Sunday - October 5

 We are back after a wonderful wedding weekend in Cedar Rapids celebrating Drew and Tessa's marriage.  

Saturday - we walked with Ryan and Erin to Coffee Republic and then back to hotel to get dressed.    Mark drove Bob and Linda's car to the wedding - what a lovely Mass in beautiful St. Patrick's downtown.   Back to hotel to visit before we boarded the bus to take us to the Epic Event Center (about 20 minutes away in very rural Iowa surrounded by corn/bean fields).

What a beautiful place - we enjoyed drinks and appetizers before dinner; wedding party introductions, dinner and dancing.   Took the shuttle back to hotel around 10 and off to dreamland with happy memories.

Our clan

Philip, Maeve, Annette Luke, Ryan, Erin, Davis, Brady, Blair, Tessa, Drew

Brooke, Michael, Pat, Mark, Anne, Connor, Liam

Drew's grandparents

Gram and GrandBob beat us out of the anniversary dance by 8 years!

Sunday (today) is Bob's 86th birthday

Maeve, Annette, Erin

Gram, Blair, Grandma

Maeve and Grandma

First dance

Mom  and son

Michael and Brooke

Sunday - we had breakfast on the 16th floor of the Doubletree with Bob and Linda.   Several from Brooke's family sat beside us.    Packed up our stuff, said good bye to Bob and Linda and we left shortly after arriving back at KK at 2:20.   It was very windy and we saw a big semi lying on its side along the interstate.

Brother Bob and Linda leaving for home today

So happy they could join us along with several from Mark's family + Annette's parents.   

Zoom tonight started with 7 but Sharon lost internet - discussed the wedding, health issues (praying for Janet and Lydia both having surgery this week), nephew Tim's 50th birthday party yesterday, etc.....

Have a great week!

Saturday - October 4

 Today was Drew and Tessa's wedding............wonderful celebration!

Tessa and Drew Chamberlain

More details coming tomorrow!

Friday - October 3

 Beautiful sunny day here in Iowa but 87 for a high!    So crazy for October.    Mark and I left at 8:30 and drove to Walford, IA to pick up his college friend, Mike at his home in the country.   Mike and Mark graduated in 1969 from Loras College, Dubuque, IA and have kept in touch thru the years.   We visited a few other times when we've been in the area.    Mike lost his wife Dorothy to cancer in 2014.  They have 3 children and 6 grandchildren.

Mike

Mike wanted to treat us to breakfast in the Amana Colonies - long time since we had been there (celebrated Michael's graduation from U of Iowa in 1993 here).    This weekend is Oktoberfest so lots going on.   We ate at Ronneburg restaurant and enjoyed good hearty food and a great visit.    Back to Mike's home and got in his truck and he took us around his property to a lovely pond with lots of trees and big building with full kitchen, lots of tables and chairs for entertaining their large family and friends. 

                                       Pretty country setting                                       

                                       

We came back to the hotel - several guests for the wedding were arriving.   Mark and I left at 3:30 for Iowa City to pick up Liam.   Back to the Big Grove Brewery for rehearsal dinner.   We had a big room reserved and so much fun visiting and enjoying the buffet.

Some of the family...

Brooke, Anne, Pat, Blair, Tessa

Liam, Connor, Drew, Davis, Brady, Mark, Michael

Erin and Ryan 

4 handsome grandsons

Brady, Liam, Connor, Davis

  

Thursday - October 2

 Hello from Cedar Rapids where we arrived around 2 this afternoon,    We left KK at 8:40 and stopped at Revive in Goodfield for a harvest latte.   I drove all the way to just past the Mississippi River into Iowa.   Mark took over from there and we met up with Liam and walked together to the Dandy Lion for lunch.   It was very good - Mark and I shared the fried green tomato BLT and Liam had the Reuben.   We walked back to his apartment and met his roommate, Raymond.   Very impressed with Liam's apartment and room - neat and tidy!

Liam

Onto Cedar Rapids - very warm and sunny - 86.   Checked into our hotel and settled in.....and then Blair appeared outside our door!    Let the fun begin for this long-awaited big weekend for Drew and Tessa.

Anne and I walked to the Pickle Palace where several were playing pickleball from 4-6.   So good to meet some of Tessa's family, cheer on the pickleball players and watch the Cubs game against San Diego.    We all went into the restaurant for dinner - 2 big tables and watched the Cubs game AND the big win!   The place erupted in cheers as it was nail biter right to the last out!!   Mark and I shared a Thai peanut bowl - it was delicious!   

Grandpa and Drew (Groom-to-be)

Mark and I shared this bowl full of veggies, rice, chicken and peanuts - sooo good

Walking back to the hotel and Alliance Energy Building all lit up 

 

Bob, Judy, (Brooke's parents) Anne, Mark and I walked back to the hotel and went to the 16th floor for chocolate/raspberry martinis (Anne and me) and Grand Marnier for Bob and Mark.    We played 5-handed euchre with Judy and me the winners.   More of our kiddos stopped by  - great 1st evening of the big weekend.

Mark, Bob, Judy, Anne, Pat

Wednesday - October 1

 Cloudy but a warm Wednesday.    I did more packing and Mark did some organizing in Big Red and moved things out of Ruby.

Michael, Brooke and Blair drove past KK on I-74 today - we waved!!!    They are now in Cedar Rapids and rest of the kiddos will be trickling in the next few days.

I went for a walk around the campground this afternoon - not too many campers here now and no new states.  KK will close for the season on the 31st.

Tonight we drove to Spring Bay and met Allie, Owen and Jane at 11 Bourbon House.   This is at Sankoty Lakes and features 20 glamping tents, RV park, and 4 lakes (former gravel pits).   We all enjoyed our dinner (some dishes had an Indian vibe).    Fun time as always being together.    We sat out on the patio on this very nice evening

Beautiful sunset

Jane, Pat, Allie

Mark, Jane, Pat, Allie, Owen