Happy in Wisconsin

We arrived at the kids' house a little after supper, but Jill had kept it warm for us.  

Claire was wearing her HAPPY shirt "because I'm happy you are here!"

The next day, Adam and Jill left for a conference.

Good-bye kisses.

During the week, we were in charge of taking the girls to school.

We fed the kids

The kids got pancakes with sprinkles

and I got one funny, long skinny pancake.

I made square eggs

Sometimes supper ended up on the floor (on purpose?)

Doing the dishes

and going out to eat

We played with the kids

Charades - can you guess?

Answer at the bottom of the post.

 It was National Scrabble Day

cuddle time 

 An hour long water play time in the middle of the day.

Raisin fingers!

Talking with Dad and Mom

 Picture of the conference in Kentucky!

Wisconsin still having cold, snowy days. 

We are dreaming of going to the beach!

 

 The trees nearby have limbs that go straight up!  Claire says they are raising their arms and praising the Lord!

Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the LORD!

1 Chronicles 16:33

Jill and Adam made it home just before it was time to go to a concert.  Adam's parents decided not come as the storm of the century was being predicted.  In fact, when we arrived, it was beginning to sleet and the electricity was off.  Luckily it came back on!

 Do you see the girls?  Where are they?

 There were 304 elementary school students, 308 middle schoolers and 320 high schoolers who all joined together for this district choral performance.  Christopher Peterson, a guest clinician from Fullerton, CA directed the choir.  It was spectacular!!

There were several spirituals, like "Let it Shine", "Chariot's Comin'" and "Let Everything that Hath Breath".   I told Al, "We've been to church!!" 

Claire's favorite was "Stomp Box".  The whole room vibrated as the kids stomped the bleachers and  Claire stomped right along with them! 

We went out to eat with the family.

And we made the decision that we had better pack up and leave Wisconsin that night and not wait for the next morning.  They were due 19" or more of snow and we would not be able to leave!   Not that I would mind, but Al was scheduled to work on Monday.

Answer to charade:  a blade of grass

Byway of Iowa

We left Amana driving on 151 toward Cedar Rapids.

 We usually go through Cedar Rapids on 380 coming from the south and these smoke stacks are usually on our left.  This time, we came toward them from the west.

We continued on 151 as we usually do, but instead of continuing on toward Dubuque, we veered off at Anamosa on 64 which is a scenic route.

It was BEAUTIFUL!  Pictures don't do it justice!

House or barn?  Perhaps both!

At Bellevue. we came to Lock #12 on the Mississippi River.

Al wanted to look at them close up.

It would have been fun to watch a river boat going through the locks.  We have watched that elsewhere and it is pretty interesting.  I found a picture online taken by the US Army of Engineers that shows another angle.

This is the Mississippi ridge going into Dubuque.  We were really high up!  

Wish the picture could show you how high.  What a beautiful drive! 

And then, we were in Wisconsin!

Claire had to call me.

She said she would take a picture of me on her camera and I took one of her.

Only 3 more hours to see the family!