July Iowa Trip

Yes, I'm originally an Iowan from Cedar Rapids.  I spent my first 16 years of life there and am proud of it! :)  We get back to visit a couple times a year to visit friends and family.  Last year and this year we went back for the 4th of July and my aunt Roxy's birthday on July 3rd.

We stayed a couple nights in a the Grand Harbor Resort right on the Mighty Mississippi in Dubuque where my cousin Duane lives.  The view from our room was great!  And it was walking distance from my favorite local winery, Stone Cliff.  Madeline loved the indoor water park.

During our stay we drove to Galena, Illinois for a day.  They have a super cute downtown area with lots of little shops & restaurants.

We also visited the beautiful Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens which I love!

After Dubuque we went back to Roxy's house close to Cedar Rapids to stay a few more days.

 The view from our hotel.  The Mississippi River

 Grand Harbor Resort

 

 Grandma and Maddie overlooking Dubuque.

 

 Dubuque Botanical Gardens.

 

 Pretty flowers!!!

 Me and my girl!

 

 Posing....

 

 Checking out the HUGE dahlia's

 

 Love this place!!!

 

 Mads and I at the Stone Cliff Winery enjoying free popcorn.

 

Mom and I tasting wine while Mads sleeps, lol.

 



 One of the cute shops in Galena, IL.

 

 Madeline, Mom, and aunt Roxy.

 

 Mmmm, candy!!!

 

Grandma and Madeline at lunch in Dubuque.  These two sure look alike!

 

 



And A YEAR LATER!!!!!

Has it seriously been almost A YEAR since I've blogged????  What can I say, we've been busy....LOL!

This past year Madeline has been in preschool for three 1/2 days per week.  On the off days we've kept busy with our playgroup Johnson County Moms and other activities.  If anyone knows me I may be a stay-at-home mom but I'm not good at the STAY at HOME part, we're ALWAYS on the go!!!!  Which means, the library, bounce house places, a local free museum with a kids play area, and so on and so fourth.

But soon we both have some exciting changes coming...Madeline starts kindergarten in two weeks and I start my new job as a paraprofessional at an elementary school in less than two weeks! We're both looking forward to our new adventures starting soon but enjoying out last few days of freedom together.

We've tried to keep as busy as possible this summer!  Trips to Branson (twice), Arkansas,  Iowa, and Colorado.  Plus regular playdates, strawberry and blueberry picking, and lots of trips to the park.  I'll post a couple pics of each.

Starting the summer out with a trip to the arboretum with some moms in our playgroup.

Arboretum.

 



 Playgroup friends Adam and Ella. 

Jenna and Madeline at Silver Dollar City in Branson.

 

 Riding rides.

 

 The girls had a blast!

 

Estes Park, Colorado.

 

Feeding the local chipmunks near Estes Park.

 

Mmmm, ice cream!!!

 

Overlooking Garden of the Gods.

 

Madeline and Grandma.

 

Manitou Cliff Dwellings near Colorado Springs.

 

This gets me through June.  Will post more summer pics later for July and August.