vacation

Just returned from a lovely weekend away in Iowa City. We had been contemplating a weekend in Chicago over Labor Day but then Mr. Brown had a kidney stone (or stones) so we didn't want to go too far away in case he wasn't as much better as he thought he was.

Rose Pink told us that we were fulfilling all her dreams by staying in a hotel with a pool. We actually had a bit of trouble finding a place to stay because it was the opening weekend of football season and Iowa City was full of Hawkeyes fans, but eventually we found somewhere with open rooms and a pool. And a free breakfast. Saturday we had a picnic lunch with our friends the Lees, who are departing Davenport this morning and played around with them in the park for awhile, then drove out to Iowa City. After we checked in, we headed to the movie theater, which is part of an enormous nearby mall. Mr. Brown and Rose Pink were dying to see Ponyo, the new Miyazaki film. All four of us went to see it, and all but one of us enjoyed every minute. Nut Brown watched it for almost an hour and then got up and wandered around the theater. He was very good, though. And we all enjoyed it very, very much. After the movie we went back to the hotel and the kids had a snack dinner (leftover pancakes, tortilla chips, goldfish, apple slices) while Mr. Brown went to get dinner for the rest of us. Then they had baths and we tucked them in, and Mr. Brown and I ate in the hall while they went to sleep.

Sunday morning Mr. Brown enjoyed the exercise facilities at the hotel while the kids and I had breakfast and got ready for church. We were late and had to sneak in and sit in the back. Happily, this meant that we ran into Mr. Brown's old friend Nick and his wife! They were visiting from California that Sunday and were also sitting in the back! It was so completely random- that they ended up picking the same ward, and then we were late- if we hadn't been late we'd have sat up front and not have seen them at all. What a happy coincidence.

After church we went swimming and then went over to Hugh and Jessica's for a visit. We walked down to the elementary school park with assorted nephews in tow and had a great time playing there. It was very fun and relaxing, and then we went back to the hotel about seven to put the kids in bed.

Monday morning we had breakfast and Mr. Brown exercised again, and then we went to the Iowa City Children's Museum. It is in the same gigantic mall as the theater- Mr. Brown laughed about the fact that we were going on vacation to a mall. But the museum was great fun, and lunch was easy to find- just walk down to the mall food court. We were there for two hours and only played in two of the museum rooms- so much to see and do. Originally we were going to go back after lunch but Nut Brown was approaching meltdown so we went instead over to Hugh and Jessica's again and put him down for a nap and planned a cookout for that evening: hamburgers, hotdogs, watermelon, and ice cream. Then we drove home!

It was such a fun and relaxing weekend. Mr. Brown said that it was nice to be reminded that we all get along so well and have a lot of fun together when we can relax and enjoy each other. It was super nice. And so kind of Hugh and Jessica to let us come hang out with them in the afternoons. Hooray for vacations!