Iowa to Mexico and back

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We got to Iowa the day before Thanksgiving - right in time to pick up our packet for the Turkey Trot in Des Moines - and stayed through mid-January!! Originally we had planned to finish our trip in time to land in Iowa in early January but we decided to slow down a bit, spend the holidays in Iowa, and help out on the farm while Erik's dad had a knee replacement.

We felt pretty accomplished by the projects we finished during our visit, and there were still plenty more that we didn't get the chance to do. Since it's fun for us to remember and it was a whole two months I'm going to list what we did for projects, for fun, and with Erik's family..

During the 50-60 degree weather of late Nov - early Dec..
  • We tore up an old bunny hutch to be used for firewood the livestock tank heater
  • I collected a bucket of apples from their apple trees and Barbara and I made apple pies
  • Erik brought some cattle to the local auction house 
  • We went to my first livestock auction to watch the cattle be auctioned off
  • Took care of the neighbors dogs, cats, and horses for a day while they were away
When it got cold and the projects moved indoors...
  • We brought ~200 used tires to Des Moines in a livestock trailer to be recycled 
  • Erik sorted and organized the basement
  • I organized a bunch of the house - Barbara was very nice about it
  • Erik repainted a Swedish horse for his Grandma's house
  • Erik built an awesome counter top and cupboard for the van
  • Erik's cousin Truen and I made a batch of lotion from his Aunt Paula's goats milk
Fun stuff.. 
  • We ran the Turkey Trot
  • Went swing dancing a couple times with Erik's parents and their neighbors
  • Went to a yoga class at the neighbors house
  • Erik's sister Anna visited home for a couple days and we had a little pre-Christmas 
  • Went to Madrid's town Christmas Parade 
  • Went to a German Christmas Market in Des Moines
  • Went on a few Christmas shopping trips
  • Spent NYE with Erik's friend from Iowa State, Amanda and her boyfriend Oscar
  • Visited Erik's childhood bestie, John and his girlfriend, Alicia in Nashua, IA
  • Did some indoor rock climbing 
Family stuff...
  • Thanksgiving with the Olson's at Paula's
  • Christmas at the house and with the Olson's at Paula's (day after Christmas)
  • New Years Day with the Nicholson's at Erik's cousin Kelly's (who also hosted us in Florida!)
  • A couple Friday morning breakfasts with Erik's Grandma Marie
  • Erik's Aunt Kathy and Uncle Dick took us out to lunch, to the Des Moines Art Center and locally famous chocolate shop, Chocolaterie Stam
  • A visit to Erik's Aunt Marla's and Uncle Dan's and cousin's house for lunch
  • A visit to Erik's cousin's Becky, Patrick, and Alexa's new house
  • Erik's cousin Sommer and Kellin's wedding 
We got a lot of quality time in and, being the 'outsider', it was a huge relief that his parents didn't get sick of having me! We all got along incredibly well.. and got a little taste of the practicality of multi-generational households. 

Lady

Rusty

Erik on the High Trestle Trail Bridge

Barbara decorating the tree!

You can see the resemblance

Having fun with Christmas snapchat filters

Barbara and Allen - Night out dancin'

Still dancin'

With Grandma Marie on Christmas Day. Bring on the old family photos 

Adorable Swedish horse cookies made by Erik's Aunt Marla

Barbara presenting her Christmas salad in adorable apron

Christmas ham and my first attempt at Sally Jessy Raphael (breakfast casserole)! Allen: "Let's eat!"

Quali*tea time at Burgie's

Walking Kate - the farm in the background

My turn to 'chore' as they say

 At Sommer and Kellin's wedding

By January we started fondly referring to this holiday season as 'The Longest Christmas Ever'. But it wasn't over yet! As it was my first time being away from my family for the holidays we still needed to celebrate with them and get in our Flynn-family time. What better place to do so than in Mexico! Erik's mom gave us a ride to the Des Moines airport and we flew to Cancun and met up with the fam for a week in Riviera Maya.

Waiting for our flight before sunrise

Lil cloudy but we weren't complainin' 

Erik in the pool on a chilly day with his 'two-for-one' White Russians. Merry Christmas!


A Day at Tulum visiting the Mayan ruins 

Devry, David and Dad on the beach at Tulum

 **Erik's awesome photo**

Self-guided tour of the grounds.. We let ourselves in.

Beach ping pong


When we got back from Mexico it was kidding season at Paula's goat farm!



Erik and his Grandma Marie with the freshly re-painted Swedish horse

By the time we headed out Allen was up and walking without a cane, and could do the chores carefully without putting too much weight on his leg. Thus concludes a very grateful holiday season and the first half of our trip!