Sunday, August 10, 2008

2008 Iowa State Fair

Liv, Shannon & Zoe at the capital bright & early Sunday morning.


Liv, Zoe & I on the capital steps, waiting for the bus to take us to the fair.

Zoe driving a humvee

Wacky, waivable, inflatable, arm-flailing tube man! Wacky, waivable, inflatable, arm-flailing tube man! Wacky, waivable, inflatable, arm-flailing tube man! (sorry, inside joke with Liv!)


Zoe was fascinated by the state's largest boar - Frieght Train - he weighs in at a mere 1,259 lbs!


This is a 3,000 lb bull! Amazing! Huge! Scary!


Local "it" girl, Shawn Johnson imortalized in butter!


Gotta love the butter cow! Open your eyes, Zoe! You have to see the butter cow to believe it!!


Ringing the bell , time for class in the old fashioned, one room school house.


I tried to explain to Zoe that years ago, all the students in school were in one classroom (K-12). She was pretty surprised. I think she is happy with her more modern school!


Zoe, playing in the bubbles


Due to the nice weather, the fair was extra crowded today. There had to be at LEAST 200,000 people there!

Shannon & Zoe trying out the "Old Mill"ride.


Liv spent some time helping a friend work at a shop in the cattle pavilion. Retail may be her new passion.

We decided to brave the crowds & go to this year's Iowa State Fair. We got to Des Moines at 8am ready to see all the sights. We saw amazing livestock (real & carved in dairy products), local talent on the Bill Reilly stage, rode the tram (where I almost had a panic attack, who knew I am now afraid of heights! when did that happen!), ate fatty cholesterol laden food and did my favorite thing...people watching!. All-in-all I think we had a pretty fun day.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Haunted House in the making





The crew has been working very hard to get everything ready for this season's haunted house. & this year promises to bring the scariest haunted house yet! More pictures will be posted of the progress.

midnight book release party





Liv and I went to the Borders in Ames on Friday, August 1st, to the release party for "Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer. They had activities, games & prizes til midnight, then the book was released at 12:01 a.m. We were both very excited & we had a good time! Liv stayed up ALL night & finished the book! That's 700+ pages in only 5 hrs!

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Shannon's Fishing Trip

Shannon and they guys on their annual fishing trip. This year the gang went to the boundry waters (Rainy Lake, Minnesota). Caught lots of fish and had a great time!


Buck (aka Bocephus)

The guys enjoying weiser & 7

Shannon, Kurt, Buck, Keith, Ryan & Mark at the Island View Lodge





Boys on the party barge



Shannon enjoying the sunset on Rainy Lake


Kurt pointing the way


View, from the boat, of the lodge


Ryan (aka the Pike Slayer)


Reardon catches a nice 3.5 lb. smallmouth



Shannon's first pike


Ungrund heading toward the boat after a great shore lunch.

Kurt & Shannon at their annual fishing trip


Kurt catches a nice pike



A view from the camp


Kurt & Shannon hangin out at camp


Shannon's first slot walleye (23")


Dino and Dennis - the guides - Love those bacon & onion sandwiches!


Guys at the shore lunch

Kurt with a 24" walleye

Kurt with a 29" northern pike




Guys playing bags