Tulip Time Trip

Last Thursday Tina, me and the kids got on a plane and flew to Iowa to see Tulip Time. Sherri lives in a cute little Dutch town called Pella (you may have heard of it, that's where Pella Windows is). Every year around this time they have a huge Dutch festival to celebrate the culture and there are tulips everywhere! I have been wanting to go see Tulip Time for years and I finally got my chance! It was hard to go without Todd, but I am so glad I went. Tina was SUPER helpful with the kids and it was so fun to hang out with her and Sherri.

Thursday night Sherri made us some healthy and very yummy chicken burritos. It was such a beautiful evening that we ate on the deck in the backyard.

The kids were more interested in playing in the huge, fun backyard than they were in eating. While I was sitting there eating my dinner, I saw actual deer frolicking in the trees behind Sherri's house. They were out enjoying the beautiful spring evening, too.

After dinner we joined the kids in the backyard.

My kids loved the swings.
On Friday morning we got everyone dressed up and headed to this cute little park to take pictures of the tulips.When we got there the kids found a cute turtle in the pond. Cannon wanted to get in the water and it took a great deal of effort to keep him dry. He kept crying for the water and was NOT at all interested in taking pictures.However, Ameliah was and she was such a doll! I love when she does her poses. Most of them she makes up herself and she loves to do them. I got Cannon to look in my direction for this picture, but he was still not happy about this whole picture thing. He still just wanted to go get that turtle.

I thought it would be nice to get a family shot in front of these pretty pink tulips, but he was fighting to get free in this shot, too. I didn't travel all of that way to go to Tulip Time and not get some good tulip pictures! I was determined!

Behind us is a cute little windmill. And you can't tell from the picture, but the pond is actually in the shape of a wooden Dutch shoe. It was a fun little park.

Here is a shot of Sherri's family all dressed up in their Dutch costumes. Brooke and Chelsea got to be in a few of the parades (they have 2 a day for 3 days).
Here is the whole gang.
Here is my little girl checking out the flowers.

Here is one of the only pictures we got of Cannon smiling during his boycott of photo time.

Both of my kids loved the sod under this tree. They spent a considerable amount of time playing in it. I was laughing at the fact that we came all that way to see the tulips and they enjoyed the sod more. We could have done that here!

Here is the three of us sisters together. We had a good time together.

We took pictures by the pretty purple tulips because they matched Tina's shirt.

This is one of the only times we got to see Mark the whole trip. He is a very busy guy, but he left work early to come join the festivities. He bought us a Dutch treat called Poffertjes. They are like tiny little pancakes and are cooked like pancakes, but they have the sweetest cake-like flavor. They cover them with strawberries and whipped cream. They were DELICIOUS! I am seriously going to find the recipe because I am craving them like crazy.

That night when we got home, Cannon found a roller blade and was riding it around like a little bike. He was so proud of himself for figuring it out.

The day we left the two sets of twins (we call them that because Ameliah and Luke are only a few weeks apart in age, as are Cannon and Annika) all played under the screen together. I thought it was so cute that I had to take a picture before I made them come out.

Our trip was short but packed full of fun and entertainment. I loved it and would love to go back to Tulip Time again. Thanks Sherri and Mark for being such wonderful hosts. And thank you Tina for all of your help with my wee ones. I never would have made it without you!