5 on a Friday: Notes from a quick trip to Iowa

Almost as soon as Dorothy wrapped up her first dance competition of the season, we packed up the car and headed to Iowa for a national qualifier dive meet for Cooper. Specifically, the AAU Red White and Blue national qualifier in Waukee, Iowa. On the line? A trip to nats and a chance (if he won an event) to represent the AAU team at an international dive meet in Italy.

Minnie told everyone she was going to Iowa on spring break, which made us all laugh (ooooh a Marriott Courtyard in a Des Moines suburb!). But! Since it was the kids' break, we made it fun for all.

1. We went to the mall a lot. Jordan Creek mall is a retro delight-- Toys R Us! Cinnabon! And also every trendy teen girl store in the world. (Free People Movement, Garage, Altar'd State, AS Revival, Lulu, Hollister, Abercrombie, Aerie and Aerie Offline-- and more that I am surely forgetting. 

Cooper was not as stoked at Dorothy at some of the offerings.

We aren't Christian, so most of the graphic tees did not land, but this store has THE CUTEST frilly dresses. They are typically between $90-120 but you can find them in the clearance section for LESS THAN THIRTY DOLLARS (and honestly they look the same from season to season IMO)

I wish our Free People store had more athleisure because this stuff was CUTE.

OMGGGGGG

Minnie bought eye shadow, mascara, and blush and wore it every day.

Borrowing the Easter Bunny's set up for a pic

Also coming soon! (Dorothy was excited for a second when she saw the sign and then sad)

We spent a lot of time waiting outside dressing rooms

2. POOL TIME. Cooper competed in synchro (just for fun) the first day, 3-meter the second day, and 1-meter the last day. He qualified to compete in Italy by winning 1meter and qualified to nats in both 3 and 1 (and he can bring platform). He won't actually go to Italy because his USA Diving nat qual series overlaps the trip, but he was excited to qualify, and he plans to compete at AAU Red White and Blue nationals in Orlando over Memorial Day.

For her part, Minnie enjoyed the very underwhelming hotel pool except when it was teeming with volleyball players and closed for filter probs (yuck)

my uncle came to watch both days! My aunt and cousin also watched with us on Saturday

3. Lots of food! We went to a restaurant that's been the exact same since my childhood, and I loved every bite.

We also got our favorite dive bar pizza

4. We saw the Iowa capitol!

And also the best park ever

5. We took the long way home

Other things:

Dorothy said this headband was cute, but I am pretty sure she was trolling me (it was really cute on her).

Minnie loved the hotel (the girls and I had a room, and Ben and Coop had a room)

And! she is old enough to wait for 45 mins at a restaurant with no complaints-- or very few complaints.

Dorothy shattered her iPhone, which was kind of a pain. She's been without a phone all week waiting for a replacement, and she is really annoyed because she can't use her beloved Bauble Bar case anymore (it's not sturdy at all-- she has dropped her phone a million times with no consequence but then she got that case and bam! (literally)). I got her a Casely case because she was horrified at the mere mention of an Otterbox. If you have any durable phone case recs, I am all ears. (she fatally dropped it on the bleachers moments after we took this pic)