa and Emma at Clark's Tower

 Lots of game time in the basement

A fun (late) evening on the back porch when Nathaniel arrived from Florida

 One hot afternoon we went to the Science Center of Iowa.  Emma put this cool arch together (with a little help from Nana and Mom).

 Luck would have it, the Madison County Fair was going on the week we were in Winterset!  The kids had their first experience at a real Midwest fair.

And they were less than trilled with it at the end...

 Running through the sprinkler in Nana and Grandpa's backyard

Uncle Lou got out all his old Star War toys for Camden to play with