All Good Things...

After eight states, 1500 miles and two days, we are finally back in Philadelphia. The summer in the midwest was exactly what I wanted it to be. We spent every weekend visiting our friends and family in the surrounding states of Iowa.

• Baptizing our nephew Caeden - I spent about two weeks in Grand Forks over the summer where I was able to play and cuddle my nephew.
• Baby showers - if you didn't already know, I am going to have a baby. My friends and family were kind and showered the baby with gifts galore. More than the gifts, I loved spending time with my family and friends as they shared the excitement of our new baby.
• The St. Louis Cardinals - we enjoyed a perfect evening at the ball park with Joe and Ellie. The Cardinals won and I enjoyed my favorite ball park snacks. We also took in a little fair where our niece Leah enjoyed the rides and fair food.
  
• Lots of lunches - during my time in Ankeny, I lunched and lunched and lunched with many of my friends from my days in Iowa.

However, it is always nice to return home from a vacation. Tim and I both commented this morning about what a restful night we both had. It could have been the 13 hours in the car, but I think it was being in our own bed and in our own home.

The first thing that I accomplished today was grocery shopping. I also experienced the sticker shock of the east coast grocery store prices compared to the low prices of the midwest. Oh well. I like nothing better than filling up my refrigerator with food and snacks and drinks. I stopped by my favorite produce store, Produce Junction, and stocked up on fresh cherries, peaches, blackberries and blueberries. Although we had our own apartment in Iowa, I wasn't able to cook like I enjoy. I was without a grill and many of my essential tools. I look forward to the cooking and baking in my own kitchen.

I better get cleaning my house. It is shocking how many cobwebs develop in just six weeks.