Tulip Time - Covid version

2020 has been a crazy year...let's keep adding to the list, Tulip Time was canceled this year due to Covid. First time since WWII that there wasn't a parade, food stands and general celebration in Pella. But do you know what didn't get the Covid memo...the tulips! Those babies still bloom in the midst of a global pandemic, so we loaded up our scooters and headed to Pella for a tulip tour!

The tulip beds were full of beautiful tulips!

This was my favorite!

B really liked the all red ones

Our little dutch girl

Garrett picked these orange to pink flowers as his favorite

After some intense scootering, the kids and I relaxed on the grass while mom stood in line at the bakery!

Purple and Gold tulips...maybe for Johnston Dragons...

Dutch windmill!

The canal was empty...so the kids jumped in!

Me and my dutch girl, Heather is 100% dutch and grew up in Pella, Tulip Time is a highlight of our spring every year

My dutch girls!

Too cute!

We had #DutchFix for supper, they have a lot of good options and it was as close as we could get to the food stands normally set up at TT 

Trigg and I (and a great photobomb!)

Who loves Tulip Time?

We grabbed our #DutchFix and headed over to Grandma Great's for supper!

 We had a great time in Pella, not the same as the "normal" Tulip Time but it was still pretty good. Although we do love watching Mom in her dutch costume walk in the parade...maybe next year!

Master Bathroom Remodel

The last room in our house that needed to be remodeled is the master bathroom. I generally get excited with starting a new project and forget to take "before" pictures...sorry. 

The kids were excited for "Demo Day" because we are breaking up the tile floor and replacing with LVT planks! 

We geared up with our safetly glasses and ear muffs and got to work!

Smash time! 3 hammers flying!

Here is a picture that shows the old vanity and the tile...all of which gets pulled out!

B having fun helping with the project!

Making huge progress!

I got the new floor in and the new vanity installed. I had the mirror cut to fit the new vanity and then added a frame around it. I also swapped out the lights.

Here is the final product of the master bathroom

Ledges State Park

Ledges State Park, in Boone, one of Iowa's most popular state parks, has attracted millions of visitors. Four miles of hiking trails lead up and down steep slopes to scenic overlooks and provide access to spectacular views of Pea's Creek "canyon". So we packed up and took a field trip to stomp in the creeks! Sandals on, we hiked the stream!

Explorers!

We hiked up one trail and there was a great view!

Then more creek exploring

We found a big stick to swing from!

Bouncy and sure to bring a smile!

Our littlest explorer (she is fearless)!

Family photo in front of the big stone bridge!

 Ledges State Park is awesome and well worth an afternoon to explore! 

Mt Everest

 Covid... that means at home learning. Heather did an awesome job of creating fun ways to learn. One such learning opportunity was to climb Mt. Everest (virtually). We got out sleeping bags, camping gear, hung prayer flags, camp stove and set off on an epic adventure!

G testing out the big backpack as we climb up to base camp!

Trigg sporting the pack too!

Blythe had her turn with the big pack as we climbed through the "snow"!

Learning from home is a different challenge but Heather is doing awesome and the kids are enjoying it! 

Easter...a little different this year

Happy Easter!

In normal years, we have a neighborhood Easter egg hunt through the backyards...and then there was Covid. So Heather got creative and the neighbor kids did a door decorating contest. Each family decorated their front door and then everyone walked the neighborhood and voted on their favorite! It even was featured on the local news: Easter Competition Brings Neighbors Together

Here are the other doors in our neighborhood

They won 1st place (gift card to Leaning Tower of Pizza)

Here's a closer shot of our door

We celebrated Easter at home this year but still dressed up to celebrate Jesus resurrection!

Even during the midst of a global pandemic, the church can still meet (using technology) and celebrate Jesus!

 Happy Easter! He is Risen Indeed!

Fishin'

We like to fish. Both Trigg and Garrett have their own tackle boxes, which they love to sort, organize and swap lures!

This winter, we tried out ice fishing. We don't have a shelter yet...it's on my wish list, but we managed to have fun out of the ice!

I'm still working on my set up, but this was a pretty good version 1.0. Sled, auger, tackle bag, bucket of rods and chairs to sit on! I think next year, I need to upgrade my sled and look into a hut and maybe a Vexlar (fish finder)...but we are getting there!

Once the snow melts, the boys are out practicing their casting!

Blythe has been practicing too and she is pretty good with that small rod!

More swap meet! 

Early morning, still in jammies and they are sorting! I sent this one to my dad (Grandpa) to let him know the boys were getting ready for our annual fishing trip in June...

He felt bad for B, since she didn't have a tackle box and he made a special trip up to visit...now she has her own pink tackle box!

 Let's catch some fish!

TobyMac - Hits Deep Tour

For Christmas we gave the boys tickets to see TobyMac in concert! TobyMac's Hits Deep tour came close to us, performing in Omaha! So we made the road trip for the boys to experience their first big venue concert! There were several opening bands that were very good...and then Toby took the stage. 

The boys love TobyMac and could sing along to every song he performed! We did grab ear plugs and I'm glad we did because the show was loud!

Both boys had smiles on their faces for the whole 4 hour show!

We had seat way up at the top of the arena but it was still fun!

2 excited boys!

 Both boys loved the show and it was worth the drive over. We did end up driving home and got home pretty late, but the boys didn't mind!