Aunt Melissa and Uncle Jason's visit back to Iowa

Our friends Melissa and Jason came from Reno, NV to visit family in Belle Plaine, IA. Melissa's mom held a BBQ for their friends to go visit them since their time was limited.

Of course, they have become Aunt Melissa and Uncle Jason to our kids. Peter and Natalie were so excited to hear that we were going to see them on Friday. We told them earlier in the week. Ever since then, they've been counting down the days - in their own special way. On Thursday morning, Peter exclaimed, "Just one more sleep!!!!" It took us a while to figure out what he meant by that, but it turns out that he figured that they only had to go to sleep one more time before it would be the day we'd see Melissa and Jason. Then, Friday morning, Peter announces with glee "IT'S FRIDAY!!!" He was a little disappointed when we told him it would be later in the day, but still remained excited. What a patient little boy!

Our first drive to Belle Plaine was a fun experience. As the roads got smaller and ended up to be just gravel, it got real "country" for us "city folks". Who knew there exist a road named "xx Ave"?!?! Melissa's mom's house and the surrounding land was SO "Iowa" to me: an old country home with the red barn in the back, next to a field with cows and a train track amidst the wide open country with no other building standing tall. I LOVED it!

Here's Natalie enjoying their swing set next to the beautiful red barn. So picturesque!

Uncle Tanner, Peter and Natalie all had a bit of the swing action! Looks like they're all having great fun!

We all had a great time with good food and our good friends. Peter and Natalie had a blast every time a train would come zooming by! I could have stayed there forever just for them to see more, but they got to see at least 4 trains. It was so different and more exciting because the tracks were so close to the house and the trains were going much faster than they do going through Iowa City. Trains in Iowa City are often "sleeping" so imagine how happy the kids were that these trains were wide awake!

One last hug for Uncle Jason...

and kiss for Aunt Melissa...

before we headed home...

with the sun setting on our visit with our friends and our Iowa farm experience.