Iowa

Baby geese Autumn was trying to scare.

Autumn had fun playing with her big brother.

Kyle pulling weeds in his backyard.

Jack, Autumn and I went to Des Moines to see Kyle graduate from college. We flew and had a two hour layover in Denver both ways. Autumn did fairly well on the plane. She had a hard time keeping her seat belt on during take off and landing. She also chose this time to show her independence by not wanting me to help her and to open/close window and tray on her own and scream when I tried to help. She was sick on one of the days we were there, running a fever and throwing up. We figured from sucking on the plane seat belt or rolling her gum on the arms of the airport chairs. Luckily she was better before our flight out. I was kinda concerned she might have an ear infection. She was a little fussy on the flight home, half asleep half awake and wasn't happy when she found out she slept through juice time. Of course all the time I used transferring videos to the Play Station Portable was a waste, she stayed occupied with ordinary books!
It was windy, but not as cold as it looks. Graduation day it was nice, warm.




Autumn learned how to roll down the hill.
La Crosse WI

Kyle's girlfriend got us a great deal on a Hotel. It was a suite and had a kitchen with two microwaves, full size fridge and dishwasher. We didn't need it though as they had a breakfast buffet and comp dinner. Autumn had fun in the pool and seeing the wildlife at the pond behind the hotel. Kyle let us use his truck so we saved on car rental. He left Thursday for a game in another part of IA, and stayed the night before heading to WI. On Friday we drove over 600 miles through Minnesota to Wisconsin to see his team play ball. Kyle didn't play but we at least got to see his team play and meet the coach. We also spent more on gas than hotel and food. Wish we would have had more time to see WI and walk by the Mississippi.

His graduation was nice. Short and sweet. There were 400 graduates. We got to see our son get his BA in Criminal Justice. So proud! Autumn slept through most of it, she was running a fever. My brother Paul was in Missouri and him and his son Reid drove over to IA for his graduation. We didn't realize until later that Kyle's girlfriend played flute in the band, and we were sitting next to the band. We then went to Kyle's house for a BBQ. His roommate Sean's family lives in Des Moines and they brought food and we had a nice visit. It was fun being at my son's house. A bat flew into the house and everyone was running and screaming. It landed on Kyle's back and kids were hiding under the table. My little nephew Reid tried to hit it with an empty water bottle but then someone else hit it with a shoe. One of the girls tried to reassure Reid that the bat was OK and they took it outside, but that was the highlight of Reid's trip!

We took a quick tour of Grand View University. It is in walking distance for Kyle. We had a nice lunch with Kyle and his girlfriend Dollie and then was dropped off at the airport for home. At the Iowa Airport they have automated toilet seat covers, we had never seen them before and Autumn wouldn't use them. We arrived to a house still standing! So far no complaints from the neighbors that Rachel and Karen had any sort of party!