Back in Black: 2013

Author: Dave

The 2013 college football season is finally upon us!  After a somewhat rough start last year the Hawks still managed to begin the season at a respectable 4-2 record, unfortunately things never really took off from there.The Hawkeyes finished the season on a heartbreaking SIX GAME losing streak... At 4-2 I was researching plane tickets to Pasadena for a grand Rose Bowl trip, at 4-8 I was researching if there would be any hope for the 2013 Hawkeyes.

I do believe that the Hawkeyes will be better this season and barring any substantial injuries I like our chances playing the underdog role this year. Of course, every Saturday I wake up thinking and truly believing that Iowa will win, regardless of who we are playing.  This makes it more difficult during the dry runs, but how much fun is being a fan without having any real hope? Right now we are currently undefeated at 0-0 and still in the National Title picture! :) Here is my 2013 "realistic" prediction on how the Hawks will fare this year.

*=Games I plan on attending as of this post

W-8/31: Northern Illinois*
W-9/07: Missouri State
W-9/14: Iowa State*
W-9/21: Western Michigan
W-9/28: Minnesota*
L-10/05: Michigan State
L-10/19: Ohio State
W-10/26: Northwestern
L-11/02: Wisconsin
W-11/09: Purdue
W-11/23: Michigan
L-11/29: Nebraska

8(wins) - 4 (losses)

Another School Year Starts

 It was an awesome summer. We didn't do half of all the fun things we hoped to do but we kept busy with same fun activities over and over. The pool. The zoo. Playdates. The pool. Birthday parties. Week with Grandma. The pool again. And again.

It wasn't as hard to see him walk into school this year after having practice last year with an all day preschool. And he walked in with much more confidence this year and felt like one of the big kids having moved up to Kindergarten. More than anything he was so excited to see his best friend who is in his class again this year! They make such an interesting pair with Carvell being loud and social, the class clown for sure cracking jokes every chance he gets. And Jaxson who stays quietly behind laughing at all of his antics.

Jaxson's teacher this year has such a sweet feeling to her. She has eyes that smile and is so soft spoken. I think she will be a great teacher for him. I already got a special email from her about when he made a step in being more social. I loved that about his last teacher and am so glad I will get those again this year.

I can't wait to see him learn even more. Start to read. Ask questions about his world. I am looking forward to seeing him grow even though I will miss him being with me.

 He knew right where to go and didn't waste anytime running his way to school with little brother not far behind.

Sharing is Caring

 Two straws with one drink. Cute photo op and an extra two bucks in my pocket! :)

School shopping and a pizza stop for dinner was a tiring night that wasn't very successful in the shopping category. But photos like this (to people like me) make it completely worth it. i know, I am crazy....

We should have shared the pizza slice as well since they were as big as the entire state of Iowa. 

 

Dentist Round 2

So _______ ago (I am embarrassed to say how long its really been) we took Jaxson to the dentist for the first time. It didn't go well.  They basically couldn't get him to stop screaming with his lips sealed shut like they were glued with superglue. They couldn't pry his mouth open with the jaws of life if they tried. They sent us home without even charging us for anything. Because they couldn't do anything. It really was a terrible experience that no one in our family wanted to do again for a long time.

To attend Kindergarten he had to have a trip to the dentist. I couldn't find any pediatric office that were taking new patients so I tried my luck with a regular dentist office. We had an appointment bright and early on a Monday morning. We talked about it before hand some and he knew it was coming. I told him he needed to be a big boy and this is part of going to Kindergarten.

Asher went to work with Daddy for the morning because the last thing I wanted was Jaxson traumatizing him too. We got to the office and we were the only ones there. Jaxson was apprehensive but not terrified. So far anyway. I was relieved. So far.

But to my amazement he did so great. He followed the directions and didn't give one bit of trouble. He also got compliments on how great his teeth looked. It was such a fast appointment and everyone was happy when we walked out of the door. Such a relief having that over with!!

An All Day (af)Fair

We got seriously spoiled when it came to the fair this year. Iowans are used to 99 degrees and 99% humidity. This year it was not so. It was mid 80's with little to no humidity and no rain in the forecast. We went to the fair along with almost everyone in the state it seemed. It was packed but with that weather I am not sure what we expected.

We spent some time doing all the things you are supposed to do. Like eat. We also visited some animals, rode the skyride, and let the boys choose a few rides to ride in the midway. Jaxson wanted to get the midway the entire time and sulked until we got there.

Sulky Jaxson... 

 

 He forgot momentarily that he was sulking... 

Asher was really nervous on the sky glider and wouldn't let his arms or legs dangle over the edge but didn't fail to wave and yell Hi! to every glider that passed us. And when it was a yellow one, he went all out yelling and waving like a mad man. Boy that kid loves his yellow. We got a round trip and on the way back he got to ride in a yellow one! He pretty excited about that! :) 

Yes, Asher picked which helicopter we rode in. Obviously. 

Can you find our Jaxson boy?!?

After we took the boys from the fair they got to spend the night with Grandma who hadn't left to go back to Nevada yet. In their world it was the best day ever. Dave and I got our hands stamped and met back at the fair with Dan and Anne that night! We played some midway games and rode some rides! Anne even rode one ride with us and might still be dizzy from how fast we were spinning. Spinning isn't really her thing but she thought she would give it a go. Luckily the ride attendant was quick to stop it when she started yelling out to him. We spent our entire day at the fair and got to enjoy it as a family and out with friends without paying twice... perfection.

Dave Did Ragbrai Celebration

 With Ragbrai coming through Des Moines, they did a big party downtown to celebrate. Even though it seemed like the entire city was going to go, we thought we should really go since afterall Dave was a Ragbraier. And more importantly our good friends, who helped Dave fix his almost broken bike the day before the ride, also found us a babysitter to be able to go with them downtown. Great friends right? We know....

There were more people downtown filling up three bridges than you have ever seen downtown ever. There was a big stage playing with pretty big names. There were food vendors and alot of bikes. Alot alot alot of bikes.

When you're in the spotlight, please turn and wave. :) 

RAGBRAI XLI: 2013

Author: Dave

Six months ago on a whim (slightly intoxicated perhaps) I decided I would ride a day of RAGBRAI. Seeing as the ride was coming through Des Moines for the first time in nearly 15 years it came off as an extra special event. RAGBRAI is one of many great events that make Iowa the special place in America that it is, I was excited to be a part of it.

That one day of riding I planned turned into two, as I signed up for the wrong day (Des Moines to Knoxville rather than Perry to Des Moines)...

Perry to Des Moines

Dropped off at 6am, Kyle and I hit the roads, with no real idea of what to expect.  What we soon realized was that RAGBRAI, although a very physically demanding bike ride, was an Iowa State Fair on wheels type of event.  The ride was fairly flat and likely the easiest day of the entire week.  Still there were enough miles and hills to adequately challenge a first time rider.  Rolling into the capital city for the first time in nearly a decade and a half, RAGBRAI likely wanted to encourage as many riders as possible.

Day one was filled with running into friends, family, little people wrestling, bands, beers and more beers.  My end objective was to see how well I did the first day and then decide if I would ride the following day from Des Moines to Knoxville.  By the time I ended at my front door step, roughly 55 miles and 12 hours later I felt like well tuned, Lance Armstrong cycling machine! (who was also riding from Perry to Des Moines)   I was now ready to tackle day two, like a champ....

Des Moines to Knoxville:

The ride started from Water Works park and headed down MLK to Grand towards the State Fairgrounds.  Jamie and the boys dropped me off at Sec Taylor Stadium around 9:15am and I was off (sans water bottles in car...).  My goal was to finish this day with minimal stops and get to Knoxville in time to enjoy myself for an hour or two before Jamie arrived to pick me up.  

After exiting the Fairgrounds I encountered the largest hill I had yet to see, entering Pleasant Hill (ironic).  I figured at least we were getting the hills out of the way early, not quite the case.  Day two was drastically different than day one.  There was not much flat ground and when there was a giant hill was always on the horizon. It was hill after hill after hill, eventually the hills would have to die down... they never did. I saw many people walking up the steep hills, bikes broken down on the side of the road.  I thought to myself this had to be the hardest day of RAGBRAI of all time!  Likely not even close, however, it was indeed the most challenging day of RAGBRAI I had personally encountered.  Luckily I had trained for the ride or I do not believe I would have made it even close to finishing all the way to the host town Knoxville. The route did bring us through Lake Red Rock, which was a welcoming sight of beauty.

I did arrive in Knoxville and in great time as well, roughly 2PM, a 4.5 hour 53 mile ride of straight endurance.  The 110 miles between the two days was much further than I ever thought I could/would ride a bicycle.  It was a very rewarding personal experience that I dedicated myself to and accomplished goals I had set.  I also came home with the most wicked sun burn/tan line on my legs that will stick with me and be a reminder of my journey for months to come. Next year I will be anxiously awaiting the 2014 RAGBRAI route map to see where my next big cycling adventure will take me!