Eric was raised in a small town in the Midwest and we love every chance we get to go back to America's Heartland! We just returned from spending a week there for a family reunion over Labor Day. We loved it and it was super hard to come home. We introduced Jackson to so many new things: humidity, cicadas, oak trees, rain, mosquitos, and a whole lot of front-porch-sittin'!!
One highlight was spending time with Eric's Grandpa Charles.
Great-Grandpa Charles & Jackson
Grandpa Fred, Eric, Jackson, & Great-Grandpa Charles
Another highlight was seeing David, Melissa, and baby Caden! We love spending time with them, they are so much fun.
Jackson & Caden
A highlight for Jackson was playing with Eric's cousin Victoria!! These 2 instantly became friends and Jackson was head-over-heals for her by the end of the week. Eric and I loved spending time Danny & Trina and all their kids!! What an amazing family!!
Jackson & Victoria
Jackson & Victoria
Jackson & Victoria
A highlight for everyone was going to the Minor League Baseball game: Southern Illinois Miners vs. River City Rascals. We had a party!! Thanks so much to Grandpa Fred for getting everyone tickets. Jackson's favorite part were the fireworks let off after every home-run! There was also a HUGE fireworks display at the end of the game, set to country music: "Small Town, USA" by Justin Moore and "Where The Stars and Stripes and The Eagle Fly" by Aaron Tippin. It was AWESOME!!
Jackson had a lot of fun playing with the mascots: Big John the Miner, Dyno "T.N.T." Mite, and Lucky the Canary.
Our favorite highlight was spending time with Grandma Rita and Grandpa Fred!
Rita is amazing!! She spent the entire week hosting, cooking, cleaning, shopping, doing laundry, and being Grandma! She loves to read and we took Jackson to their local library many times and he LOVED it! For a small town, they have a fantastic library!!
Grandma Rita & Caden
Fred is unbelievable with Jackson!! He lovingly let Jackson trail him and his dog, Chet, around all week long. Jackson was quite the shadow and loved all things Grandpa: picking vegetables in the garden, mowing their vast lawn, swimming with Grandpa, picking cornstalks and feeding them to the horses, and running on the suspension bridges at his fishing country club.
Grandpa Fred & Jackson
Jackson picking vegetables in Grandpa's Garden
Grandpa Fred & Jackson in Grandpa's Garden
Eric, Chet, & Jackson
Jackson sweeping out Grandpa's shed
Eric and Jackson on the John Deere
Thank you to everyone!! We had a wonderful reunion and can't wait to see everyone again!!
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