West Bend, Iowa



 

Right before our trip, we need to celebrate Dad's birthday!

Coming up May 12th, 2014.

 

Singing, "Happy Birthday to you..."

 

Grandpa's favorite, German chocolate cake! And he like's the piece with the extra frosting!

 

Happy Birthday, Dad! We love you!

 

His favorite shirt! It's hard to get it away from him for a wash every now and then!

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May 12 - 16th, 2014

Butter Braid Pastry Strategic Meeting

 

Corporate headquarters

 

Getting a tour of their factory where they make pastries! Dad and Mom were kind to let us all go on this trip this year!

 

 

Practicing good hygiene. We were there on a day it was closed, but this is what the employees wear also.

 

 

 

Pastries ready to be shipped out all across the U.S.

 

 

They go through a lot of these packages of butter! They also have really big bags of sugar!

 

 Country Maid's CEO, Daren, personally gave us the tour! When we were in the factory, he was impressed when Matthew knew the individual flavors of pastries that match up with the color coded tape used to close the boxes. There are a lot of flavors!
Then Daren played a video of the machinery in action. Everyone enjoyed the time!

 

 

 

A real Texan bar-b-que joint here, in Algona! We even got to talk to the owner. It was delicious - and reminded us of the big piece of Texas still in our hearts.

 

Then over to the local ice cream shop. Looking over all the flavors to choose from!

 West Bend is a small town, so we stayed about 20 minutes away in Algona.

 A trip always means Swimming!!

 One of our hotels had a nice water slide. Ask William about it! Even 5 months later he is still saying, "Awesome!" He went on it the most out of everybody! He's only 2! I think Matthew was slowed down by the other kids in the pool. He is so social : ) and always had to enjoy that part, too! And Kaitlyn kept up with both of them!

Lining up for a throw-in from Daddy! He is always so fun.

 

 

Daddy is back to work. And so are we!

 

What a tremendous blessing how these sweeties get along!

 

 

 

God is so good!

 

Still in Algona, Iowa.

 

It is so sweet to see her playing a little Mommy with her dollies.

 

 

 

 

Our second time to the Catholic place in West Bend.

It turned out to be a chilly day!

 

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Visiting the Badlands of South Dakota on the way home!

 

After this, Daddy was planning on taking Matthew and Kaitlyn up higher. It was too steep for William, so he was supposed to come down with me and meet them around the bend later. No! He didn't go with the plan! Matthew and Kaitlyn went straight left, of this picture, and up a rounded part of the hill and to the top. But that was the long way. So William turned around from right where he is standing in the picture, climbed over rocks and went up the steepest part that was not even for the older kids! Daddy of course was at the top helping him up the last part, which was straight up and down.

He matches his name. Where's there's a Will, there's a way!

 

I was no help because we have recently found out that we're expecting a baby!! I am always extra cautious during this time, and not feeling the greatest : )

 Daddy then took them on an easier climb. William wasn't told to stay with Mother this time!

 



 

Sweet Kaitlyn wanted to stay on the level with me, though.

 A typical look! She is always sharing flowers with her loved ones.

 

 

 

Can you help them find that rascally rabbit?

 They've got him cornered now!

 

 And another hill!

 

 

 

Getting close to another one!

 

Greetings from South Dakota!

 

They even had a place set aside especially for the prairie dogs.

 

 

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One last stop!

Pretty close to Rapid City.

 We even got to watch a snake demonstration. It was good! A lot of venomous snakes and they are aggressive! The snake handler did an excellent job, but even one of those got him a little concerned at one time.