Jester Park

Last weekend my family went camping (big surprise) and we went to a park that we hadn't been to before. Jester Park is near Ankeny and we got there Thursday and I left on Sunday. The park has tons of walking trails, a bison and elk exhibit, and a natural playscape. It was fun to walk around and go exploring. Here's the breakdown of the weekend and also some pics at the end.

Thursday:

• I got there after work and then my dad and I went to Grimes and had some Chinese food since it was just the 2 of us.
• We drove around the park for a bit to see what was all there
• Then I spent the rest of the evening watching the olympics
• My mom and Isaac around around midnight

Friday:

• We ate breakfast and did some other random things
• We explored the park a bit more-this time by foot. We went on some of the walking trails, saw the bison/elk, bird blind, and the natural playscape
• I made Isaac take some pics with me, but he wasn't really having any of it

Saturday:

• Woke up and went to the farmer's market
• Then we went to my uncles house and saw where I would be living this year and looked at what furniture I would need to bring. We also talked to them for a bit.
• Went back to the campground and Carina and Kyle came. 
• Isaac left to move back into school
• We ate supper and after supper went exploring some more.
• My mom, Carina, Kyle, and I went on some different trails and walked to the bison/elk and natural playscape
• Carina was much more willing to take pics so we had some nice pics from that
• After our walk we got dad and we went to the High Tressle Trail Bridge since Carina hadn't been in the dark and took some pics there

Sunday:

• Carina went back to camp
• Mom, dad, and I went on a bike ride and went back to the bridge so we could see it in the daylight
• I then headed back home so I could make it in time to watch the closing ceremony

It was a nice little weekend of camping. We ended up pretty much just staying around the campground, which was nice and relaxing. Normally I like to go do a bunch of stuff, but this was a nice break.

Camping some more

If you couldn't tell already we've gone camping quite a bit this summer. The last weekend of June we went camping at Little Wall Lake near my grandparents house with my grandparents and aunt and uncle.

On Friday I went to Des Moines to meet up with Erin. There we did a bit of shopping and I bought a new pair of running shoes, then we went to the movie Magic Mike, and then went to eat at Buffalo Wild Wings. It was great to see her again and catch up.

Then I headed to the campground and talked a bit and then headed to bed. On Saturday we got up early and headed to Des Moines for the farmers market. Carina and I had a little fun in the car with the strange straps that are there and I locked her up. At the market we each got a breakfast burrito and then walked around a bit and looked at everything. It was pretty hot out so we didn't stay for too long.

Then we headed around the Ames/DSM/Story City area for some Junkin' in June. My aunt and cousin were looking for some things so we all went together. I think everyone found a few treasures while we were out doing that.

We went back to the campground, showered, and then watched some of the boat races. It really wasn't that fun because there wasn't that many boats out there racing by the time we got there. So Carina and I ended up doing a little photoshoot.

After that we hung out for the rest of the evening, watched some fireworks, and chatted. On Sunday we  loaded up the camper and headed home.

Camping

My family loves to go camping on the weekends in the summer, but we haven't gone quite as much so far this summer. This past weekend we went to La Porte City and camped with my grandparents. Friday night we all arrived, ate, and caught up with each other a bit. Isn't my family just beautiful?

The hat Carina made for my grandpa at camp

On Saturday some of my cousins came over and we hung out with them for the majority of the day. They are hilarious and we went to the park, watched a moive, took a "rest", went shopping, ate, and did other things. I mainly hung out with the 2 little girls Olivia and Jill, but Wesley and Gabe were also there.

Modeling my sunglasses

Showing off their new nametags

Sunday we took Carina back to camp and got an official tour from her. Then we packed up the camper and went home. My mom and Isaac had some fun backing the camper back into it's place in the yard.

Summer So Far

I'll now catch you up on what I've been doing so far this summer:

• I've mainly been working at the pharmacy and public health. I work 3 days a week and the other 2 I usually hang out (which my mom doesn't enjoy)
• I've spent some time trying some recipes from pintrest. I made both smores cookies and strawberry nutella poptarts. Both tasted good and turned out very similarly to the recipe. I also crafted some graduation gifts for my roommates and mailed them off so hopefully the enjoyed them.

• Memorial day weekend I went to the DSM area with my family camping. 
• On Friday night I met up with Erin who was in town and we went to the mall and then ate at Chipotle. It was great to catch up with her and learn about her new job. Then I went to the Saylorville campground. 
• Saturday morning the girls went to the Farmer's market. I got a pupusa and dutch letters and looked around. Saw a few people that I knew and said hi.
• The boys then went to a farm to shoot some guns and so my mom, Carina, and I came along for a bit and watched then did a little shopping.
• We then had family pictures taken. It's been about 8 years since we've had any done so it was about time. We took them at Saylorville. I've just seen a little preview on facebook and they look pretty good.
• Sunday I went boating, then shopping, and then Courtney came over and we went on a night bike ride on a nearby bike trail and road to the High Tresle Bridge near Madrid, IA.

Credit: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151169990297564.544377.111915757563&type=3; http://www.photographybybecca.com/

Some of the walkers

Courtney and I

The bridge

Courtney and I again

• The following weekend my dad's parents had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary so we had a little party for them and also took family pictures on that side. We haven't had pictures taken on that side for probably 10 years. The party was fun I served coffee and helped with the cake a bit. I stole some pictures for the family pictures that my uncle had on his facebook page. We haven't seen any of the proofs yet.

Grandkids

Whole family

My Family

• After family pictures I headed to Des Moines for Deb's bachelorette party. We went to the Funny Bone, and then some bars in West Glen and downtown. It was fun and there were some crazy people that we saw out.

Deb and I

• The rest of my summer has been spent reading (I'll write a post tomorrow about what books I've read), watching movies, running with my mom and brother (we're doing the couch to 5k running plan), biking, and rollerblading
• It's been a nice relaxing summer so far and it's always nice to not have classes to go to!