Saturday, November 1st, 2025

 Today was kind of a miserable day for a football game, but I was proud of Nolan for sticking it out with me until the end.  Not only was it frustrating to watch Iowa State lose to Arizona State, but the weather was crummy.  Most of the day it was lightly raining, and it was a cold November day (upper 30s to low 40s for temperature).  For part of the game it was even lightly hailing on us.  Even with all of that, we stuck it out until the end.  

There was a very scary moment in the game, when Iowa State's tight end Benjamin Brahmer collapsed onto the field after taking a hit.  He was carted off of the field on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.  That was probably the quietest that I have heard it inside of Jack Trice.  Thankfully, it sounds like he is going to be ok.

So, despite the cold, and the losing football, and the scary injury... we still managed to have a fun day.  I believe that this is the 14th football game that I have taken Nolan to.  The previous game I had taken him to was against Iowa this year.  

Saturday, October 25th, 2025

 Well, it's homecoming weekend at Iowa State, so of course I spent the day helping LaVonne with the alumni band.  Aaron also drove up from Oklahoma to help out.  Unfortunately, the Cyclones ended up losing to 11th-ranked BYU, 41-27.  

Iowa State started off the game with a bang, as they scored on the very first play, a 75-yard touchdown pass from Rocco Becht to Brett Eskildsen.  The Cyclones actually led at the end of the first quarter by a score of 17-7.  Sadly, it just went downhill from there, and the Cyclones made a number of costly mistakes.  

Today marks the first time that I have been in attendance for an ISU football game against BYU.  It also marks the 11th time that I have helped push LaVonne for a homecoming football game.  The other times were against Texas Tech in 2024, Kansas in 2023, West Virginia in 2022, Oklahoma State in 2021, Oklahoma State in 2019, Texas Tech in 2018, TCU in 2017, Kansas State in 2016, Texas in 2015, and Toledo in 2014.  

It was a pretty full day helping with the alumni band.  Aaron and LaVonne picked me up around 7:30 this morning.  We drove over to the Bergstrom practice facility, where the band had practice going over formations and rehearsing music for a couple of hours.  Then we went over to C.Y. Stephens Auditorium, where the alumni band had lunch and their annual meeting.  Around 1:25 the band marched into the stadium.  Finally I helped push LaVonne onto the field to perform the halftime show.  

Myself, LaVonne, and Aaron at the alumni band practice.

Thursday, October 16th, 2025

 Tonight Maxwell and I had some fun at Hilton Coliseum, where we watched the ISU volleyball team defeat West Virginia in four sets (14-25, 25-22, 25-20, and 25-21).  

I wasn't sure it was going to be Iowa State's day early on, as the Mountaineers dominated the first set.  Thankfully, the Cyclones were able to play well the rest of the way and came out on top.  It had been quite a while since I had taken Maxwell to a volleyball game, as the last time that I can remember taking him was back in 2019 against South Dakota.  This was the third time that I have seen a volleyball game against West Virginia (2017 and 2015 were the others).  

I do think Maxwell had fun tonight.  We enjoyed a Clone Cone before the game.  Then we were on the Jumbotron a number of times, as I submitted a couple of photos... and since not many other people did so they kept popping up over and over!  He was pretty happy each time. Then we were also on the live camera on the Jumbotron, and of course he was acting silly during that. At one point the score of the game was 6 to 7, and Maxwell started yelling 6-7!! The band heard him, and they even started doing the same thing!  Later we got to dance to Juicy Wiggle.  So yeah, it was a fun night.

Maxwell with a Clone cone!

Sunday, September 28th, 2025

 This weekend we had a fun family get-together with the Shostaks.  Logan & Emma did not have school on Friday, so Amy & Brandon were able to leave Omaha earlier than usual, and they were at our place by 4 PM.  That night we all went out to eat at at Wallaby's, and then the adults stayed up late having a few drinks and making "epic stories".

Saturday morning we helped the kids make their own Jack-o-lanterns, which was fun.  Then in the afternoon, Amy & I went tailgating while everyone else went down to Adventureland for a fun-filled day.  For the tailgate, the theme was a taco bar.  I brought a small crock pot with Velveeta & Rotel dip.  It was a nice day to tailgate, as temperatures were in the low 80's.  Kickoff for the game was 6 PM, and it was a "white out", where everyone was encouraged to wear white.

As for the game, I'm happy to say that Iowa State easily defeated Arizona, 39-14.  Coming into the game, Iowa State was something like a 5-point favorite, so I was expecting a close game.  Iowa State was also without their starting kicker, as Kyle Konrardy is injured... so they relied on third-string walk-on Chase Smith for kicking duties.  Smith actually did a good job, as he went 4/4 on extra points, and he even made a 34 yard field goal!  Another player that really stepped up for Iowa State was Chase Sowell, as he had 4 receptions for 146 yards.  

It had been a couple of years since Amy has gone to a football game with me, as the previous game was against TCU in 2023.  This was the first time that I have seen Iowa State play against Arizona, but it was also the first football game between Arizona and ISU as conference opponents.  The previous time these two programs played was back in 1968.  

Here the kids are all carving pumpkins!

GO CYCLONES!

Saturday, September 6th, 2025

 IT'S A CYCLONE STATE!!

Today I took Nolan with me to the CyHawk football game at Jack Trice Stadium, and I'm happy to say that the Cyclones won a hard fought game, 16-13. 

The game was an 11:00 AM kickoff, so we had to get up early to go tailgating.  Dan cooked up some waffles for everyone for the tailgate.  Nolan, Bash, and I all had fun playing catch with the football.  

As for the game, Kyle Konrardy came up clutch, as he made a 54-yard field goal with 1:52 left in the 4th quarter to give Iowa State the lead for good.  Benjamin Brahmer had the only touchdown for the Cyclones today, which was a 2-yard pass reception from Rocco Becht. 

This was the 8th football game that I have attended between Iowa State and Iowa, and it was only the 3rd win for the Cyclones (today, 2007, and 2005).  The Hawkeyes won in 2023, 2021, 2019, 2013, and 2009.  This was the first time that Nolan has been to a CyHawk football game.  He did see the Cyclones beat the Hawkeyes in basketball, back in 2023. 

Saturday, August 30th, 2025

Today Maxwell and I had a fun day filled with tailgating and Iowa State's 2025 home-opening football game against the South Dakota Coyotes.  The 22nd ranked Cyclones went on to dominate the football game, winning by a score of 55-7. Rocco Becht threw 3 touchdown passes, and Kyle Konrardy kicked a record breaking 63 yard field goal!  The 63-yarder set a new record for Iowa State and for Jack Trice Stadium.  When they were lining up for the field goal attempt at the end of the first half I couldn't believe it... but he actually had plenty of leg!  

Today's football game is the 10th that I have taken Maxwell to.  The previous football game he attended was last year vs Baylor.

This year our tailgate spot is over in the RV lot, as Ryan Butler bought an RV.  It's a really nice area which has power hook-ups.  It was also fun to walk over the bridge on the way into the stadium.

While Maxwell and I had fun at the football game, Elizabeth and Nolan are probably having even more fun... as they are down in Orlando for the weekend to see Halloween Horror Nights!

GO CYCLONES!

Maxwell enjoying a hot dog at our tailgate.

Sunday, August 10th, 2025

 Today I drove back to Ames after having a fun weekend down in St. Louis with Nolan and Eben.  I took a half day off on Friday, and we left Ames a little after noon.  We enjoyed a nice supper down at Sugarfire in Wentzville.  Nolan and I split a combo plate that came with two meats and two sides.  We chose brisket and ribs for out meats along with baked beans and mac & cheese for our sides.  Dad ordered a 1/2 rack of ribs meal, with green beans and fries.  After supper we checked into our hotel (Home2 suites by Hilton) in downtown St. Louis and just relaxed the rest of the evening.

Saturday was a busy day.  After having breakfast at the hotel, we walked over to the City Museum.  Nolan loved this place.  We probably spent a good 4 hours there.  It has all kinds of tunnels and fun spaces for kids to crawl around and explore.  We also went to the "pinball hall", where we were able to play a bunch of pinball machines and old arcade games (Mrs. Pac-man, Galaga, etc).  The City Museum was probably Nolan's favorite part of the trip.  After that, we relaxed in the hotel for about an hour before heading over to the Gateway Arch.  After taking some fun pictures of it, we did stop down at the museum underneath the arch.  Nolan was not very impressed with the arch.  He said something like "It's just a big curved line".  We did not take the ride up to the top of the arch.

Finally, we walked from the Gateway Arch over to Busch Stadium, where we watched the Cardinals play against their rival, the Chicago Cubs.  I was rooting for the Cubs, dad was rooting for the Cardinals, and Nolan was indifferent but kind of rooting for the Cubs (even though I had him wear a Cardinals shirt).  Anyways, the Cubs dominated the game from the start, and they went on to win by a score of 9-1.  Michael Busch hit a three-run homer for the Cubs, while Matt Shaw added a solo home run and an RBI triple.  Colin Rea earned the win after pitching 6 innings and allowing only 1 run.  

I believe this was the 10th regular season MLB game that I have attended. The previous games were:

• 6/22/2023 - Minnesota 6 vs Boston 0.
• 6/22/2019 - Minnesota 5 @ Kansas City 3 (10 innings).
• 6/21/2015 - Chicago Cubs 8 @ Minnesota 0.
• 7/7/2014 - Seattle 2 vs Minnesota 0.
• 6/9/2012 - Minnesota 11 vs Chicago Cubs 3.
• 5/29/2011 - Chicago Cubs 3 vs Pittsburgh 2.
• 7/4/2010 - Cincinnati 14 @ Chicago Cubs 3.
• 7/25/2006 - Minnesota 3 @ Chicago White Sox 2.
• 8/7/2005 - Boston 11 @ Minnesota 7.

This was the third different MLB stadium that I have taken dad and Nolan to (Minnesota and Kansas City were the others).  I've also purchased Nolan a souvenir baseball at each of the stadiums for him to collect.  I did ask Maxwell about a dozen times if he would want to come with us for the trip down to St. Louis, but he was adamant that he did not want to come.  

Nolan and dad at the City Museum

Nolan at the Gateway Arch

Nolan and myself by our seats at the game.  We sat in section 167, row 18, seats 1 through 3.

We enjoyed hot dogs at the game, because I feel like you almost have to eat a hot dog when you are at the ballpark.