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Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Trip to Des Moines

When we were given the opportunity to attend Med School graduation this summer, it was never a question of "if" we would attend, but "how".  In the end, it required two separate road trips and a slight re-routing of vacations (My MIL flew in from Provo.  Did you know there are flights out of Provo now?  Indeed, and I hear they are very popular).  For me, it would be 28+ hours in the car with my children. Totally worth it.

And everyone was so excited to return to Des Moines!  So excited, in fact, that Big Sis set her alarm for 4am on the morning of our departure.  I hadn't slept much anyway, and after the adrenaline rush of a cheap alarm in a quiet house, I wasn't going to nod off again.  Away we went at 5:30.  I intended to break up the drive into 2 days, but after crossing Ohio, Indiana, and most of Illinois, I figured I would tough it out & make it all the way to Des Moines by rush hour.  

My reward the next morning was breakfast at La Mie. And then I had breakfast there every day we were in Des Moines.  I'm sure I gained 5 lbs. from the delicious bacon-spinach omelets.  It was worth every ounce.  


We followed up breakfast with a trip to Costco!  Oh Costco, I miss you so much.  Your Organic Strawberry Spread is beyond compare. 
After a difficult few weeks in our new, still-filled-with-boxes house, topped off with 14 hours in the car, the kids earned new dress-up outfits (thank goodness for Halloween product available in mid-August).   Big J especially loves his new muscles. 



OF COURSE we had to hit up the Iowa State Fair while we were in town.  Seriously - La Mie every day & the chance to go to the Fair?  It was like the Universe conspired to bring together the Best of Des Moines just to bring me joy.  If I'd been able to see the dear friends who just moved away from IA a few weeks prior, it would have been an ideal trip.  Close enough, right? 




100 Years of the Butter Cow!


After much begging, Big Sis got to choose ONE ride to go on.  Then, after I fainted from the realization that it was going to be $10 for both of us to ride together, we boarded the Ferris Wheel for a fantastic view of the Des Moines metro area.  



4 days in Des Moines, and I loved every minute of it.  Good Food, Good Fun, and Graduation?  
Good Times, indeed.  
  

4 comments:

Liz said...

Amy, you look amazing! Holy cow, Detroit has been good to you on some level, I guess. Congrats on surviving, and I hope Matt considers looking here for a job when he is finished with residency. It's the perfect place for Lovers of the Outdoors and the hospital really is amazing. The ER wins all kinds of national awards (the whole hospital does, but the E.R. really is stellar.)

Also, it really is heartbreaking that we missed each other. Maybe you can plan a trip to Zion's and stay with us sometime in the future?

sarita said...

I second what Liz said--you look fabulosa!

I wish I could have gained weight at La Mie with you by my side. I believe it was you who introduced me to that gem of a bakery a few years ago.

Music Mama said...

Sounds like my kind of vacation! Congrats on the graduation. What an accomplishment!! Yay! :)

Robyn said...

Amy! I can't believe I missed you. That would have been so wonderful! We barely missed each other too.

You do look great! Congrats on graduation and your new home and life :)