Schmeymer Weekend Fun

Not everyone gets to pick their own family, but for some reason we did.  The Schmidts, Meyers, and Theimers have been family for 20 years now and to celebrate a whole generation turning 21 (or older), we congregated in the most excited place possible for 21 year old fun.  Des Moines, Iowa.  I know what you're thinking...Des Moines?...why not Vegas or New York or Chicago at least?  Who needs an exciting location when you're surrounded by exciting people!

The four Fays and Paul arrived first at the classy Econolodge next to the Iowa State Fairgrounds.  We hopped immediately into the pool to wait for the others.  From the wall of windows in the pool area we saw Nana and Papa arrive, and June proceeded to plaster her face to the windows and scream "Nana! Papa!" Brad and more importantly, Susan arrived next followed by Chris, Linda, Jacob, Erik, Phil, Twila, Starla and Nick.  Katie and Jacob arrived late after the kids and Karl were already asleep.  Kelsey showed up Saturday afternoon.

After a leisurely morning of breakfasting and chatting, we finally agreed to go to the Market which turned out to be an enormous farmer's market/open air art fair.  It was another hot day in Iowa so wandering around the hot streets didn't last incredibly long.  However, we did wander long enough to find the vendor who sold Mango Popsicles which were just peeled mangos on a stick.  Super ripe and super yummy.  Ruben enjoyed sucking on the pit for nearly 30 minutes.  On the tromp over to the restaurant for lunch, Starla divested some details about her wedding and asked Katie and I to be bridesmaids. Yeah!! Katie and I promised to try and not be too pregnant for the wedding but since it is planned for the fall of 2012, neither of us are making promises.  The restaurant was air conditioned and not crowded, so while we waited for our very messed up tickets (can't blame the guy, we're not exactly an organized group of 19), we managed to take this group shot.  It does seem to be a Schmidt family picture with the Meyers and Theimers in the background, but we're a hard bunch to fit into a small space.

Next, our educational event for the day was a trip to the science museum. I was super excited to use my Putnam membership to get ourselves in for a reduced price, and then I found out I could let family members get a "guest price." I don't think they expected me to bring 15 additional family members, but all in all it worked out well and I feel like I've actually made our Putnam membership worthwhile.  We got to see the Body Vitals exhibit which featured all donated body parts that had been plasticized.  Displayed in amazing artistic and illuminating ways, we could see the body's entire muscular system pulled out from the bones, the brains of people with Alzheimers, lungs blacked with decades of smoking, cancerous livers, and the veins and arteries of the arm floating eerily in the shape of an arm without flesh or bone.  Awesome!  If you get a chance, you should go see it.

The next stop was a wrinkle in time when all the young adults turned into kids again and tried to fly rockets, make the water table create more energy, and protect eggs from cracking.

 June and Ruben got to spend some quality time with Katie and Starla although I'm not sure I want Ruben hanging out with such a drug pusher.  (those are tylenol bottles they are shaking)

After the museum, we headed down to Indianola to watch the Hot Air Balloon Festival. However, the line of cars to get to the field was about 5 miles long so we ditched the line and headed to the nearest ice cream shop.  After some awesome homemade ice cream we looked outside and realized that we didn't need to wait in line, hot air balloons can be seen for miles around so why don't we trek down some country roads.  What a sight!

And that was that.  We needed to get back on the road to Davenport so Karl could preach Sunday morning and I could lead GO Fish.  The Schmeymer event of 2011 was over, but as it always is with family, we haven't seen the last of them yet!