So I know that it’s been a few days since I updated, but I’m happy to report that our vacation went well and we didn’t end up killing each other! 😉 Haha, just kidding, it was a very enjoyable trip overall.

On Friday we drove back through Colorado and Nebraska to Iowa to see family for the last few days. It was wonderful to see Petersen cousins (Kevin & Carrie’s family), Grandma & Grandpa Nelson, and even a few Mossmans by chance on our way home today! (*SIde story: we stopped at Hickory Place for lunch and just so happened to see Melissa & Joel and Kim & Jeff there! What a God-given coincidence!! 🙂 Made me quite happy.)

On Saturday we headed to the Iowa State Fair. I really liked it — a lot better than the MN State Fair. They had a butter cow and butter seven dwarves! They were really cute. 🙂 There were TONS of animals (especially cute baby ones!) in comparison to MN because Iowa is still very agricultural. Who knew?! 😉 We had gyros (YUM!) for lunch and yummy ice cream even though it was actually very wonderful, not-too-warm weather! After the State Fair we went to see Kevin & Carrie’s family for the evening.

On Sunday morning we attended Kevin & Carrie’s church, which just bought a school building to meet in recently instead of the coffee shop they used to be renting. I loved worship, the sermon, and hanging out with my cousins, as always!! 😀 We then went back to Atlantic to have dinner (NOT lunch in Iowa!) at Pizza Ranch with grandma and grandpa Nelson. That evening we celebrated Kyle’s 13th birthday with Kevin & Carrie’s family and extended family! What fun it was to catch up with everyone, play with kittens 🙂 , and enjoy my cousins’ company!

Finally we stopped at the new house Fred & Susan are building to see Fred, Susan, James, and Anna. What a lovely time we shared with them, seeing the house, talking about the upcoming school year, and throwing the frisbee to Kinze. 🙂 Our drive back to good ol’ MN was only 5 hours long, but it felt longer. I am SO happy to be home!