The Machine Shed

Wednesday is Brett's birthday!!!!!!! *I will have another post just about my hubby's bday, of course!
Grandpa Bill, Grandma Dodie, Bryan and Jill met us at the Machine Shed in Davenport to take Brett out for his birthday!
*History side note: I met Brett's family for the 1st time at this same restaurant 8 years ago almost to the day. They were meeting Brett in Davenport to take him out to eat for his birthday and he told them he will be bringing a girl with him. Jill asked more about me and Brett said "Her name is Iuliana, she goes to Emmaus Bible College and she is from Romania." Jill instructed Dakota not to bombard me with questions and I remember I was so nervous meeting everyone but had a good time.
Well...that was then....alot has chanced since, for the better! But it is still nostalgic for me to go back there and I love the food and the whole feel of the restaurant, it just defines the state of Iowa. If you haven't been, you need to go! :)

Like I said, alot has changed in 8 years.

Kylie's food came in a wagon!

Brayden's food came in a wagon!

Colton's food DID NOT come in a wagon and he was not happy about it!

Kylie put her food on a plate and let Colton have her wagon.

I have the sweetest little girl!!! :)

"Happy Birthday to you!!"

One of the gifts that Gpa Bill and Gma Dodie gave to Brett was a pocket knife that belonged to Great Grandpa Hoben!

Great Grandpa Hoben bought this pocket knife in 1933 at the World's Fair in Chicago!!

So neat!!!

*After we filled up on dinner, we walked outside, where they have a display area with a couple tractors and a few other antique farm equipment.

Colton is wondering what this might be!

Hmmmm...can't quite figure it out....

WElll...I will have to ask Gpa Bill about this one someday....

Grandpa and Grandma with the grandkids

Grandpa Bryan with Colton Bryan

Grandpa Bill with Colton

Brayden LOVED LOVED LOVED the tractors

Kylie enjoyed the tractors too but she also enjoyed some chatting time with Great Grandma Dodie!!!

*I like this place and it's not only because of the yummy food, there's also the history, the good times, the laughs, the chats, the gifts, the bibs that the waitreses wear, the Iowa farm theme, and let us not forget... the store with fun knickknacks that happens to be in the restaurant!

All in all--- we always have a great time at the Machine Shed and I really like this place!

Segways

Spain was the destination for 3 Hobens during the month of March. Dakota went to Spain for one of his school programs. Bryce and Nicole (along with Jeanne's *Nicole's mom *side of the family) went to Spain for Josh and Loretto's wedding.
While they were in Spain, Jim, Jeanne, Michael, Bryce and Nicole, rode Segways and loved them. Upon their return to the US they learned that there are no Segways for rent in the state of Iowa. There's a new business idea waiting to happen!...Well, it actually did happen! Michael purchased 3 Segways and is getting ready to start a "Rent a Segway" business!!!

Kate

Dakota and Bryce

Dakota and Bryan

Brett

Brett, Jill, Dakota

Me! Headed for the ditch....

Yeap, I was too busy antique shopping in Nicole's store during the instructions so I failed to learn that you're not suppose to jerk back and forth because they are super motion sensitive...needless to say, I almost fell and I ended up in the ditch.
Michael and Bryce making sure the segway is okay... don't worry about me guys! haha
Kate had my camera and could have filmed this/it would have been funny to watch/ but she was way too busy laughing to think about filming anything.

Giving it another try!

I got it figured out!!
Segways are fun after all!!

EASTER 2010

We kept really busy during Easter and had a great time with family!

I have many pictures in this post, so I am going to (try to) keep words to a minimum so I don't lose you all half way through. :D

*** Happy Birthday Jill...aka grandma!!!!

April 3rd is Jill's birthday and we celebrated by going out to eat with some family members and a few friends!

You must have both hands on the straw to avoid spillages (we did have 2 of them that night...one from this little man and another from Kylie...ooops!)
Grandpa talking with his hands again ;) and Colton chasin' his food...What's new?
Grandma Jill opening her presents!

*** Kylie and Brayden dyed a couple dozen eggs, fun, fun fun!!!
It was a family affair, as you can see!
Good work munchkins!

*** Easter egg hunt is always a hoot!
Bryan shoots his gun and it is loud and scary...BUT it is a family tradition and we can't and won't change it.

Middle of the road instructions on where to search for our 8 eggs, our bags and the 2 jackpot eggs.

Easter Egg hunting (the kiddies had their own area to hunt for the eggs. Kylie put eggs in Colton's basket too, since he is too little to do it- what a sweety!

Chris with Colton (welcome to my blog Chris, this is your first time making the Hoben blog!! wootwoot!!!!!)

Colton with Grandpa

Dakota found the 2nd jackpot egg and Nicole was harassing him about it (even though Bryce found the 1st one!) Yes, we do get a little competitive! ;)

After the Egg Hunt we line up from tallest to shortest/another Reed-Hoben family tradition. (Nicole, love you, but you are NoT taller than Chris...but we all know why you didn't want to switch, you wanted to be next to your hubby!!!!Puppy love! awww... :D

The bearded one with a gun joined us for one of the line-ups

*** We rode Segways on Saturday also!

*I have alot to say about this experience so I am going to dedicate a whole post to it, soon!

In the mean time, can you find Brayden in this picture?

*** Easter Sunday we went to Bryan and Jill's church. Jill is part of the church choir (third from left, 2nd row). She is the only one in our family that has musical talent!

Bryan was in the Easter play(this is why he grew the beard.) He was one of the people that plotted with the priest to crucify Jesus, which made Kylie wonder if grandpa believed in Jesus! She was really paying attention and it fills my heart with joy that she was questioning!!!

After church, we went to Grandma Dodie's and Grandpa Bill's house! We got together with the uncles, aunts, and cousins and ate lots and lots and lots of yummy food.

Here's the whole crew...minus Bryce and Nicole who were with Nicole's family at this time.

Opening Easter baskets!

Me and my handsome husband!!!

Me with my sisters, Nicole and Kate

Me with my Brayden!

We had a really busy and FUN Easter weekend!

It is fun to spend holidays with family. I am so lucky to be part of this family!