Going home again.

Two weeks ago today my grandmother passed away. Needless to say it turned my world upside down and lots of plans changed that week. In an hours time I went from planning a boating trip for the 4th of July weekend to buying tickets on a flight that left just 12 hours later. Monday evening I purchased a seat on a plane that left at 7am Tuesday morning and flew into Cedar Rapids. After several hours of laundry, packing and crying I was ready for my trip. I spent the rest of the evening with Bill and JoAnn. We shared some much needed fun, love, and ice cream. Tuesday morning Bill took me to the airport. From Salt Lake I flew to Minneapolis where I had 40 minutes to run the length of the entire airport to catch my departing flight to Cedar Rapids. When I arrived at my gate I learned that our plane was not ready to take off yet due to some "mechanical delays". Nobody ever likes to hear that! But my comfort level decreased even more when I sat down by the window and saw that the plane I would be riding not only had "mechanical delays" but it also had PROPELLERS!!!! Yeah, I suddenly wondered if I would ever make it to Iowa alive.

I did. My mom, Casey, and Matt picked me up in Cedar Rapids and after a good lunch at IHOP and a little bit of shopping at CoralRidge mall we made it to Winfield. The next few days were interesting, emotional, and busy with the visitation, funeral, and lots of family in town. I had lots of fun being able to spend time with my mom and my aunt Judy. There were lots of laughs and some really great conversations. My aunt Judy is still as cool as I remember her when I was little and she used to play with the ceramic bunnies with me at grandma's house.


On Friday my dad and I celebrated the Independence Day holiday with some bottle rockets and firecrackers. My dad also had this other crazy thing that was SOOO loud and it scared me bad.



Of course a trip to Iowa wasn't complete without a visit to Mosquito park...if you ever need directions DO NOT ask my mom to help you get there! She'll probably have you in Mediapolis an still swear it's just around the next corner!