Families Day Out

Yesterday was an awesome day! The girls had it off from school, so Robb and I took the day off from our jobs too and spent the day together. We had invited Ryan to come along but he said he'd get back to us. He did... just as we arrived at our destination 2 hours away. We brought him some fudge and Amana summer sausage.

We took the girls to the Amana Colonies in Eastern Iowa. I've never been there, so all my life, I thought it was an Amish type community. And it probably was similar at one point 50 years ago even, but now it's just like any other VERY German town with tons of little shops and museums. Since I'm 1/2 German and 1/2 Norwegian, I fit right in...

There were fudge shops, Christmas shops, woolen mill, meat smokehouse and wineries everywhere! We don't drink much, but they had rootbeer and cream soda samples in tiny little mugs. So cute and yummy!









There was a museum with the largest rocking chair in Iowa. At least that's what it said... There was a signed poster on the wall of Lily Tomlin and I think she would have felt right at home on this thing. And THAT'S THE TRUTH! (*raspberry*)
Maddy played the bells and Meri played some metal cups hanging similar to these.


We wrapped the day off nicely by stopping at our favorite Apple Orchard/Pumpkin farm on the way home and picked up several pumpkins and Honey Crisp apples. YUMMO! Got back home in time to get Maddy to play practice and get everything ready to start the week on a Tuesday instead!

Maddy took over 180 photos and Meri took a ton on my camera. Too bad Ryan couldn't come, but he can live vicariously thru our pics!