Brinkman Family Reunion 1

Here are some pictures from Grandma & Grandpa's 60th wedding anniversary celebration. So great to get time with everyone. In typical Brinkman style it was a busy weekend w/ lots of fun, food, and good conversation.

Karen (our cookie-making, adventure-planning, accommodation-arranging, story-reading, I'm-sure-I-forgot-a-few-things hostess) and Jack

Owen, Andrew, & I

Don't get any ideas, but two kids fit just great!

Jack has found himself a buddy in Anabel

He may be the starting center for the Indians, but we know better than to believe he's too tough to hold his little cousin!

I think this is how we were all feeling after such a great weekend!

RAGBRAI 2011 (Boone to Altoona)

Didn't think I'd post these for awhile, but I'm on my post RAGBRAI high, and amazingly, I found the camera cord amongst the packing mess so I decided to download photos. Plus, it seemed like a good thing to do while I enjoy a plate of spaghetti and watch Jack do a different kind of rolling, as he works on racking up his own 55 miles around the living room.

Notice the small black "Best of Iowa Brats" sign under the large yellow dessert sign...Ryan was enjoying his by 8:30 this morning. He claimed his body was already in shock from the biking, so why not shock it w/ a good brat for breakfast? Reasonable.

And he's off...to find the next great food stand. I think a frozen Snickers was next.

Don't worry, I hit up the stands as well. Thanks to some fabulous advertising for about 30 miles, the little old church ladies of Alleman got my business.

Cherry pie...mmmm!

For those who have ridden RAGBRAI...have I represented it accurately?

(Food and some bike riding along with it?! :))

And here are our sag-wagon drivers. Thanks to Jana, this was the definitely the easiest RAGBRAI logistically. As far a the ride, I think 3 months pregnant and trained may be a tad easier than un-pregnant and un-trained!

No pictures of Ryan and I after the ride...turns out we were taking videos...my bad!

Moving, Biking, and Reunions

Just a quick update before stuff gets crazy this week...for those of you who didn't know we're moving to Polk City a week from today. Hoping to get a day of RAGBRAI in and then the big Brinkman reunion this weekend up in Chatfield. I'm sure I'll have a few pictures to post once the dust settles!

It's official...we've got a thumb-sucker. I think that last post will be the last picture you see of Jack w/ a paci in his mouth.

Packing up...more spaces for Jack to play. :P

Jack August...5mo.

I've started doing books for Helmkamp Construction of Iowa. My boss runs a pretty tight ship, so no time for posting pictures lately. But I think he'd say it's fine to take a break and post some pictures this morning. :)

Um...I have question...

No, those are not fingers

Huh? What? No, I don't suck on my toes!

Friends

We got to meet little Cohen Christopher this week. Jack didn't look like such a peanut next to this little guy! So fun to have such a good friend w/ a little boy so close in age to Jack.

Boating w/ the Aspengrens

Their little boys get me excited for the upcoming years--they were a FUN to have on the boat!

Lydia and Jack

We've started trading babysitting w/ a few different couples, including Lydia's parents...we're thankful for friends who help us get out!

"Playin'"

The Latest on Jack

Jack is such a joy! This last week or so he seems to be changing by the day. To sum it up, he's really starting to interact w/ people and things around him.

Kickin' back

Daddy found his tickle-ish spot!

Friends

We got to meet little Addie this weekend when our friends Heath and Shaylyn came to stay with us. It'll be fun to watch these two grow up together...only a few month apart. (If only we still lived in the same town!)