On Thursday we left Chicago and headed back to Des Moines with 2 very tired kiddos who were sick of traveling and their car seats. On one of our many stops, we went to Wiliamsburg, IA for a bit of Outlet shopping, a picnic lunch and some bull riding.
Ride'em cowboy!
Lovely goodies from Great Nana Gibbons and Aunt Kathleen when we visited them.
Ellis showing off her cookie to Nana Gibbons and telling her all about it.
Leighton loved her fairy cake!
Leighton & Darren with Great Nana Gibbons
Jean and LJ
Ellis with Nana G. having a tea party.
Our good friends, Linda (background) & Richie with Leighton
The 11 Gibbons' Grandchildren
Darren and his siblings--Tony, Darren, Alan, Keith & Amanda
The cousins taking a break from being hard at play--Reece, Alex, Charlie, Darci & Ellis
Nana Gibbons got the girls a lovely birthday cake. Ellis took a real liking to her cousin Josh and sat on his lap for ages.
Ellis is getting really good at blowing out candles by this stage. 
Loading up on the yummy sweets! Ireland has the best marshmallows you've ever tasted!
It all started with a small bottle of bubbles and when mixed with water you get a whole lot of fun in the back garden. Ellis absolutely LOVED her cousins and took to them from the start. She's going to miss them so much!
House full of cousins having a grand ol'time!
Darren & Leighton at birthday party
Nieces Casey & Charlie
Casey & Reece
Fast best friends--Ellis with her cousin Leila
LJ enjoying a sausage
A birthday party for the girls
Mam Jean and Darren
Our beautiful niece Casey We spent Monday & Tuesday (May 11-12) in Chicago before we left for Ireland. It helped break up the long trip car ride to Chicago from Des Moines and 7 1/2 hr flight to Dublin. On Tuesday we went to our good friend Ellen Baker's house to spend time with Leah, Ellen, Tom and girls. Leah was also super wonderful and took us to the airport and kept our car for us while gone and then picked us up! Thank you, Leah! Last week was also Ellen's birthday so we had a little birthday party for her.
Our Girls (Leighton, Ellis, Gracie & Sophie)
Leah & Gracie
Happy 30th Birthday, Ellen!(Leight, Dina, Grace, Leah, Ellen, Sophie, Ellis & Christian)
Step 1-the tilling...it looks much easier than it is...
and more tilling...Darren had no use of his hands for about 2 days.
Planting the vegetables and sunflowers with the help of Great Granny (who has been gardening forever and was very helpful!) and Papa Taggart (who has not but was also very helpful--notice the supervisory stance).
I know some thought I was crazy for attempting to put in a garden 2 days before leaving for Ireland but although filled with clay and a bunch of rocks, I have sprouts!
you leave your 1 year old alone for a few minutes and hungry.
Leight sporting her Calvin Kleins. This is the first pair of jeans that fit our little one's waist :)
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