A New Normal

It finally seems real, that this is our new normal.  That we actually live in Minnesota, instead of just enjoying an extended stay with family.  I thought it would feel real when we moved into our own home, but then it just felt like we were "playing house" with me at home with Vinnie every day.  Reality hit when we found a new routine in work and school. 

Vinnie has started his new daycare/preschool and I am in full swing at work.  So "full swing" that I can barely keep my eyes open as I write this.  There is a reason why people don't change jobs as they get older.  New jobs require a different kind of energy and stamina...one that I am struggling to find again!  Now, I am just trying to find the best balance between family and school.  I've determine the best time to leave work each day to allow for Vinnie to have the full preschool experience, but not be there for TOO long of a day.  Nights at home include family dinners, walks outside, trips to the park, and focused family time until Vinnie goes to bed, at which time Jon and I desperately try to stay awake to watch ONE tv show before heading to bed ourselves.  "It WILL get easier" I keep telling myself.  I have had much harder moments in my professional career and gotten through them...at one time I felt lost and a fish out of water in my previous position...in time I will find my groove.  We have all been there...change is tough.

While this big change has been challenging, we did make the best out of our last bit of summer before it slept away.  After taking a long hiatus from the Minnesota state fair, we returned this summer, this time with Vinnie along, and enjoyed ourselves, more than I think we all anticipated.  Arriving early and staying well into the afternoon, we enjoyed everything from the animals to the tractors, the food to the freebies.  It was a great time, and an adventure that I envision being a staple in our end of summer fun for years to come.

Amongst all the big changes in our house, Vinnie became a Preschooler.  We couldn't be happier with our new daycare/preschool program that is close to home.  Only a week in, we are already so amazed with the things Vinnie shares about his day at school.  Learning letters, numbers, making friends...it is such a great fit.  Just before he returned to school full time, we hit an exciting milestone in our house...definately long overdue, Vinnie finally bid farewell to his beloved Nuk's during "sleepy times."  It took just one week, a small sticker chart, and a trip to Target for a toy to seal the deal.  But he has been Nuk free for almost two weeks now.  Up next...POTTY TRAINING! ;-)

Vinnie and Mom's day out on the town

This spring I heard rumblings of a new exhibit coming to the Children's Museum, one that I knew Vinnie would love...THOMAS the TRAIN!  In my mind, in the midst of the transition and chaos this summer would bring, I knew that was a trip we would have to make time for.  As our time together is slipping away, this trip had to happen now!  So, on a beautiful and sunny day, when I hoped the rest of the children of Minnesota were enjoying the warmth and the sunshine indoors, Vinnie and I prepared for an entertaining day indoors at the Minnesota Children's Museum. 

This is one area where I know the past year has totally changed me.  Before, this was an adventure I would not have even considered without Jon's support in driving, and an extra pair of eyes and hands at the musuem.  But, I was worried that if we had to wait for a day when daddy wasn't around, we wouldn't get this adventure in this summer, and we would completely miss out on the Thomas exhibit.  So...with GPS in hand, Vinnie and I ventured out.  35W, 694, 35E, right into downtown St. Paul.  If I wasn't used to the "big city" driving before, I sure had to be now! 

We found our parking and ventured together, arriving at the museum shortly after it open and when it was still fairly quiet.  I decided to take advantage of the small crowd, and led Vinnie straight to the Thomas exhibit, his top priority, to really enjoy before it got too busy.  The first 30 minutes, we enjoyed the exhibit with a handful of other people, allowing Vinnie to touch and play with every display, feature, and train.  What fun!  I think he would have stayed in there ALL day had I let him, but for our entrance fee, I wanted to make sure we saw all the the museum had to offer.  We traveled to the rooftop to play in sand and blow bubbles, tried our hand at fishing in the wildlife area, and much more before getting on the "elligator" to head down to 2nd floor.  There Vinnie enjoyed the machinery exhibit, trying his hand at cranes and pulleys before the water area caught his eye and stole his attention for a good chunk of time.  More bubbles, boat races, tubes and tunnels with water and balls...I sat back and watched him play and bounce from one station to the next.  Once again, I encouraged him to the next area, the one I remember being a favorite stop when I was a kid.  Vinnie navigated his way through a little town, from the bus, to a restaurant, to the post office, and doctor, playing here and there and exploring all it had to offer.  SO MUCH FUN!  He really is the perfect age to enjoy these things.  He is just beginning to learn to make believe and I found this so encouraging of that.  He moved from one thing to the next as we made our way through the museum, wide-eyed and ready for what adventure and play was around each corner.  Before we left, we stopped in the gift shop to select a Thomas the Train puzzle, both as a keep sake of our special day, and to add to our collection of our favorite activity these days. 

To wrap up our very special day of adventure in downtown St. Paul, we enjoyed lunch at Mickey's diner just down the street.  A Minnesota landmark, and an old train car, it was a must!  We dined on cheeseburgers and fries and found it difficult to eat when spinning on the diner stools provided much more fun.

As I write, Vinnie is enjoying a well earned nap...and I am considering a little shut-eye myself.  What a day!

The Littles 3rd Birthday

Another Sunday...more laundry, reflecting on a wonderful weekend, and sitting down to sort through pictures to share with you all.  We spent this past weekend celebrating two very special 3 year olds by hosting our very first family gathering in our new house.  It was so special to see Vinnie happily playing with his cousins, socialize with all of our family, and not have to pack up a vehicle and head out of town shortly after it all.  I am not sure this overwhelming feeling of relief and joy to be so close to family will every go away...I sure hope not!  Well, we partied in style, and enjoyed a bit of winter in August, with snowflakes, snowmen, and a whole lot of "Frozen" fun.  Enjoy the pictures!

Routine and Birthdays!

Routine.  I love it.  Maybe its because I am a teacher and routine provides structure in my classroom.  Maybe it is become I hate change and am a complete creature of habit.  In any case, my love for routine has found its way into every little nook and cranny of my life.  Routines were a part of our marriage, very early on, and were very important with Vinnie early on.  AND...for the last 9+ months our routines have been turned upside down.  We, of course made new routines...but they never had the same impact as the old ones, perhaps because we missing a crucial player in all our routines...Daddy.  Life must be on the upswing, heading back to the good old days, because we have very quickly settled into our old routines (with of course some new routines mixed in).  It is Sunday.  The laundry is tumbling and turning away (this time a floor below me rather than just out the door).  Vinnie is napping.  I have enjoyed my coffee and the Sunday paper (this time on my beautiful back porch...a much better routine).  I am even anticipating dipping my toes back into work tomorrow.  Before we know it, this will no longer be "the new house," but our home and the routines will be the patterns of our life, all together again.

While we do love our routines, we had to break from them a bit this week to celebrate and enjoy a very special little boy turning three years old!  Vinnie's birthday was on Friday, July 25th, but he is so special, that the birthday celebrations started a day early with his very first Minnesota Twins game.  The excitement started by Vinnie and mom taking a train to downtown Minneapolis to meet dad at Target field.  While there, Vinnie flashed a sign for Bert, made friends with just about everyone in our section, snacked on cracker jacks and hot dogs, and even met TC Bear!  Vinnie also made an appearance on the big screen!  A train ride home capped off the special experience.

To celebrate Vinnie's actual birthday, he helped me make cupcakes, made a special three year old shirt, and feasted on homemade sausage pizza.  AND he will be sharing in the birthday celebrations by sharing a special "Frozen" themed birthday with his "girls" next weekend.

It has been a very special few days of celebrating a very special boy.  Jon and I both feel so blessed to be the parents of Vinnie and are amazed every day by the joy he brings to our lives.

And now...in the routine and tradition of birthdays, I would like to share with you all Vinnie's annual birthday video.  Putting it together, and watching it, I was continuously overwhelmed by the spirit and love of this little boy of ours.  The past year has been a struggle for our family, but the smile on his face and the light in his eyes is what kept pushing Jon and I forward.  Happy Birthday Little V Man!!

Vinnie's 3rd Birthday Video

Enjoy!

Our NEW home...

Whelp...we did it!  We moved to our very own, Minnesota home!  There were times over the past year where we wondered if this would actually happen.  Friday will mark a full week in our house, and as we are settling in we are falling more and more in love with the house and the neighborhood, and are so excited about all the possibilities that await our family in this next chapter of life.  I thought about getting pictures of the place to share with you all, but I decided to wait until we are all settled and there aren't piles of boxes in one corner and perhaps a thing or two on the walls.  So...you will have to be patient, but it will be worth the wait, I promise. 

The best thing about this house is that it allows us to be close to our family.  No one is more than an hour away...which is a breeze in comparison to the 5 hours that we are accustomed to.  We have already been able to share time with both family and friends in our very own space. 

I'm sure within a week, boxes will be unpacked and we will be well into our new routines and developing a new normal...and I couldn't be happier. 

Tune back in for more pictures and adventures from Minnesota!

All our love...

Our move home!

While the plans for our move to Minnesota was in the works for the last few months, this is something that Jon and I feel has been over 10 years in the making.  10 years ago, two people from Minnesota fell in love in Wisconsin.  We finished school, got married, and embarked on our life as a married couple, deciding we could spread our wings and venture away from home while we were still "young".  While it was maybe not as glamorous of an adventure as we both had first envisioned when we began the search for our next move, Iowa and its "fields of opportunity" provided just that for our new little family. 

Obviously planned by God, after months of searching, Jon and I landed jobs in Cedar Rapids, and closed on our first home in just two short months...no one could question that it was meant to be.  When we departed for Iowa, the plan was to stay there for three years; the length of Jon's tv contract.  Well, we all know what happens when WE make plans! ;-)  Just over one year into our Iowa adventure we were both in new jobs, ones that took us down completely new and exciting paths.   Before we knew it, three years had passed, Jon was no longer under the contract we were waiting out, we both were happy in our jobs, and not only did we decided to stay, we decided to move...out of the town house and into our home.  With the home, came the growth of our family.  Vinnie joined us just shy of 5 years after we had moved to Iowa.  As we added to our family, it became very evident just how much we missed our family, and the support they could provide to our young family.  Professionally, we both began to feel as though it was time to consider what our next steps would be.  It became evident very quickly, that those steps would take us home to Minnesota.  And so, it began, the long process to get us home.  Tests were taken, my teaching license was obtained.  And then an incredible opportunity, one that we just knew we couldn't pass up landed in our laps.  It was a risk, and was going to challenge each of us, but wasn't that what our entire Iowa experience had been...risks and lessons, all forming us into the people and the family we are today.

Now, on the other side of our Iowa experience, I look back on it and see nothing but growth.  Was it difficult to be 5 hours away from our closest family and friends for 7 years?  ABSOLUTELY!  Did we face times of struggle and moments that stretched our faith?  MOST DEFINITELY!  But, we also created a solid foundation for our marriage, ourselves as professionals, our faith and our family, and for that we wouldn't change a moment of the Iowa experience.  The people we worked with, the friends we made, all became our new family and supported us through some of the most exciting and challenging moments of our lives.

Now, the next chapter begins, and as I sit here, just weeks into our life in Minnesota, I hear Vinnie contently playing with his cousins and I know without a doubt that the last few months of struggle were all worth it to make this possible.  This is when we can slow down, breathe easy, and just enjoy.  I am sure our road here in Minnesota will not be free of bumps, curves, and hurdles...but this time we will have the love and support of family less than a phone call away.  Our time in Iowa was all about learning and hard work, putting our heads down and pushing forward.  I see this time that we are embarking on as a time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor, to focus on our family and to really just enjoy life!

As we begin to settle into this life, we are once again faced with what I like to call "God-winks," little signs and cues that this is the path that God had planned.  Jon has been here for almost 9 months, diligently working to put the little pieces of life in place...a great job, insurance, stability.  Our family opened their arms and pulled us in, giving us a place to land and live until we could sort out the details of our new home.  Less than a week of moving back we found a home that is perfect for our family in Blaine, and as an extra blessing, we were able to close a whole 2 weeks earlier than we had hoped.  In my visions of our move I desperately hoped to be moved by August 1st, and PRAISE GOD, we get to close July 11th!  In my wildest dreams I couldn't have planned it better. 

While I may have my moments, adjusting to all this change, desperately searching for our place and that routine of life that I always long for, at the end of each day I just feel so blessed.  Blessed to have been supported by friends and co-workers as Vinnie and I endured the challenges of the last 9 months, blessed by family near and far who continuously keep us in their prayers.  Your prayers have been answered, we have come out stronger than ever and with a new found appreciation for the love of family.

Minnesota, we are here and we are loving it!

Happy Father's Day!

I know...it has been FOREVER since an update.  Quick synopsis of our lives since I last wrote: packing, moving, goodbyes, and new beginnings! ;-)  Of course there is so much more to share than that, and I promise, next week, when life is finally a little quieter, I will be sure to take the time and share all the photos and stories of our great move back home with all of you!

Today, I wanted to take a moment to wish the special fathers that are in our lives a very happy Father's Day!  These men have put their families first and been a true model of unconditional love and support in our lives.  Vinnie and I thank you all!

We love sunshine!

Spring is playing games with us this year.  We will get small glimpses of it one day, then have clouds, cold, and rain for 6 days, then have the sunshine back but chilly temperatures...all making it very difficult to get my favorite little toddler some quality time outside.  Yesterday, the sun finally made an appearance after hiding for over a week, so despite the fact that it was still chilly, we spent a few hours outside.  We HAD to.  It looks like the next 10 days will be warmer, with temps reaching the 70's...I will take it!

Vinnie and I are "enjoying" our last weekend just the two of us.  Both of us are fighting a bit of a cold bug, so we are not feeling the greatest, but we are trying to make the most of it!  Vinnie was a great helper in our usual Saturday morning routine yesterday.  He manned the list while we navigated the grocery store, and enjoyed a car wash adventure after.  Having him in such a good mood, I decided to take advantage, and bounced down to Hobby Lobby in Coralville one last time, where we picked up some supplies for some handmade gifts for the wonderful men in our lives!  We also picked up a movie, "Free Bird" and enjoyed a movie night together.  Vinnie was a fan!

Today has been very productive.  Vinnie slept late, and I didn't, so I had a chance to get a jump on laundry and wrapping up the production of my final PrairieWood Video yearbook.  I will be sure to share it with all of you once it is perfect! ;-)

20 days in Iowa remain...less than 3 weeks.  That is just crazy!  There is so much to do between now and then.  Fortunately, Jon returns to Iowa for 10 days next Friday.  The last week in May Vinnie will head to daycare, I will head to work, and Jon will spend his days packing up the house and wrapping up loose ends.  My parents and brother-in-law will arrive May 30th for to help pack up a moving van, and on Monday, June 2nd all of them will make the trip to Minnesota.  Vinnie will spend the next week with Daddy and Grandma and Grandpa Keimig.  I will spend the week wrapping up school in Iowa, and on June 6th we will all reunite in Buffalo, at the Gibas house, where we will stay until we find and can move into a house of our own.  What a summer it will be with family surrounding us, and all the preparations for our new life together in Minnesota.  I am so excited.  Thoughts of what is next is what helps me get through the anxiety over this very crazy time!

We are also doing our best to prepare Vinnie for this transition.  He knows very soon we will be with family in Minnesota and is excited to be with Daddy again.  I fear that once the toys start being packed away, and the house is cleared out, he will become anxious and scared.  I have found some books to help him understand moving, and we hope to involve him in the packing of the toys so that he better understands that we are not getting rid of them, that he will see them again in a new house in Minnesota.  This may be easier said than done...we will see.  We know we have some hard times ahead of us with many transitions and changes occurring within a very short time.  But, we also know that we will have the love and support of friends and family so close by!

WE ARE ALMOST THERE!!!

All our love from Iowa!

The last few pieces of the puzzle...

It seems fitting that I sit down to write a post on the the pieces that remain in putting together the puzzle that is our move home on May 6th.  Today marks exactly one month until we are all together again.  One month from now, while we may not be settling into our new home together quite yet, we will be settling into life together, all under one roof. 

A sweet treat from Jon to celebrate my new job!

One large puzzle piece was put in place this past weekend.  Thursday afternoon, after picking Vinnie up from daycare, we traveled the 5 hour journey to the Twin Cities.  Then, on Friday morning I made my way around the metro area for 3 interviews, receiving job offers from each.  Ultimately, it was decided that the best for me and our family was to accept the position at Mounds View High School, a suburb just north of the Twin Cities.  While each of the jobs provided a slew of positives and possibilities, this one just felt right.  I am anxious to be teaching in a DCD classroom in the high school setting with great students and a great support system surrounding the program. 

With my job lined up, only a few puzzle pieces remain before our world can be put back together again.  Once I arrive, we will begin hitting the house hunt very hard. We are looking to live in the Mounds View school district, allowing me to be close to work, Jon to have a shorter commute, and possibly accessibility to public transportation, and providing a great foundation for Vinnie to begin school and for us to raise future children.  We cannot wait!

The countdown I have running on my phone...one month!

Thank you to everyone who said prayers for my job search and who covered us in prayer through this entire process.  We got through this with very minimal bumps in the road and I am confident that is all thanks to your continual prayers and support!

All that remains is wrapping up and packing up our lives here in Cedar Rapids.  Jon will join us this weekend and then return for Memorial day weekend and the week leading up to the move to help with packing and cleaning.  On Monday, June 1st the moving truck along with Vinnie following in my parents car will make their last trip north and I will follow after wrapping up my last school week.

It is so close...

Easter Celebrations

As long as we have lived in Iowa, Easter has been a holiday we have just stayed put.  Neither Jon or I ever got enough vacation to make a trip to Minnesota possible.  The Keimig family has always graciously made a trip down, and we have done our best to maintain old traditions from growing up, and establish new traditions.

This year Jon joined his parents in the trip to Iowa, arriving late Thursday night.  Having us all together  for just a few short days, and knowing this was the last Keimig family trip to Iowa, we had to make the most of it!  Friday we enjoyed sampling some beverages at a new local brewery before feasting on sushi for our traditional Good Friday dinner.

Saturday was packed full of excitement and adventure...so much, that Mr. Vincent decided he couldn't miss a second of it, and skipped his nap.  First we colored Easter eggs, then spent the morning hunting for Easter eggs and treats at the Egg hunt sponsored by a local grocery store.  Next we spent the afternoon enjoying our first Kernels baseball game of the season.  Vinnie loved being back at the baseball field and even made an appearance on the big-screen.

Sunday morning we enjoyed a beautiful mass, celebrating the Risen Lord through bells and joyous song then returned home for even more egg hunting in our back yard.  The weekend offered beautiful weather and wonderful time with family and it was very hard to return to our quiet house and regular schedules on Monday.  But, it is not much longer before we are together as a family and have grandmas' and grandpa's just a short drive away!  Only 43 more days!

Preparations for our move continue.  My job search has unfortunately not ended, but the good news is, I am starting to hear from schools and will be making a trip north next week for a string of interviews.  I have drafted the letter for Daycare stating Vinnie's last day, the moving truck has been booked, and Jon has taken the week leading up to the move off of work.  In just over a month, this marathon will be over.  When I think about how quickly time has passed in the last month, it overwhelms me.  There is so much to be done between now and then.  This move, that we have been anticipating for so long, has actually snuck up on me a little bit! 

As excited as I am, the anticipation of all the big changes, especially leaving my friends, my students, and my PrairieWood is pulling at my heart strings!  Our time in Iowa has provided so many learning experiences and opportunities for growth.  I had finally found my groove in the roles I love: wife, mommy, and teacher, before this huge blow hit our family.  Now, I am preparing for yet another change, another disruption to our new-found routine, and while this one is definitely for the better, I am still struggling with the idea of change.  I wonder if I will ever find a job that I love and am so passionate about again.  I wonder if I will ever live in a house that I love as much as this one.  I wonder if I will meet people and make new friends that are anywhere as good as the ones I have made here.  When you spend your time alone, you do a lot of wondering...  But, with all the wonder and question that covers this next phase of life, I know that we will finally be surrounded by the most amazing support system, our family.  While they have provided wonderful support from afar for the last several years through prayers, phone calls, skype dates, and visits, there will be nothing better than having them so close by and feeling their presence as Vinnie and our future children grow older and as we move through life.  This Easter was a milestone.  It marked the very last holiday we will be away, and that feels pretty great!

Change is different and different can be good...right?!? ;-)

All our love from Iowa (for 43 more days)...

Spring Catch Up!

Goodness!  It has been almost a month since my last post!!!  So much has been going on at home and work, and in preparations for our big move that I haven't had much time to write.  I do spend most of my nights on the computer, but it is searching and applying for jobs!  So, there is quite a bit of updating to do.  Here we go...

When I last wrote, we were gearing up for a week in Minnesota over my spring break!  I wish I could say we saw anything that looked like spring weather in our time away from Iowa...unfortunately it was more like November/December weather, with even a little bit of snow!  In any case we enjoyed our time.  We spent the first part of the week in St. Bonifacius.  Vinnie got some time with his "girls," which was a wonderful treat!  We visited a favorite indoor playground and spent some time relaxing in the early part of the week.  On Wednesday we headed over to White Bear.  Vinnie spent the rest of the week with Grandma and Grandpa Keimig while Jon and I flew to Washington DC to celebrate the wedding of Jessica and Ian with my extended Foley family.  We enjoyed mild weather, taking in the sights, great food, and making wonderful memories with family.  It was a great trip!

Vinnie and I returned home and set into our routine.  The weather is on the way to spring here, making it easier to go hear and there so we have been venturing out a bit more.  A favorite trip is always the library and Vinnie enjoys reading the books we pick out for weeks after.  I spend a lot of time trying to find that perfect job up North.  So far I have applied for 14 jobs, and I am hoping to start hearing about interviews in the next week or so.  If I could have a job lined up, we could start making preparations for our new life in Minnesota.  Until then it is just a lot of waiting and praying.  Everything is wrapping up in Iowa...we even have a sold sign out in front of our house...so we cannot wait to get the ball rolling on the other side!

Jon is home this weekend.  Vinnie enjoys having him home so much, and I enjoy the company, the rest, and the sound of their playing and laughter.  I don't realize how quiet this house is until Jon comes home and brings it to life!  We took in a little Easter celebration this morning at a local flower shop.  Vinnie enjoyed petting all the baby animals but steered clear of the dressed up cow, bunny, and pig.  I don't blame him, I find them scary myself...  The rest of the weekend will be spent enjoying the weather and enjoying each others company.

Until next time, ALL our love from Iowa!!!

Celebration adventures!

I hesitate to even write this, for fear that something will fall through...so, we have TENTATIVELY sold our house.  Counter offers have been accepted and we are just waiting on a home inspection to finalize everything.  It is crazy that one week ago, our house wasn't even on the market, and we were immersed in cleaning and preparing the house to show.  Now, we are in contract and have most likely sold the house.  While many aspects of this Minnesota move have been very, very difficult, it is such a huge relief that this was a fairly easy process...so far!

So, doors are closing in Iowa.  My job will soon be passed onto another deserving teacher to expand PrairieWood and make it their own, and our house will soon be passed onto another family to share and create new memories.  Now, it is time for doors to start opening on the other end of this move.  I am ready to begin preparing for my next teaching endeavor, and to start finding the home where we will expand our family and share time with loved ones, as we have been anticipating for so long...the place where we will finally all be under one roof again.   God definitely has a plan for us, which has been evident with the journey to Jon's amazing new job.  I need to dig deep and have patience in His timing on revealing my path.  Jobs are moving, and I have applied for 5 great jobs, all of which I would be excited to have.

We had a very special treat this weekend.  We usually do not see Jon two weekends in a row, but having taken the Acadia north with the trailer last week, Jon came our way this weekend, both to swap cars, and to have a weekend where we could just enjoy each others company (after working so hard last weekend).  When we planned it, we anticipated having to be out of the house for possible showings, so we planned a lot of activities to keep us busy.  Instead, we were able to enjoy these activities as a celebration of selling the house.  Jon arrived late Friday night, and woke Vinnie Saturday morning...what a sweet treat!  After a Vinnie suggested breakfast of pancakes, we headed to the downtown library for new books and story time before hitting up a brand new brewery in the Czech Village.  Jon and I cannot believe how awesome this town is getting...now that we are leaving!  I guess that is what happens after a flood.  All the potential and great things start happening in time.  We enjoyed Church as a family, dined on a deliciously grilled dinner and then headed to the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena for a very special family adventure; one that Jon has been scheming for quite some time.  We got Vinnie on skates, and while he wasn't able to move around, or even stand up on his own on the ice, he enjoyed 45 minutes of being dragged and scooted around with Jon.  It's hard to tell if Hockey is in his future, but we all enjoyed the special adventure.

One more week of school ahead, and then Friday evening Vinnie and I will be Minnesota bound.  We are looking forward to a few days of family, meeting Jon downtown for lunch, and some relaxation before Jon and I head out to DC with my family for a cousin's wedding.  Vinnie will be enjoying a few days of time with his Grandma and Grandpa Keimig!  Our first trip away from the V-man...and I am excited! ;-)

Until next time, all our love from Iowa!