Sunday, October 30th, 2016

Yesterday marked the third year in a row in which I helped push my aunt LaVonne in her wheelchair as she participated in the Iowa State Alumni Band halftime show for the homecoming football game.  I was never in the band or anything myself, but now you could say that I'm an honorary member.  Because the game's kickoff was set for 11:00, we had to start our day EARLY.  LaVonne, aunt Susan, and their friend Gail all picked my up at 5:30 in the morning so we could make it over to the practice facility by 6:00.  There we spent quite a while going over the formations and practicing the music for our halftime show.  This year it was pretty easy to learn because LaVonne and I basically stayed on the same spot of the field for the halftime performance (we were on the North 35 yard line).  Compared to past years where we had to move 5 yards this way, and 5 yards that way, it was pretty nice.  There was once where we did have to turn 180 degrees a couple of times, but that was about it.

Here I am with LaVonne as the band practices early in the morning.

I stood with LaVonne along the East sideline for the game.  This was our view of the game during the first half. If you look close you can see the ball in the air during a punt.  

Here is a photo that Susan took of the band during halftime.  LaVonne and I are at the corner of the "S" along the 35 yard line.

Here is LaVonne, her friend Gail, and myself standing by the Jack Trice statue near the football stadium.

As for the game itself, the Cyclones came up on the short end of the stick against the Kansas State Wildcats, 26-31.  I wasn't expecting much from the team as they have not done well at all this year (the team is now 1-7).  I enjoyed last year's homecoming game much better when ISU defeated Texas.

Monday, October 24th, 2016

So today was a fun day.  My season basketball tickets came in the mail, AND Elizabeth picked up my new custom license plate for my car!  I'm as excited as a kid on Christmas morning :)

Season basketball tickets!  Section 216, row 16, seats 7 and 8.

My new license plate :)

Also of note recently... the Chicago Cubs will be playing in the World Series for the first time since 1945 tomorrow.  GO CUBS, GO!

Sunday, October 2nd, 2016

Today Elizabeth and I took the kids down to Center Grove Orchard for a little family fun.  It's quite the fun place for kids.  When we first arrived, we headed for a big slide where you sit on a burlap sack while you slide down.  There was not too much of a line early on, so I went down twice with Nolan, and Elizabeth slid down once with him.  We didn't take Maxwell down as he seemed too little for it.

Elizabeth and Nolan going down the big slide.

From there, we headed over to... well, I'm not sure what you call it exactly.  It's like a bouncy castle, but not enclosed.  It's like a big bouncy floor.  Nolan jumped on that for quite a while, and it was hard to convince him to leave and do something else.

Nolan jumping on the bouncy-floor.

Next we stood in line a little while to wait to go on the hay ride.  The hay ride took us out to where you can pick your own apples or ride on a small train.  We didn't bother to pick any apples, but we did ride the train.  There was also a tractor pulling some small wagons that were made into seats.  We took a ride on that after the train ride was over.

Train!

Salton-selfie while riding the train.

At the same location as the train ride and tractor rides was the "combine slide"  It's basically an old worn out combine that they built a slide into.  There was almost no line for this, so Nolan probably went down it 6 times at least.  I went down with him the first couple of times, but he was getting grumpy and insisted that he could do it himself, so the last few times I let him climb up and slide down all by himself.  He's a "big boy" now I guess.

Nolan coming down the combine slide.

After the combine slide, we hopped back on the hay ride that took us farther down the trail to the pumpkin patch.  Thankfully this year Nolan only wanted a "small" pumpkin,  Unlike 2014 when I had to carry back the giant 76-pound pumpkin, this year we selected a 14-pound pumpkin.  I was pleased.

Next, we took anther hay ride back to the main buildings.  By this point we were getting a little tired and needed to head home soon.  We spent a few minutes looking at the animal exhibits, but soon we were on our way home.  It was a very fun day for sure :)

Nolan looking at the ducks.

Turkeys.