Mother's Day Week-end

We went to Iowa for Mother's Day week-end. The main reason for going was for Adam's graduation from William Penn University. But it was an added benefit to be able to spend Mother's Day (or part of the day anyway) with the Wissinks. We drove down on Friday after having coffee with the Senior group at Panera. We got to Ankeny shortly before Rachel and Jeremiah came home from the Mother's Day Tea at Jeremiah's daycare.

If it's Friday evening, you will generally find us at Panera and we kept that tradition going.  For dessert we went for ice cream at Van Dee's. I had a butterscotch dipped cone---Wow! That was a blast from the past!

Adam's graduation ceremony was at 10 a.m. on Saturday. It was a bit of a drive to Oskaloosa, so we were out the door by about 8:15.  It was a very nice ceremony, and we were really happy that we could be there.  Adam's parents were there, too.

The happy graduate and his two of  his proud supporters.

We stopped in Pella on our way back to Ankeny and had lunch at Applebees.  We also got to see some of the tulip beds in Pella, which were beautiful.  I think they may have had Tulip Time a week too early this year---Rachel said that the week before a lot of the tulips hadn't opened up yet.  They were gorgeous when we saw them!

We didn't spend too much time outdoors on Saturday because it was extremely windy and quite chilly. The graduates had to hang on to their caps and gowns when they were walking around outside after the ceremony. :) 

Sunday morning there were Mother's Day cards and gifts and then we were off to church.  After church it was time for some pictures.

Jeremiah and his Mommy

Jeremiah with his Mommy and his Grandma

Jeremiah showed us how good he is at hitting the ball off the tee.  He's developed a new interest in this from watching his Daddy play softball. 

Adam grilled up some delicious steaks for lunch.

It was even warm enough to eat out on the deck. (well, some people did wear sweatshirts.)

One last picture of Jeremiah with Grandpa, or "Gramps" as he likes to call him. :)

After lunch we packed up and left for home again. We filled up with some of that cheap Iowa gas before leaving town.  Why does the gas in Brookfield have to be 40 cents more per gallon?!? :(  We had a good trip home, and the time went very quickly for me because I received phone calls from the rest of my kids while we were driving. :)

And I must share some pictures of my Mother's Day Flowers!  I've been spoiled!

I got this fuchsia from the Wissinks.

The little flowers are so pretty--purple on the inside, and deep pink/red on the outside. Now my challenge is to keep it alive!

And these tulips arrived from the Californians!  The buds were tightly closed when I first put them in water, but by the next morning most of them had opened up. They are beautiful!

Thanks to all my kids for making my Mother's Day special!  I love you all more than words can tell!