This past weekend I made the trip to Northwest Iowa for a few big events! The biggest event I went back to celebrate was my (gasp!) ten year high school reunion. I can hardly even believe it! It also happened to be Tulip Festival, which worked out quite nicely as I was able to see many people I grew up with and college friends…all in one weekend!

I took the day off on Friday, as I was in need of a little break so I started the drive earlier than normal on Friday afternoon. This worked out wonderfully because I was home early enough to go to the Friday night Tulip Festival parade and then out for dinner with my parents. Our pick? Chinese of course!

Then we enjoyed this lovely cotton candy sky…

Saturday was packed full as I visited a childhood friend and her daughter in the morning, and then in the afternoon I headed to Orange City for more Tulip Festival and to see friends!

One of my absolute favorite parts of the weekend was marching in The Pride of the Dutchmen alumni band! I will admit it, I am a total band geek. Band was a really big deal at my high school, and I absolutely loved it. I was in color guard all four years, so I never marched on the field or on the street with my alto sax. My parents came to the parade to watch, and I think my mom even had some tears in her eyes! I know I was grinning ear to ear as I marched alongside two of my good friends from high school soaking up every second of what it felt like ten years ago to march in the band on the street at Tulip Festival. And I bet you won’t believe it, but the second we stepped on the street and the band played Championship, I remembered every bit of the flag routine with absolutely no practice. I thought it was pretty amazing!

It was totally worth going home just to march again!

Saturday night was our high school ten year reunion. I know it’s clique to say, but it’s seriously hard to believe that time has gone by that quickly! It was so fun to see people from high school…many of whom I haven’t seen since we graduated. It was a blast to find out where everyone lives and what we are all up to now!

To cap off the weekend before I left to headed back to Des Moines, my dad showed me his new tractor. I can’t wait to drive this bad boy this fall during harvest! You definitely can’t take the farm out of this Iowa girl! Bring on fall.

It was great to spend so much time with my parents and be back in Northwest Iowa again!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Angela