Iowa State Fair 2009

Us city folks loaded up the van and headed to Des Moines to the State Fair. The time of year when we go to look at all the animals that you country folk raise, and see the sights of things made out of butter, big vegetables, hot tubs, saunas, other stuff people want to sell me that I don't want or need. You also learn things at the fair. I learned that Linn County is the third largest place that sex offenders live behind Polk and Scott Counties. Alivia learned that if you decide to get soaking wet on a low 70 degree day where the sun is going in and out of the clouds that you will be cold. Trevor learned that at the fair you do lots of walking which make you very tired.

We were able to see a lot of things and just happened to be in the exhibit area each time it rained which was great. I was sad that people voted NO on a butter statue of M.J. so instead they did an astronaut.

The fair is filled with lots of things to do and we never do the midway and it we still end up spending the day there. It's always fun to see the biggest pigs, a big elk and the world's smallest cow plus all other kinds of animals. The kids and I had fun and as normal were very tired at the end of the day. We only had a few injuries and those were caused by senior citizens who can't drive there motorized little bikes. One lady ran over Trevor's piggy toe and didn't even apologize and another old lady ran right into the back of me. I can't remember what I said it was towards the end of the day, my throat was sore and my allergies were getting bad, but I'm sure after she saw my face she knew I was ticked off and she did apologize. I think the fair people need to have them take a motorized bike driving test before they are allowed to operate those things. And had I been able to find the lady that ran over Trevor's toe I would have let her have it....in the best Christian way possible :)

Otherwise it was good day and I'm sure we will go again next year.

Adventureland 2009

Last Monday the kids and I headed over to Adventureland with Sherry, Aubrey and Olivia Sullivan. My kids are not roller coaster kind of kids which is why we don't go to amusement parks but go to waterparks instead. Now the last time we had been to Adventureland was in 2003 and that too was with the Sullivans. But the kids were younger and so did a lot of "kid" type rides.
When I was a kid we went to Adventureland with my sister Donna. I was probably 12 and she had me go with her on the Tornado...I think that was the only roller coaster at Adventureland at that time. Let me say...I'm afraid of heights...anything where I'm free falling. But somehow she talked me into it. So the whole way up the first hill I'm crying. I seriously thought I was going to flip out of the seat and die. Donna was trying to clam me but to no avail. Once we went down the first hill and I screamed all my anxiety out I was able to enjoy the ride, and did it again on that visit. Trevor is also afraid of heights and so I knew no roller coasters for him but thought I might get Alivia. The first high ride we did was the Log ride. Trevor would not go on it but Alivia, Olivia and I did. They take your picture on the big hill going down and after the ride we looked at it and Alivia had a look of terror on her face. So no roller coasters for her or Trevor or mom that day. Trevor loved the Silly Silo and did it 4 times. Alivia and Olivia did the Gallon. The ship that goes back and forth. Trevor did not want to because of how high it goes up but the girls were in. Well for Alivia that was not a good choice. She got sick from it. After that ride we were going to take the sky lift to the other side of the park to do Kokomo Kove but she was worried she might barf on someone below her if she rode on it...so we walked. The poor girl can't do roller coasters, can't do spinning rides, all that was left for her were little people rides which she did and enjoyed.
So I guess we learned that still amusement parks are not a great fit for our family and we will stick with waterparks where everyone loves the rides.
I was just happy our tickets to Adventureland were free and so the day was good and at zero cost....thanks Mark :)
Alivia did buy herself an airbrush tatoo which made her day and all the kids enjoyed the little Sawmill Splash ride. It was a fun, beautiful day spent with wonderful friends and only a few hitches so we called it a success.

Sauerkraut Days 100 year Celebration

This year was the 100th year of celebrating Sauerkraut Days. The festivities started Tuesday night with a movie in the park. Wednesday night a play which told of how Lisbon came to be. In the play was Darryl, Trevor, Alivia and myself. We played a number of different people depending on the era we were talking about. Thursday night we invited some care group friends over for fireworks, Friday at 4pm is when rides and festivities started, Saturday morning Darryl and I ran in the 5K. His time was 24:38 and mine was 31:52. My goal was to beat my time of last year which was 36 something...I guess I did that. I was really just hoping to be around 34 minutes. I pushed myself a little too hard and felt it later on :( But I was very happy with my time and Darryl was with his. There is a pic of all the candy Trevor got from the parade. A favorite is the bathtub races. Adults and kids alike love throwing waterballons at each other and those competing. As you can see Trevor loved breaking one over Alivia's head. We had a fun week and I was exhausted after all the activities we did. Here are some pics to show of our time at Sauerkraut Days.