Iowa

Jun 30-Jul 3
UA285 IAH-MCI, UA1759 MCI-IAH

July 4th is the normal time for the big family gathering in Iowa, but with July 4th on a Tuesday we centered the events around the weekend.  This worked well with the timing of the Canada Day holiday.  This time we flew into Kansas City.  I went in late Friday night and Tom took the first flight out Saturday morning.  I picked him up and we drove to Tom's parents in Des Moines.  Although not all the nieces and nephews made it, we did have a pretty good turnout including some new additions to the family for the big event including the annual croquet competition.  

July 2

Tom captured most of the pictures during the competition on Sunday, and we ended with a nice barbecue at Tom's parents place.

Emily’s new son, Calvin

Eddie tries his hands at croquet

Mike supervises the course

Margaret in discussion

Emily and Calvin

Samantha

Payton

Eddie

Ryan’s dog

Ryan

Catie’s son, Wilder

Wilder with great grandma Jeanne

Andrew and Payton

Eddie and Mike

Ryan

Carol and Rosie on the croquet course

Memorializing Jim McCall

Great grandpa Bob

Carol

Margaret strikes poses

Samantha and great aunt Mariann

more Calvin

Mike

Samantha

Mariann

Gord

Bob and Margaret

Carol and Calvin

Michael and Calvin

Margaret

Margaret takes a tumble

Samantha climbs a tree

Michael

Margaret

Mariann and a lodge resident

Emily and Margaret

Bob

Mike

Bob and Mike

July 3

We headed back to Kansas City in the morning, before taking off on our afternoon flights to Toronto and Houston.