Dubuque, IA: A Family Day Trip!
I’ve lived in Iowa my entire life and have never done anything, but drive through Dubuque, IA. Can you believe that?! Well, thankfully we solved that problem back in July and ended up having a fantastic family day trip!
In mid-June T and I determined that we were taking July 3rd off (it was a Monday) and spending the day with the boys! Since selling our camper last summer (no time to camp), we promised them that we would do more weekend and daytrips and this seemed like the perfect opportunity! So, after much research and debating, we settled on Dubuque area for the day. We are so glad that we did!
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium was our first stop of the day! The boys love aquariums and so that was the immediate draw for us. We also love learning about the Mississippi, it’s history, etc. so it made complete sense. The first highlight was the stingray exhibit where the boys could touch them! Who doesn’t love hands-on activities?! We found the history portion of the museum very intriguing as we learned about the natives that had inhabited the area. And of course the boys (all three) were drawn to the Riverworks Splash Zone, which is an area with different experiments and interactive activities using water!
Next, we headed outside to enjoy the outside exhibits. We liked walking through the old river ships and barges that explained the history of their purposes and the river! We especially liked the Steamboat William M. Black. Exploring this old steamboat that was used to dredge the river was quite fascinating! Of course, we also liked the Mississippi River Discovery Center & Aquariums because of all the tanks of fish and river otters! Before we left, the boys had to try their hand at the remote control boats too!
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I’ve lived in Iowa my entire life and have never done anything, but drive through Dubuque, IA. Can you believe that?! Well, thankfully we solved that problem back in July and ended up having a fantastic family day trip!
In mid-June T and I determined that we were taking July 3rd off (it was a Monday) and spending the day with the boys! Since selling our camper last summer (no time to camp), we promised them that we would do more weekend and daytrips and this seemed like the perfect opportunity! So, after much research and debating, we settled on Dubuque area for the day. We are so glad that we did!
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium was our first stop of the day! The boys love aquariums and so that was the immediate draw for us. We also love learning about the Mississippi, it’s history, etc. so it made complete sense. The first highlight was the stingray exhibit where the boys could touch them! Who doesn’t love hands-on activities?! We found the history portion of the museum very intriguing as we learned about the natives that had inhabited the area. And of course the boys (all three) were drawn to the Riverworks Splash Zone, which is an area with different experiments and interactive activities using water!
Next, we headed outside to enjoy the outside exhibits. We liked walking through the old river ships and barges that explained the history of their purposes and the river! We especially liked the Steamboat William M. Black. Exploring this old steamboat that was used to dredge the river was quite fascinating! Of course, we also liked the Mississippi River Discovery Center & Aquariums because of all the tanks of fish and river otters! Before we left, the boys had to try their hand at the remote control boats too!
Continue “Dubuque, IA: A Family Day Trip!”
Celebrating Memorial Day Family Style: A Round-Up
This is the first year since T and I have been married that we aren’t camping over Memorial Day weekend! Can you believe it?! This also means that I’m on the hunt for something for us all to do! The boys will be spending the weekend with us, but R will be working, so it’ll be T, M, & I! I decided since I was on the hunt, I’d put together a round-up of family friendly things to do in Iowa over the weekend!
So, let’s get started!
Iowa Veterans Cemetery – The Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa is breathtaking. Pack up the family and take a visit to talk about Memorial Day and it’s original purpose! What better place to do this than in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery?! Check out what Jeni of Sincerely Iowa thought when she visited.
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2017 Garden Update, 4/24/2017
Can you believe it?! Gardening season is finally here! Well, according to the weather forecast, it’s gardening season for a day or two then it’ll be cold and wet again! Geesh! But, I couldn’t wait any longer, so it’s officially the first Garden Update post! Last year, I waited until the end of May and well…that is just too long! So, here it is!
So, is there a lot to update you on with the gardens? Have I actually done a lot in the gardens yet? No, not really, but I am so stinking excited this year to share it all with you, that I figured we might as well start from the very beginning, right?!
Vegetable Garden
I basically badgered T this weekend to till our vegetable garden until he gave in! It seemed dry on the top…well, maybe he was right and it was too wet. However, he’s as stubborn as I am, so by the time he had tilled half of it, he told me I was planting it, so planting we did! We put in cucumbers, green onions, radishes, tomatoes, and a row of green beans! I’m hoping the sun and warm temps today will give those little seeds a jump start otherwise, I’ll never live this down! (I think you can see from the picture how wet it actually was..you can see where we packed it down in between rows!) There is still the other half of the garden to till and plant (when and if it ever dries up) along with 2 other sections that are adjoining!
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Friday in Franklin County: Active Family Chiropractic – Sheffield
It’s been awhile, I know since we had a new Friday in Franklin County, but I’m super excited to introduce you to Active Family Chiropractic in Sheffield! I didn’t grow up receiving chiropractic care, but after popping a rib head out several years ago and working with Dr. Hickman in Hampton and a massage therapist, I’m a firm believer now!
In the years since I’ve been to several doctors including Dr. Hickman and Dr. Claussen, who used to have an office in Sheffield. When Dr. Patrick Trenary opened his chiropractic clinic after Dr. Claussen closed hers, I was hesitant to try anyone new again! But, now after visiting this unassuming office on mainstreet in Sheffield and having access to a clinic just a half block from my office, which held great appeal, I haven’t looked back!
Dr. Patrick Trenary was an aircraft mechanic in the Marine Corps before he was a chiropractor. When he left his military life, he knew he didn’t want to pursue that career any longer and a longtime friend of his was going to chiropractor school. After spending time talking with his friend, it felt like a natural fit to him. Dr. Trenary says, “When you address issues with the frame, function will return. When the function returns, the issues that you were having, ie: pain and discomfort, will go away.” And boy is he right!
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10-Week Wellness Challenge – Again!
I’m so excited to announce that I am participating in the Live Healthy Iowa, 10-Week Wellness Challenge again this year! I’m also super excited because I’ve partnered with the Iowa Food & Family Project for this endeavour once again! Last year was the first year that I participated and thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie of the team and the challenge to place first within our group! So, of course I was game to participate again this year! This is super exciting for you, my followers too! Iowa Food & Family Project has given me some awesome goodies to giveaway to you, my readers, throughout the journey!
So, what is the 10-Week Wellness Challenge?! An opportunity to focus your life around health and wellness. Well, that is the short of it at least! As a participant you can focus on increasing your activity, weight loss, improving your eating habits…or a little bit of all the above!
Friday in Franklin County: Carol’s Flowerbox
When my husband and I got married five years ago, there was no question where our flowers would come from…it would be from Carol’s Flower Box in Hampton! Owner Carol Schnabel has been in business since purchasing the business from the previous owner in the summer of 2010. Since then, she’s made it her own and even moved locations.
Carol’s Flower Box
So, what is Carol’s Flower Box? It is a full-service floral shop which includes fresh cut flowers, silk flowers, funeral items (stones, wind chimes, candles, angels, and more). Carol will create a custom cemetery saddle or containers as well as delivering them to the cemetery for you. In her store, she also carries numerous gift items such as jewelry, scarves, wine, candy bouquets, balloons and more! She also provides delivery to all of Franklin County as well as extended areas! And if all of that isn’t enough, she also offers Teleflora service for out of town and out of state orders!
Gusto Pizza, Des Moines: Delicious & Family Friendly
Have you been to Gusto Pizza in Des Moines? If you haven’t, you need to! We paired our trip to Gusto with an iCubs baseball game. The games are such good family fun, if you’ve never been. We’ve been to several now and each time we’ve gone, we’ve done a tailgate meal because well…it’s a baseball game! This time, however, we decided to grab supper at a restaurant near the field instead.
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Friday in Franklin County: Koerner Whipple & Fireside Gifts
Fireside Gifts is located within Koerner Whipple Pharmacy! And, Koerner Whipple Pharmacy has been a business on main street in Hampton as long as I can remember. Originally, Koerner Drug opened in the late 1950’s and then Bruce joined in 1974 to make it Koerner Whipple Pharmacy! They are both a fantastic asset to our community!
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Friday in Franklin County: The Wood Cellar
I have a confession to make! I’m addicted! I’m addicted to the decor from The Wood Cellar in Hampton! It’s the truth, my husband is pretty positive that I own stock in their business, and I always ask for gift certificates to the store (or the Orange Possum) for gifts! Whew, I feel better admitting that outloud! 😉
History of The Wood Cellar
The Wood Cellar is a main street staple in Hampton. November of 1990 is when Guyla Pohlman and her husband opened their doors! Originally they were vendors at craft shows with their handmade furniture and people were constantly asking them if they had a shop! Well, that is the beginning and 26 years later…the rest is history!
High Trestle Trail & Trail Etiquette
This past Sunday, my mom asked me if I wanted to join her for an afternoon bike ride on the High Trestle Trail. I had never been, it was a gorgeous afternoon, and the bridge has been on my Iowa Bucket List for quite sometime now! So, I took her up on the offer!
High Trestle Trail
The trail is gorgeous! It’s a beautifully paved (cement) trail! We parked at Slater and biked to the bridge and back, which was about 20 miles total! The trail itself, is a good balance of sun and shade, and slightly rolling, which makes me a happy lady! The few tunnels and small bridges along the route make it visually appealing! There are also quaint bars and smoothie shops located along the trail in both Madrid and Slater! While we didn’t patronize those places, they look wonderfully quaint! I love that the communities along the trail have embraced it and are catering to the public!
