Iowa and Germany in 2 weeks

Over Labor Day weekend we headed out to Lake Okoboji, Iowa for one of Jamison's co-worker's wedding.  I was expecting a lake with not much else around, but it was a nice town and a huge lake.  The wedding was a lot of fun and it was a nice getaway for our family.

I set Emmery in the middle of the bed with some toys while I started laying out what to pack... And she soon started pulling all of the clothes on top of her and squealing with delight :-)

Jamison and I were on different flights (a little bit of miscommunication), so Emmery came with me on her first flight.  She was a bit jabbery, restless, and cried a little, but she didn't have any breakdowns!

Our hotel had a nice pool, and Jamison was able to ease Emmery in and get her over her fear.

"Not so sure about this..."

"This isn't so bad..."

"I kind of like this!  Minus the fact that I'm wearing a normal diaper and so it has swelled up huge!"

We also went to a free 80s outdoor concert one night.  The groom's mom and aunts watched Emmery and we went out with a group of people.  We were the only people there who had dressed up, but we sure had fun!

And Emmery finally fits into the cutest bird outfit that she got from Uncle Scott and Aunt Katie!

I left the following Friday for Munich for work and was gone for 9 days!

I worked Monday through Friday afternoon, but was able to see a few things around Munich.  On Sunday I went to Neuschwantstein castle, and on Friday I was able to get downtown early enough to see the 5pm bells and show at the Glockenspiel while drinking a beer.

I drove the whole time I was there- through downtown Munich, on the autobahn, and even parked in our hotel parking lot...  See these 2 cars here parked at a steep angle that no matter what the front of the car scrapes when you pull in or out?  That is because the thing rotates up and two cars can park below!

And while I was in Germany, Emmery got to spend some quality time with Grandpa Tom and Grandma Jean.  Tom and Jean came up for the whole week and helped Jamison out and made me feel A LOT better about leaving for so long.  Jean not only snuggled and played with Emmery, she cleaned, did laundry, cooked (including a few extra meals for later), took some pictures, and even wrote down Emmery's schedule like her daycare does!  What a nice treat to come home to a house in more order than when I left and a happy baby.

And Tom worked every day on painting our house- it is looking so good!  What a gift!

Here is Emmery having fun in her favorite saucer. 

 And her 23 week picture.  Jean dressed her in a bodysuit that says "I love Mommy" :-)