Cedar Falls Side Trip

Every time we visit Iowa, making a trip to Cedar Falls is at the top of my priority list.  Not only do we like to see the town where we spent 4 memorable years of college, but we have great friends we love catching up with.
Including the McMullen/Bjerke family!

After lunch on Monday, we went to Katie's new shop: Hatchlings & Hens

 They kids got busy right away creating some masterpieces

 While the kids were crafting with Pam & Jerry at the shop, we took a stroll down main street in Cedar Falls

 Cheers to a wonderful friendship!

 The kids and their final creations

Katie and Jerry

 Next stop: The Falls Aquatic Center

 Emma & Chris (Bjerke, not Kasparek) :)

 Sweet Ethan

 Emma & Camden getting dumped on by the HUGE bucket

 Chris' first time off the diving board!

 Camden getting shot out of the fast water slide

 Taking a leap off the the high dive

 Chris, Jerry, Pam, and Me

On Tuesday morning we stopped by the Camp Adventure World Headquarters and got to chat with Dr. E

 Lunch at Peppers with Dan & Chris

Swisher, Solon, and Sensational Family Time

Who wants to take on this crew for some 3 on 3?

 Bailey and her uncles

Me & Marie :)

 Butch & Chris

 Emma made a movie trailer video about the Kasparek men. It was a big hit watching it next to the fire pit after dinner.

 Early Saturday morning we headed to Solon for Beef Days. Here are our favorite runners

 Cool Miss B is ready to cheer

  Strong finishes by both kiddos!

Resting with dad post-race

Uptown for the parade we found Grandma Rose

Aunt V and B are ready to get some candy

 Brotherly love

 Grandma Rose's blessings

 We love Casey!

 Waiting patiently...

 Waving at some parade royalty

We saw cousin Kevin on main street after the parade

 Onto Swisher for moving prep.  Yes, after 41 years living at 200 Swisher View Drive, the Kaspareks are moving. 

 All the grandkids hanging out in the backyard one last time

They'll cherish the memories in this house forever!

 

Evening hoops back in Iowa City.  Tim just rejected Camden BIG TIME!

We spent a rainy Sunday morning playing at the Iowa Children's Museum

 Celebrating National Ice Cream Day!

Iowa City 2016 - Part 1

It's now time for some fun with the Kasparek cousins!
 Cole was attending wilderness day camp the first week we were in Iowa City. Lori, Bailey, Emma, Camden, and I enjoyed some adventures around town.

Beach day, Iowa style at Kent Park

 

 We visited Babi at work and took some pictures with all the Iowa Football trophies. Here isFloyd and the kids.

Look who we got to meet?!?!? Iowa's star quarterback: CJ Beathard

Then Head Coach Kirk Ferentz!

 Playing at the park downtown

 Recreating one of our favorite pics of Camden outside the Old Capitol

      Who is this adorable senator?

 Scary polar bears at the Natural History Museum

 Next Stop: Cole-Train Productions

Hanging out in the Tiny Tailgater

 Tim's latest masterpiece: a tiny house

 Cousins taking a break from shooting hoops

 On Emma's "Must do in the USA List": 

Ordering pizza and having it delivered.  Thanks Papa Johns!

 Pizza picnic in the front yard

 A few hours later,  a surprise visitor walked in the house!

Chris is here!