Ledges State Park/High Tressle Trail Bridge

It was a beautiful fall morning and we woke up and decided it would be fun

to go exploring outside so we headed to Ledges State Park near Madrid, Iowa.

The girls and I had gone last year during covid quarantine, but we took Steve along this time. 

Poor Aubrey was struggling to climb up, and I caught Avery laughing at her sister :)

After about 3 hours outside hiking at Ledges, we decided to make the quick jaunt over to High Tressle Trail Bridge. It required a lot more walking, but it was worth going!

We ended our day in Des Moines, and unfortunately all the places we wanted to eat were way too busy or take-out only, so we settled with Five Guys and ate outside. We also did a little shopping for winter coats to end the busy day! 

 

Heartland Break

Osky Christian teachers had a Heartland Break up at Dordt,

so the girls and I left Thursday morning and stayed through Sunday morning after church.

We were glad everyone was healthy and could spend some quality time together.

(These pictures loaded in backwards order, sorry!)

 On the way home on Sunday afternoon, along I-80 we were stuck in traffic

for about 45 minutes, later learning there were two accidents, and both ended in fatalities.

We went right by them and were just glad to make it out safely! 

Ring pops for a fun treat during traveling.

On Saturday night, we celebrated the birthdays of Boden, Dakota, and Waylon!

The girls doing their cheers for us!

Grandma got all the grandkids PIZZA RANCH shirts!

There is always a play that is put on, of course! 

Kids getting bigger or the couch getting smaller?!

On Saturday morning, the four girls got to do a Dordt Cheer Camp for two hours. They would then perform at the Dordt halftime of the football game! 

We grabbed lunch from Culver's in between their camp and the game and had fun at the park. 

The four girls had a sleepover at Grandma's house on Friday night! 

On Friday morning, we hit Fields of Fun for some fall festivities! 

Shooting paintballs in the back of a cattle trailer. 

Uncle Curt giving us a tour of "Old Parlor Meat Company."

Spending time with Van Grouw cousins at Grandma's house.

Playing "doctor"

Scooter's smoothies and blenders to start our morning trip!