We actually got ready fairly quickly. By
about 9:30am, we were pretty much ready to go. We decided it would be better if
we stopped somewhere and had a meal on the way to the airport. We got off the 101 on Ray Road and went to
Burger King. We went through the drive-through and then got on our way. We got
to the airport right at noon. We parked in the garage in economy parking. By
the time we got our bags checked and got to our gate, it was time to start
boarding. Emily and Andrew sat together, Nathaniel and Daniel sat
together, and Michael and I sat together with Jonathan in between us. The kids
were awesome on the flights. They all just sat quietly and played on their screens. At
one point, Emily and Andrew played cards. I read my book and Michael was
actually able to sleep. When we got off of that flight, we quickly made our way
to our next gate in a different concourse. We wanted to find something to eat
but we didn’t have a lot of luck. The kids brought snacks, thankfully. The flight from Chicago Midway to
Minneapolis was only like an hour so that went by really fast. Once we got off,
Michael and the boys all went to the baggage claim and Emily and I headed to
the rental car place. That was quite the ordeal! All of the car rental counters
at terminal two were completely closed and the sign said we had to go to
terminal one. We got a Dodge Caravan. We
got on the road and had a hard time finding a place to eat and go to the
bathroom but we figured it out. We pulled into St. Ansgar at about 1:15am. The kids had fun
exploring the house we rented at the Blue Belle Inn and I took some pictures and then everyone went to bed.
Anne's House of Dreams at the Blue Belle Inn
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Once we were up and mostly ready, I texted Dad and had
him come over to say hello to us. He was staying in the Sherwood Forest room in the Blue Bell Inn. Our house that we rented was right next door, to the north. We all went to breakfast at 10am. They served
us an egg casserole and cinnamon rolls and fruit. It was very nice. Then we went back to our rooms and finished getting ready for the
day and then drove over to Rose’s house. Stephanie’s daughter Ella was there
with her puppy Sophie and they went with us in Dad’s car with Rose and Merrill.
From there, we went to the Cedar Valley Memories Museum, west of town. They had
some really cool things to look at. The steam engine on wheels was huge.
Nathaniel and Daniel both insisted on climbing up to the top and sitting in the
seat. We walked around for quite a while.
We also looked at the train depot and the big bell that were there.
We met Merrill Johnson, who was Great Grandma Schultheis’ cousin, which makes him my first cousin three times removed. From there, we drove over to Meroa to see the Walnut Grove school house where Great Grandma Schultheis taught and also her aunt, Francis Schmidt.
Dad was excited to show us a globe that Grandma Kathy had donated to the school. There was even a little engraving on the side with Dad, Mike, Jim, and Rose's names on it. She found it on eBay! The engraving was added later.
Merrill Johnson’s wife was the one who gave us a presentation about the schoolhouse, and their daughter was there assisting as well. Apparently, I had already emailed the daughter whose name is Krista. I had reached out to her when I found that her father was a match on Ancestry DNA with me. Apparently, I had sent her some pictures of Francis Schmidt and Herbert Johnson, who are her grandparents. One of the cool things we saw there was a copy of the teaching contract for Great Grandma Schultheis.
I think the kids enjoyed it. It was pretty interesting. They also had an organ there that you had to pump with your feet in order to get it to work and they had fun trying that out.
Then everyone decided to go walk over to the river behind the school house. Daniel really wanted to walk across. I really didn’t want him to but he just did it anyway. He was pretty proud of himself that he made it all the way across and back. I was imagining him falling in and being soaked. Thankfully, he didn’t.
We had a picture taken in front of the school and then went on our way.
On our way back, we stopped at the Johnson farm to take a picture in the cornfield. This was Merrill Johnson's brother’s farm.
By then, it was almost 3pm and Emily was getting hungry and so were the boys. We decided to go to Stan's Drive-in. I sure enjoyed my pork tenderloin! Vanessa was there and after we were done eating, she came out and said she would treat us all to ice cream so that was awesome.
We went back to Rose's house to relax for a little while. Rose showed me the box of family history stuff she was going to give me. Michael and the kids all watched The Floor is Lava. Then we went over to Gary Pearson's place to shoot machine guns.
He showed us his gun collections and then everyone went out to take turns shooting the guns. Andrew and I didn’t, but the rest of the kids and Michael and Dad did and so did Merrill. Stephanie had met us there so that was nice. We found out that Gary has a winter house in the neighborhood next to us! What a coincidence!
Then we went back to Rose’s for dinner. It was amazing! The kids all really liked the meal and we sat around talking for a little bit and then we had to leave because we were all tired and it was getting late. It’s now 11:30pm and I’m finally getting to bed.
We also looked at the train depot and the big bell that were there.
We met Merrill Johnson, who was Great Grandma Schultheis’ cousin, which makes him my first cousin three times removed. From there, we drove over to Meroa to see the Walnut Grove school house where Great Grandma Schultheis taught and also her aunt, Francis Schmidt.
Dad was excited to show us a globe that Grandma Kathy had donated to the school. There was even a little engraving on the side with Dad, Mike, Jim, and Rose's names on it. She found it on eBay! The engraving was added later.
Merrill Johnson’s wife was the one who gave us a presentation about the schoolhouse, and their daughter was there assisting as well. Apparently, I had already emailed the daughter whose name is Krista. I had reached out to her when I found that her father was a match on Ancestry DNA with me. Apparently, I had sent her some pictures of Francis Schmidt and Herbert Johnson, who are her grandparents. One of the cool things we saw there was a copy of the teaching contract for Great Grandma Schultheis.
I think the kids enjoyed it. It was pretty interesting. They also had an organ there that you had to pump with your feet in order to get it to work and they had fun trying that out.
Then everyone decided to go walk over to the river behind the school house. Daniel really wanted to walk across. I really didn’t want him to but he just did it anyway. He was pretty proud of himself that he made it all the way across and back. I was imagining him falling in and being soaked. Thankfully, he didn’t.
We had a picture taken in front of the school and then went on our way.
On our way back, we stopped at the Johnson farm to take a picture in the cornfield. This was Merrill Johnson's brother’s farm.
By then, it was almost 3pm and Emily was getting hungry and so were the boys. We decided to go to Stan's Drive-in. I sure enjoyed my pork tenderloin! Vanessa was there and after we were done eating, she came out and said she would treat us all to ice cream so that was awesome.
We went back to Rose's house to relax for a little while. Rose showed me the box of family history stuff she was going to give me. Michael and the kids all watched The Floor is Lava. Then we went over to Gary Pearson's place to shoot machine guns.
He showed us his gun collections and then everyone went out to take turns shooting the guns. Andrew and I didn’t, but the rest of the kids and Michael and Dad did and so did Merrill. Stephanie had met us there so that was nice. We found out that Gary has a winter house in the neighborhood next to us! What a coincidence!
Then we went back to Rose’s for dinner. It was amazing! The kids all really liked the meal and we sat around talking for a little bit and then we had to leave because we were all tired and it was getting late. It’s now 11:30pm and I’m finally getting to bed.
Friday, June 26, 2020
This morning, we went to
breakfast at 9am. After we ate, we
said goodbye to Dad and went back over to our room and finished getting ready.
We left a little before 10am and drove over to Linda's. Dad went to Rose’s
house and hung out there for the day. At Linda’s, we sat out on her patio and talked for a
little while. The kids had fun searching for the kitties in the barn.
Eventually, it started raining and we went back inside. Linda showed me a bunch of pictures that she had set aside for me and Michael and the kids watched The Floor is Lava. Sam ordered some pizzas and picked them up for us so that’s what we had for lunch. After lunch, the rain had cleared up and everybody took turns driving and riding the four-wheeler. I even drove it and so did Michael.
We left their house at 3pm and headed back to the hotel. We were all pretty tired. Jonathan, Nathaniel, Michael, and I all took a short nap. By about 4:45pm, we left to drive over to Stephanie's house for dinner. She was having a barbecue. She has a very nice, big house with a huge deck upstairs and a nice patio downstairs. She had made brats and burgers and hotdogs for us and also some potato wedges and a ton of other sides. I ate way too much. We sat around and visited for a while. Jonathan had fun playing with Ella and her dog Sophie again. Merrill brought a game called trackball. It’s like playing catch with a huge lacrosse mitt, basically.
We did a big group picture and used my tripod.
We left around 8pm. I rode with Dad so he could show me where he used to live. He said they lived there from when he was in about eighth grade until he graduated high school. Then we took the river road back to Saint Ansgar. It was such a pretty drive! I don’t really remember that road, but I’m sure I’ve been on it before. Dad wanted to go right to bed so we said goodnight to him. We brought our stuff into our room and then Jonathan said he was still a little hungry and we needed gas anyway so we all got back in the car and drove over to Casey’s to get gas and snacks. As we were leaving, we saw Brooke’s husband Erik and said hello. Then we drove over to the cemetery so I could visit Mom's grave and Grandpa and Grandma‘s. We came back home and had our snacks and the kids got ready for bed.
Eventually, it started raining and we went back inside. Linda showed me a bunch of pictures that she had set aside for me and Michael and the kids watched The Floor is Lava. Sam ordered some pizzas and picked them up for us so that’s what we had for lunch. After lunch, the rain had cleared up and everybody took turns driving and riding the four-wheeler. I even drove it and so did Michael.
We left their house at 3pm and headed back to the hotel. We were all pretty tired. Jonathan, Nathaniel, Michael, and I all took a short nap. By about 4:45pm, we left to drive over to Stephanie's house for dinner. She was having a barbecue. She has a very nice, big house with a huge deck upstairs and a nice patio downstairs. She had made brats and burgers and hotdogs for us and also some potato wedges and a ton of other sides. I ate way too much. We sat around and visited for a while. Jonathan had fun playing with Ella and her dog Sophie again. Merrill brought a game called trackball. It’s like playing catch with a huge lacrosse mitt, basically.
We did a big group picture and used my tripod.
We left around 8pm. I rode with Dad so he could show me where he used to live. He said they lived there from when he was in about eighth grade until he graduated high school. Then we took the river road back to Saint Ansgar. It was such a pretty drive! I don’t really remember that road, but I’m sure I’ve been on it before. Dad wanted to go right to bed so we said goodnight to him. We brought our stuff into our room and then Jonathan said he was still a little hungry and we needed gas anyway so we all got back in the car and drove over to Casey’s to get gas and snacks. As we were leaving, we saw Brooke’s husband Erik and said hello. Then we drove over to the cemetery so I could visit Mom's grave and Grandpa and Grandma‘s. We came back home and had our snacks and the kids got ready for bed.
Saturday, June 27, 2020
This morning we got up
and ready and went to breakfast at 9:30am. Dad came over a little earlier and
hung out while we got ready. They made us French toast with raspberry filling,
but the bread was croissants and it was really good! We also had cinnamon
scones and fruit. She sent us over back to our room with trays of food for
tomorrow since they don’t serve breakfast on Sunday.
We had breakfast at this same table every morning
In front of the Blue Belle Inn
When we got back to the room, Dad laid down on the boys’ bed and took a nap for about an hour. I was grateful to have some time to just relax. We washed a load of laundry. Emily needed her jeans washed and the boys put in a couple things. Dad and I played a round of spades. We played a couple rounds of Rummikub. Emily and Jonathan played with us. I wanted Dad to drive us around and show us where he used to live when he was a kid. First, I needed to go to the flower shop and get some flowers for Linda since tomorrow is her birthday. So Dad and I drove to one flower shop that was closed and then we went to Scent from Heaven flower shop. I picked out a nice bouquet with a couple of sunflowers. By the time we got back, it was too late to go on our drive so we just got ready and went over to Spring Park. We took the river road again. When we got there, there were so many mosquitoes and bugs. Dad took the kids over to look at the spring and it was terrible with the bugs over there. He and Emily went to the store to get some bug spray. Rose and Merrill got there a little before 3pm and we helped them bring the food out and set it up. Soon people started showing up. Joyce brought Bob Hemann and all of the other Hemann siblings came as well: Denny and Jean, Linda and Dale, Mark, and finally Sharon and Peanut. Steff and Ella came as well and Makayla came right as we were leaving. We had a nice visit and I know Dad sure enjoyed it. He was glad all the Hemanns came. I took some pictures and video and we got a good group picture with my tripod.
We decided to go for a drive afterwards so we left around 7pm and said our goodbyes. Dad drove us to the Schultheis’s old farm. It was so different with so many more trees that we passed it by and had to turn around. Then we turned at the corner and he showed me the house that he lived in as a kid from second grade to eighth grade. Then we drove back to Saint Ansgar. He also pointed out the house that he lived in when he was a baby on the original Lybarger farm that someone had moved from the farm to town. I also now understand which radio tower he was talking about that he painted. I rode with him all this time and Michael drove the kids. I called them a couple of times to explain what we were seeing. Dad had to get gas at Casey’s so we stopped there and I got in the minivan and came back with Michael and the kids. Then Dad met us there and hung out with us for a little while. Then we had to say our goodbyes to Papa because he has to leave very early tomorrow.
We had breakfast at this same table every morning
In front of the Blue Belle Inn
When we got back to the room, Dad laid down on the boys’ bed and took a nap for about an hour. I was grateful to have some time to just relax. We washed a load of laundry. Emily needed her jeans washed and the boys put in a couple things. Dad and I played a round of spades. We played a couple rounds of Rummikub. Emily and Jonathan played with us. I wanted Dad to drive us around and show us where he used to live when he was a kid. First, I needed to go to the flower shop and get some flowers for Linda since tomorrow is her birthday. So Dad and I drove to one flower shop that was closed and then we went to Scent from Heaven flower shop. I picked out a nice bouquet with a couple of sunflowers. By the time we got back, it was too late to go on our drive so we just got ready and went over to Spring Park. We took the river road again. When we got there, there were so many mosquitoes and bugs. Dad took the kids over to look at the spring and it was terrible with the bugs over there. He and Emily went to the store to get some bug spray. Rose and Merrill got there a little before 3pm and we helped them bring the food out and set it up. Soon people started showing up. Joyce brought Bob Hemann and all of the other Hemann siblings came as well: Denny and Jean, Linda and Dale, Mark, and finally Sharon and Peanut. Steff and Ella came as well and Makayla came right as we were leaving. We had a nice visit and I know Dad sure enjoyed it. He was glad all the Hemanns came. I took some pictures and video and we got a good group picture with my tripod.
We decided to go for a drive afterwards so we left around 7pm and said our goodbyes. Dad drove us to the Schultheis’s old farm. It was so different with so many more trees that we passed it by and had to turn around. Then we turned at the corner and he showed me the house that he lived in as a kid from second grade to eighth grade. Then we drove back to Saint Ansgar. He also pointed out the house that he lived in when he was a baby on the original Lybarger farm that someone had moved from the farm to town. I also now understand which radio tower he was talking about that he painted. I rode with him all this time and Michael drove the kids. I called them a couple of times to explain what we were seeing. Dad had to get gas at Casey’s so we stopped there and I got in the minivan and came back with Michael and the kids. Then Dad met us there and hung out with us for a little while. Then we had to say our goodbyes to Papa because he has to leave very early tomorrow.
Sunday, June 28, 2020
This morning we got up
and ready to go meet up with Jeff and his kids in Mason City at East Park. By the time we got to the park, it was a few minutes before 11am. We had a nice visit with Jeff and the kids ran around
and played for a little while.
Jeff’s kids didn’t want tacos so he took them to Little Caesars and we went to Taco Tico. It took longer than I thought it would. I loved it, of course, but I think everyone else was a little less than impressed. Although, surprisingly, Jonathan quickly ate his plain taco with only meat and said he liked it. That was a first! We finished up eating and got back on the road and drove to Saint Ansgar. I had bought some flowers for Linda and I wanted to take them to her for her birthday. We got to the farm a little bit after 1:30pm. We weren’t the last ones to show up so it was OK. We all sat in a circle and talked. Linda had some pictures for me to go through and I took some pictures of pictures. She also had a box of pictures set aside for me in the house. It was weird walking around the house without their furniture and their stuff all moved around. I even went upstairs. The kids had fun exploring the farm. Everyone but me went over to the creek to see where the dam was.
Andrew had fun driving around the golf cart. He took some kids for a ride a few times.
We took a picture of everyone using my tripod and we also took a picture of the kids in the cornfield.
I thought it looked really nice out back in the cornfield, kind of like it used to when I was a kid. Eventually, it started to look like it was going to rain and everyone started packing up to leave. Harve didn’t come because some of the people he works with had COVID and Stan was busy with something and never made it, but Carol, Katie, Eric, and Sierra were all there and Jackie and Adam also came. Since everyone was leaving we left, too. I took a couple of pictures as we were leaving because I’m sure that’s the last time I’ll see it like that.
We stopped back at the hotel again and took a couple more pictures and then we went to Osage for dinner at the drive-in.
Anne's House of Dreams
The Blue Belle Inn
We stayed here almost 25 years ago
Makayla waited on us at the drive-in. I saw Vanessa and talked to her for a minute and we also saw Rose as we were pulling out. I had the breaded pork tenderloin again, of course, and Michael had that too. We ate every single thing we ordered and cleaned up and left. Then we drove over to Ben‘s house to see his farm. He showed us around for a little while. It’s a really nice place. Then we drove over to Sam and Linda‘s house. The kids went to the barn to look for kitties right away.
We sat around and talked for a little bit. Eric had brought fireworks and the kids had fun throwing the snap-its. Sam started a fire in their fire pit and we all sat around and talked. They even threw their old Christmas lights in the fire so it made the fire different pretty colors. Andrew had fun driving the four-wheeler again and Nathaniel took a turn as well. We had ice cream from the dairy trailer again so that was nice. Then Erik and the kids started setting off fireworks. The ones at the end were actually pretty cool and looked just as nice as the ones that we normally see when we watch the fireworks at home. By then, it was after 10pm and everyone started leaving so we left, too.
It was nice to see everyone this trip. It was short but sweet. We stopped at Casey’s to get gas on the way back from Stacyville. I wrote about our stay in their little guest book.
Jeff’s kids didn’t want tacos so he took them to Little Caesars and we went to Taco Tico. It took longer than I thought it would. I loved it, of course, but I think everyone else was a little less than impressed. Although, surprisingly, Jonathan quickly ate his plain taco with only meat and said he liked it. That was a first! We finished up eating and got back on the road and drove to Saint Ansgar. I had bought some flowers for Linda and I wanted to take them to her for her birthday. We got to the farm a little bit after 1:30pm. We weren’t the last ones to show up so it was OK. We all sat in a circle and talked. Linda had some pictures for me to go through and I took some pictures of pictures. She also had a box of pictures set aside for me in the house. It was weird walking around the house without their furniture and their stuff all moved around. I even went upstairs. The kids had fun exploring the farm. Everyone but me went over to the creek to see where the dam was.
Andrew had fun driving around the golf cart. He took some kids for a ride a few times.
We took a picture of everyone using my tripod and we also took a picture of the kids in the cornfield.
I thought it looked really nice out back in the cornfield, kind of like it used to when I was a kid. Eventually, it started to look like it was going to rain and everyone started packing up to leave. Harve didn’t come because some of the people he works with had COVID and Stan was busy with something and never made it, but Carol, Katie, Eric, and Sierra were all there and Jackie and Adam also came. Since everyone was leaving we left, too. I took a couple of pictures as we were leaving because I’m sure that’s the last time I’ll see it like that.
We stopped back at the hotel again and took a couple more pictures and then we went to Osage for dinner at the drive-in.
Anne's House of Dreams
The Blue Belle Inn
We stayed here almost 25 years ago
Makayla waited on us at the drive-in. I saw Vanessa and talked to her for a minute and we also saw Rose as we were pulling out. I had the breaded pork tenderloin again, of course, and Michael had that too. We ate every single thing we ordered and cleaned up and left. Then we drove over to Ben‘s house to see his farm. He showed us around for a little while. It’s a really nice place. Then we drove over to Sam and Linda‘s house. The kids went to the barn to look for kitties right away.
We sat around and talked for a little bit. Eric had brought fireworks and the kids had fun throwing the snap-its. Sam started a fire in their fire pit and we all sat around and talked. They even threw their old Christmas lights in the fire so it made the fire different pretty colors. Andrew had fun driving the four-wheeler again and Nathaniel took a turn as well. We had ice cream from the dairy trailer again so that was nice. Then Erik and the kids started setting off fireworks. The ones at the end were actually pretty cool and looked just as nice as the ones that we normally see when we watch the fireworks at home. By then, it was after 10pm and everyone started leaving so we left, too.
It was nice to see everyone this trip. It was short but sweet. We stopped at Casey’s to get gas on the way back from Stacyville. I wrote about our stay in their little guest book.
Monday, June 29, 2020
This morning we got up
and ready and went to breakfast at 9am. She served us scrambled eggs with ham
and cheese and some delicious blueberry white chocolate scones. We also got nice fruit cups every day. We went back to
the room and finished packing up and got out of there a little bit before 11am.
We drove over to Peshak’s for lunch and to see Grandpa Freese. Deb was
babysitting her grandkids. She made us a very nice lunch. We had a nice
visit and we left at about 12:45pm.
We drove straight to Minneapolis without stopping and made it to the Mall of America in two hours. First, we went to the Lego store and then to the Apple store. We didn’t have to wait very long for the Lego store, but the line for the Apple store was ridiculous so we went to the food court instead.
We ate our food and by then it was already 4pm and we needed to go. We quickly got gas and then turned in the rental car. By the time we checked our bags and got to the gate, we were there in plenty of time. Nathaniel did a good job saving us seats on the plane. He was about 20 places ahead of us even though we got boarding passes at the same time. It was an uneventful flight to Denver. We were super close to our next gate. We stopped at McDonald’s and then we went to wait at our gate. Before we took off, Emily heard from her friend Bailey that Governor Ducey announced that schools can't start in-person instruction until August 17! School is supposed to start on July 27 so we'll see what happens. The flight from Denver to Phoenix was super short. It was way easier this way than it was when we went through Chicago. We got our bags pretty quickly and got to our car and got on the road by 9:30pm. Michael has been doing all of the driving today so that’s been really nice. The kids were all excited to get back to our Odyssey because the Dodge Caravan we drove wasn’t nearly as comfortable and spacious. We got home and, thankfully, everything was fine with the house. It was a wonderful trip!!!
We drove straight to Minneapolis without stopping and made it to the Mall of America in two hours. First, we went to the Lego store and then to the Apple store. We didn’t have to wait very long for the Lego store, but the line for the Apple store was ridiculous so we went to the food court instead.
We ate our food and by then it was already 4pm and we needed to go. We quickly got gas and then turned in the rental car. By the time we checked our bags and got to the gate, we were there in plenty of time. Nathaniel did a good job saving us seats on the plane. He was about 20 places ahead of us even though we got boarding passes at the same time. It was an uneventful flight to Denver. We were super close to our next gate. We stopped at McDonald’s and then we went to wait at our gate. Before we took off, Emily heard from her friend Bailey that Governor Ducey announced that schools can't start in-person instruction until August 17! School is supposed to start on July 27 so we'll see what happens. The flight from Denver to Phoenix was super short. It was way easier this way than it was when we went through Chicago. We got our bags pretty quickly and got to our car and got on the road by 9:30pm. Michael has been doing all of the driving today so that’s been really nice. The kids were all excited to get back to our Odyssey because the Dodge Caravan we drove wasn’t nearly as comfortable and spacious. We got home and, thankfully, everything was fine with the house. It was a wonderful trip!!!
