"Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa." (not a song, I know)

Buck in Uncle Chuck & Aunt Patty's back yard. While we were in Iowa, we stayed with The Duke's (RKZ's dad's) brother and sister-in-law. Buck is wearing his new Iowa Hawkeye Pj's from Aunt Patty (he also learned to say "go Hawks!" - very cute).
Buck loved Patty's antique kid's rocking chairs. He kept kicking out the stuffed animals who usually sit in them.
another of the usurped chairs
Aunt Patty probably teaching "Go Hawks!" We had so much fun with her!
Buck had some good times with his "great" aunt ;)
A great picture of RKZ.

Grandpa Duke enjoying himself.
Cousin Timmy. He is actually a very cute man. Here, he looks too excited about the drinks. Tim lives in Iowa near his parents & is very active in the local theater there.
The back of the Duke, the Duchess and cousin Ryan.
Grandma Duchess - Buck just said her name as he saw this picture - also, 'big airplane.' Here we go again (see below).
cousin Ryan. Buck called him "conass Rynan" the entire time. Was funny. Ryan is on his was to Notre Dame Grad school in the fall.
Uncle Chuck looking cool in his own backyard.

As I ran up the stairs attempting to find my son's stuffed monkey, without whom Buck will not eat, I realized that I have quite a bit to blog since this space has been out of commission for about 2 weeks. So much has been going on both in our lives and in the lives of everyone who reads this! It took the monkey, literally on my back (or my dining room table) to get me to update this freekin' post :)

I am adding pictures of our time in Iowa. Thanks for all the prayers and well-wishes. It was, understandably sad but true to Grady form, RKZ's family ended our week there more in celebration of Bruce's life than sadness over his death. It will be especially hard for the young people who lived nearest and were closest to Bruce - also for his fiancee and young son. It sounds strange to say that it was nice to see everyone. Buck had an amazing time - but we did enjoy our time even in the worst circumstances. As you all well know, I am obsessed with warm weather now and it was toasty hot in Iowa - 90'sF/30'sC - it was a pleasure just to wear shorts, t-shirts and a thin layer of sweat for the week.

Since we've been back, we have been playing "catch-up" with all that needed to be done the week we were gone. Buck is our little parrot - literarly saying everything we say with his own Buck accent. We have had to put up with more than a few tantrums as Buck declares that we must go "up airplane!" and "Ganma Nancy house!" during variou 20 minute stream of conciousness diatribes. Buck will either be a pilot or a new anchor - he's constantly screaming about airplanes and gives a running commentary about daily events. It's only been really embarassing that he has started to point at anyone in a wheelchair and scream "That people GO!" The embarassing part is that the person has no idea that Buck is really just commenting on the cool fact that the 'person' has wheels...we've made a lot of new friends, anyway.

Our latest craziness is that Buck has decided that he must wake up at 1am and be awake for 3 hours in the middle of the night. We don't know why. He takes good naps and goes to bed at a decent time. Poor RKZ suffers the most during this. He has to wake up for work while Buck sleeps until 9:30am (an all-time record for our son). Please feel free to send any recommendations for this sleeping nightmare.

Today is relatively free. All of our "baby classes" end this week and SDJ comes to visit the week after next (YEAH!) It will be nice to have a little "unscheduled summer." Also, congrats to everyone who is free from their teaching jobs now. Never thought it would come (but maybe you won't be reading this now since you aren't tied to your computers anylong). A few of my good friends are moving/have moved as they read this and we're hoping to be able to come visit. Also, a nice 'shout out' to the newest Kelly boy residing safely in his mommy's womb right now (we just got news that my brother's wife, Hoonka, is having a baby boy). I WILL post tomorrow. Now that I've finished re-reading all the Harry Potter books in prep for next month, I have plenty of time.