Thoughts

Part 1: Surprise Birthday Party

On the first day of our trip, we went to Northern Missouri to celebrate my Grandad’s 76th birthday with a surprise birthday party! It was held at his church, and we decorated a room in the basement with balloons and streamers. All his family and close friends were invited, and they came about 15 minutes ahead of when he arrived. My Uncle and his family took Grandad out to dinner, and then to the church. Grandad was completely surprised- it was a lovely party!

Decorating the party room.

All the guests waiting in suspense before my Grandad entered.

Grandad was surprised and delighted!

Now that’s one large birthday cake!

My cousin Anna and I helped serve the cake and punch.

After the party, we went to my grandparents’  farm to stay overnight. Here’s some pictures from the next morning:

My sweet cousin Anna and I.

Austin pretending to fall asleep in a tree. :-)

The cousins hanging out around the swing set.

As we traveled through Iowa, we stopped in Pella, a neat place that looks like a little Dutch town (we used to live there). There are windmills, lots and lots of tulips, and brick streets. It’s the cutest and cleanest town I’ve ever seen.

We stopped by Jaarsma Bakery for a Dutch letter (a delicious pastry with almond filling). Yum!

This is just about all I saw during the whole time we drove through Iowa- flat corn fields and beautiful blue sky with puffy clouds. I love it!

One Comments

  • Hannah

    August 24, 2011

    Hi Brooke!

    It is great to see photos from your trip! I noticed the picture of Austin in the tree and it made me smile. I was thinking that that photo is the sort that my brothers would not approve of! :) It looks like the surprise party was a success!

    I just LOVE big, wide open spaces, where the sky seems endless and there are no skyscrapers on the horizon. Iowa is always so beautiful and peaceful to me, though, I must agree, flat cornfields with a huge, glorious blue sky is mostly all you see. I love it!!!!!

    Can’t wait to see your next post. We miss you all so much.

    Love,

    Hannah

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